Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to detecting malposition of a medical device within a vessel of a patient, such as an Azygos vein. The medical device can include a multi-core optical fiber including a plurality of core fibers, where each of the plurality of core fibers includes a plurality of sensors is configured to reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and change a characteristic of the reflected light signal for use in determining a physical state of the multi-core optical fiber. The system can include a console having non-transitory computer-readable medium storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing a broadband incident light signal to the multi-core optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals, processing the reflected light signals, and determining whether the medical device has entered the Azygos vein of the patient based on the reflected light signals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system, apparatus and method directed to detecting damage to an optical fiber of a medical device. The optical fiber includes one or more core fibers each including a plurality of sensors configured to (i) reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and (ii) alter the reflected light signal for use in determining a physical state of the multi-core optical fiber. The system also includes a console having non-transitory computer-readable medium storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing a broadband incident light signal to the multi-core optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals, receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the broadband incident light by one or more of the plurality of sensors, identifying at least one unexpected spectral width or a lack of an expected spectral width, and determining the damage has occurred to the optical fiber based on the identification.

Abstract: Shape-sensing systems and methods for medical devices. The shape-sensing system can include a medical device, an optical interrogator, a console, and a display screen. The medical device can include an integrated optical-fiber stylet having fiber Bragg grating (“FBG”) sensors along at least a distal-end portion thereof. The optical interrogator can be configured to send input optical signals into the optical-fiber stylet and receive FBG sensor-reflected optical signals therefrom. The console can be configured to convert the reflected optical signals with the aid of filtering algorithms of some optical signal-converter algorithms into plottable data for displaying plots thereof on the display screen. The plots can include a plot of curvature vs. time for each FBG sensor of a selection of the FBG sensors for identifying a distinctive change in strain of the optical-fiber stylet as a tip of the medical device is advanced into a superior vena cava of a patient.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a non-uniform, targeted ultrasound image modification system. The system can image a target area using ultrasound and can determine one or more target locations within the target area. Further the system can determine a location and orientation of a medical device to overlay a trajectory onto the target area. A user can further modify the one or more target locations as needed. The user can then modify an image parameter for the target area, and can further modify an image parameter for one or more target locations independently of the target area. This allows a user to modify the image of the target location to suit the position, tissue structure, or a procedure taking place there without affecting the image quality of the rest of the target area, or other target locations.

Abstract: Connection systems and methods thereof facilitate establishing electrical connections through a barrier such as a drape without compromising a sterile field established by the barrier. A connection system can include two connectors. A first connector can include a first-connector housing defining a cavity, a slideable end piece coupled to a distal-end portion of the first-connector housing, and at least a first piercing element connected to a first electrical lead. The first piercing element can be configured to enter the cavity and pierce a barrier disposed in the cavity when the slideable end piece is advanced toward a proximal-end portion of the first-connector housing. A second connector can include at least a first receptacle within a second-connector housing connected to a second electrical lead. The first receptacle can be configured to form at least a first electrical connection with the first piercing element after the first piercing element pierces the barrier.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic signature imprinting system including an imprinting device and a medical device including ferrous elements. The imprinting device includes an active area having a magnet moving system, one or more sensors, and a console. The magnet moving system is configured to change the location or orientation of one or more magnets to generate one or more magnetic fields to imprint a magnetic signature. The one or more sensors are configured to detect one or more characteristics of the medical device and the console is in communication with the magnet moving system and the one or more sensors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic signature imprinting system including an imprinting device and a medical device having ferrous elements. The imprinting device includes an active area configured to receive the medical device. The active area includes one or more electromagnets configured to generate one or more electromagnetic fields to imprint a magnetic signature. The imprinting device further includes one or more sensors or a user input mechanism configured to detect one or more characteristics of the medical device and a console in communication with each of the electromagnets and the sensors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method directed to detecting placement of a medical device within a patient body, where the system includes a medical device including an optical fiber having core fibers. Each of the one or more core fibers includes a plurality of sensors that can be configured to reflect a light signal having an altered characteristic due to strain experienced by the optical fiber. The system further includes logic that can be configured to determine a 3D shape of the medical device in accordance with the strain of the optical fiber. The logic can further be configured to (i) define a reference frame for the 3D shape, and (ii) render an image of the 3D shape on a display of the system in accordance with the reference frame.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic signature identification system. The system can include a magnetic signature identification device having one or more magnetometers configured to detect magnetic characteristics defined by magnetic elements including dipoles coupled with a target medical device. Logic, when executed by one or more processors, determines a magnetic signature of the target medical device based upon a magnetic field defined by the magnetic characteristics. The system may include multiple medical devices having distinct magnetic signatures stored in memory and the logic may determine an identity of the target medical device by a comparison of the magnetic signature of the target medical device with the distinct magnetic signatures. The magnetic characteristics may be defined by any combination of all or any subset of the number, length, spacing, or orientation of the dipoles. The magnetic signature identification system may be coupled with a device tracking system and/or other medical system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a medical device system and method for detecting placement of a medical device having an elongate probe for insertion within a patient body. The system can determine a live 3D shape of the elongate probe via shape sensing of an optical fiber extending along the elongate probe during insertion. The system can capture a reference shape of the live 3D shape and define a pathway in front of the live 3D shape. A user can be notified when the live 3D shape exceeds a buffer zone of the pathway. A current reference shape can be compared with a preceding reference frame to assess a validity of the current reference frame.

Abstract: A medical system is disclosed that includes a medical device having an optical fiber, and an interchangeable connection component configured to provide a fiber optic connection between the medical device and capital equipment. The connection component is configured to facilitate cleaning and/or polishing of fiber optic interfaces include therewith. The connection component is also configured for replacement by a medical technician while the capital equipment is operational. The capital equipment may include one or more of an optical interrogator, a patch cable, a medical probe, an ultrasound machine, a display, a magnet sensor, or an electro-cardiogram (ECG) machine. The medical device may include an elongate member configured for insertion within the patient body, where the optical fiber core extends along a length of the elongate member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing tracking information of a medical instrument using optical fiber technology in combination with magnetic sensing technology. The medical device includes an optical fiber. The medical device further includes magnetic elements. A magnet field sensor can be configured to detect magnetic fields defined by the magnetic elements, and to provide electrical signals in accordance with the detection of the magnetic fields to a console. The operations of the console include (i) processing the reflected light signals to determine a physical state of the optical fiber, (ii) processing the electrical signals to determine the positions of the magnetic elements, and (iii) combining the physical state of the medical device with the positions of the one or more of the plurality of magnetic elements to determine at least one of a position, a shape, and an orientation of the medical device within the patient body.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a stabilization feature configured to be coupled to an ultrasound probe, or similar medical device and grasped by one or more fingers of a user. The user can then manipulate the stabilization feature and probe assembly without requiring any opposing pressure to be applied by the thumb. As such a user is free to use the thumb to operate controls disposed on the probe, or stabilize a skin surface, or the like. The stabilization feature can include a first portion configured to be grasped by one or more fingers, and a second portion configured to engage the probe. Further, the second portion can engage the probe through a sheath to maintain a sterile barrier therebetween. Alternatively, the first portion can be grasped by one or more fingers through a sheath to maintain a sterile barrier therebetween.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are medical-device magnetizer systems and methods. In an example, a magnetizer system can be configured to impart one or more magnetic signatures to a medical device having ferrous elements for medical-device tracking. Such a magnetizer system can include, in some embodiments, a magnetizer. The magnetizer can have an elongate body with a single-dipole section, a multipole section, and a plurality of magnets configured to generate two or more magnetic fields. The single-dipole section can have a magnetizer body defining a cavity having a first magnetic field therein. The multipole section can have a second magnetic field therein. In another example, a method can include imparting a magnetic signature to a plurality of medical devices having ferrous elements using the magnetizer system.

Abstract: Devices and methods for restoring patency of a catheter. Devices can include an elongate member configured for insertion through the catheter. Elongate members can facilitate delivery of a chemical agent directly to a catheter blockage and/or facilitate agitation of the chemical agent in close proximity to the blockage. A catheter or catheter system disclosed herein includes a device for removing the blockage. The device for removing a blockage from a catheter can include an elongate member configured for insertion through a catheter lumen, the elongate member defining a proximal end and a distal end, and an agitation actuator coupled with the elongate member adjacent the proximal end, wherein operation of the actuator causes agitation of a fluid adjacent the distal end.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are system and methods for monitoring a medical process. The system can include a plurality of electrodes coupled with a medical device, and a monitoring module electrically coupled with the plurality of electrodes, the module including logic stored in memory that, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of operations including transmitting an electrical signal between a first electrode and a second electrode, determining an electrical impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode, and providing a notification to the operator when the determined electrical impedance is outside a predefined impedance range. The system can include logic stored in memory that, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of operations including transmitting an electrical signal between a first distal electrode and a second proximal electrode and determining an electrical impedance between the electrodes.

Abstract: A magnetizer system for use with a medical device including ferrous elements. The magnetizer can include a magnetizer body defining a cavity, the magnetizer body having a body opening in communication with the cavity, the magnetizer body including one or more magnets configured to generate a magnetic field configured to imprint a magnetic signature on ferrous elements within the cavity. The magnetizer can include one or more mechanisms configured to detect the presence of the medical device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are impedance-determining medical systems. An impedance-determining medical system can include an impedance interrogator and an impedance-sensing medical device. The impedance interrogator can include instructions configured to instantiate one or more processes in random-access memory upon processing by one or more processors that determine impedance from electrical signals corresponding to electrical currents passed through a biological or non-biological material. The impedance-sensing medical device can include two or more longitudinal conductors distributed among one or more pieces of the impedance-sensing medical device and separated by one or more longitudinal insulators. The two-or-more conductors can be configured to emit, detect, or alternately emit and detect via two or more electrodes thereof the electrical currents passed through the biological or non-biological material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ultrasound imaging system configured to guide medical device insertion. The ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound generation device configured to detect one or more anatomical targets within a target area, and one or more projectors configured to project one or more icons within the target area. The ultrasound imaging system can also include a console configured to generate the one or more icons. The console can be coupled to the ultrasound probe, and be in communication with each of the ultrasound generation device and the one or more projectors.

Abstract: Shape-sensing systems and methods for medical devices. The shape-sensing system can include a medical device, an optical interrogator, a console, and a display screen. The medical device can include an integrated optical-fiber stylet having fiber Bragg grating (“FBG”) sensors along at least a distal-end portion thereof. The optical interrogator can be configured to send input optical signals into the optical-fiber stylet and receive FBG sensor-reflected optical signals therefrom. The console can be configured to convert the reflected optical signals with the aid of filtering algorithms of some optical signal-converter algorithms into plottable data for displaying plots thereof on the display screen. The plots can include a plot of curvature vs. time for each FBG sensor of a selection of the FBG sensors for identifying a distinctive change in strain of the optical-fiber stylet as a tip of the medical device is advanced into a superior vena cava of a patient.