Abstract: The invention relates to a system for determining blood flow within a blood vessel (18). A fluid infusion unit (4, 10, 11) continuously infuses a fluid into the blood vessel, and a temperature values determining unit (14, 21) determines simultaneously a first temperature value at a first location and a second temperature value at a second location such that the first temperature value is indicative of the temperature of the fluid and the second temperature value is indicative of the temperature of a mixture of the fluid and the blood. The blood flow is determined based on the measured first and second temperature values and the infusion rate. This kind of determining the blood flow leads to an increased accuracy and is less cumbersome than known techniques requiring a movement of a temperature sensor for measuring temperatures at different locations.

Abstract: A wireless intraluminal imaging device and an associated system are provided. In one embodiment, the wireless intraluminal imaging device includes a flexible elongate member including a proximal portion and a distal portion; an ultrasound imaging component coupled to the distal portion of the flexible elongate member; a cable coupled to the ultrasound imaging component and extending along the flexible elongate member; and a wireless communication component coupled to the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member, the wireless communication component in communication with the ultrasound imaging component via the cable. The wireless communication component wirelessly transmits ultrasound echo signals collected by the ultrasound imaging component to an image processing system via a wireless link for image generation at the image processing component.

Abstract: A wireless intraluminal device (102) and an associated system for treating and diagnosing patients are provided. In one embodiment, the wireless intraluminal device (102) includes a flexible elongate member (158) including a proximal portion (106) and a distal portion (108); a sensor assembly (116) coupled to the distal portion of the flexible elongate member; a cable (117) coupled to the sensor assembly and extending along the flexible elongate member; and a wireless transceiver (252) positioned within the flexible elongate member, wherein the wireless transceiver is in communication with the sensor assembly via the cable. A wireless communication component (104) wirelessly transmits a sensor measurement collected by the sensor assembly to a sensor measurement processing system (132) via a wireless link (150) for physiological data generation at the sensor measurement processing system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for determining information relating to a suspected occluding structure. It is described to provide (210) a spectral resolving unit with at least one broadband radiation. The at least one broadband radiation comprises a first broadband radiation acquired from a region of interest within a vascular structure. An occluding structure is suspected to be located within the region of interest and wherein the first broadband radiation is associated with the suspected occluding structure. At least one spectrally resolved data set is determined (220) on the basis of the at least one broadband radiation, wherein the at least one spectrally resolved data set comprises a first spectrally resolved data set determined on the basis of the first broadband radiation. A processing unit is provided (230) with the at least one spectrally resolved data set on the basis of the at least one broadband radiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for determining blood flow within a blood vessel (18). A fluid infusion unit (4, 10, 11) continuously infuses a fluid into the blood vessel, and a temperature values determining unit (14, 21) determines simultaneously a first temperature value at a first location and a second temperature value at a second location such that the first temperature value is indicative of the temperature of the fluid and the second temperature value is indicative of the temperature of a mixture of the fluid and the blood. The blood flow is determined based on the measured first and second temperature values and the infusion rate. This kind of determining the blood flow leads to an increased accuracy and is less cumbersome than known techniques requiring a movement of a temperature sensor for measuring temperatures at different locations.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes an implantable intra-vascular support device for positioning against a vessel wall and an implantable sensor-actuator mounted to the support device. The sensor-actuator is drivable between a non-deployed position in which it is against the support device and a deployed position in which it is displaced away from the support device. Sensor signals are generated when in the deployed position. This system is able to monitor flow away from the edge of a vessel by deploying the sensor-actuator towards the center of the vessel. When flow monitoring does not need to take place, it can be non-deployed so that it does not present an occlusion to the flow.

Abstract: The invention provides an ultrasound system comprising an ultrasound probe, adapted to transmit and receive ultrasound signals, and an interventional device for insertion into a vessel of a subject. The interventional device includes an ultrasound transducer adapted to acquire a first set of ultrasound data at a first ultrasound frequency, wherein the first set of ultrasound data relates to flow data. The ultrasound system is further adapted exchange a second set of ultrasound data between the ultrasound probe and the interventional device at a second ultrasound frequency different from the first ultrasound frequency, wherein the second ultrasound data relates to interventional device positioning data.

Abstract: A three-dimensional morphological vessel model (20) can be obtained by assigning diameters (14,15) along the vessel derived from a two-dimensional morphological projection (10) at locations in the three-dimensional model defined by the temporal locations (21,22) of a trackable instrument (5). An apparatus (7), a system (1) and a method (100) for use of the system (1) in characterizing the vessel of a living being (2) by rendering a three-dimensional morphological vessel model (20) are presented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor comprising a housing; at least a sensor element arranged within the housing; plurality of elongate structures providing one or more slots; a front end and a back end provided by the housing; wherein the one or more slots are arranged between the front end and the back end of the housing; and wherein the one or more fingers are configured to receive the sensor element extending within the one or more slots. Furthermore, a device comprising the sensor and a method for manufacturing the sensor is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor, comprising a sensor element and an interconnect. The interconnect is configured to be arranged at the sensor element. The interconnect comprises at least a carrier film provided with metallic layer. The interconnect is configured to provide an electrical connection for the sensor element. Furthermore a device comprising the sensor and a method of manufacturing the sensor is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a functional index for stenosis assessment of a vessel is provided. The apparatus comprises an input interface (40) and a processing unit (50). The input interface is configured to obtain image data (30) representing a two-dimensional representation of a vessel (6). The processing unit (50) is configured to determine a course of the vessel (6) and a width (w1, w2) of the vessel along its course in the image data and is further configured to determine the functional index for stenosis assessment of the vessel based on the width of the vessel in the image data.

Abstract: Systems and related methods to estimate, for a liquid dynamic system, flow or resistance based on a model of an object and pressure measurements collected in-situ at said object. Alternatively, pressure flow measurements are collected and pressure or resistance is being estimated.

Abstract: An apparatus for assessing a patient-s vasculature is provided which is adapted to derive a physiological model of the vasculature including a geometric model and a fluid dynamics model of a vessel of interest and a dynamics measure indicative of a contrast agent dynamics through the vasculature from a plurality of diagnostic images and to analyze the at least one dynamics measure as the function of time such as to adjust at least one boundary condition of the fluid dynamics model.

Abstract: A three-dimensional morphological vessel model (20) can be obtained by assigning diameters (14,15) along the vessel derived from a two-dimensional morphological projection (10) at locations in the three-dimensional model defined by the temporal locations (21,22) of a trackable instrument (5). An apparatus (7), a system (1) and a method (100) for use of the system (1) in characterizing the vessel of a living being (2) by rendering a three-5 dimensional morphological vessel model (20) are presented.

Abstract: An intravascular Doppler ultrasonic device comprises a tip region forming a fraction of a catheter body at a distal end thereof and carrying an ultrasound probe. The tip region is bendable in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction. An actuator is provided in the tip region, which is configured to receive actuation drive power provided through the catheter body and to exert to the tip region a bending moment of a controllable amount. An actuation controller is configured to control actuation drive power delivery to the actuator so as to control the amount of the bending moment. A Doppler spectrum analysis unit is configured to receive Doppler spectrum data and to determine from it a Doppler signal quality measure indicative of a signal quality of the Doppler spectrum. The actuation controller is configured to determine the actuation drive power in dependence on the determined Doppler signal quality measure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to determining a treatment response index. In order to improve and facilitate hypertension treatment procedures, a device (10) for determining a treatment response index is provided that comprises a data input (12), a data processor (14) and a data output (16). The data input is configured to receive a value (18) of at least one first measurement of a physiological parameter of a subjects vasculature under a first condition; and to provide a value (20) of at least one second measurement of the physiological parameter of the vasculature under a second condition. In the second condition, a pre-determined stimulation is provided, and the first condition is non-stimulated or at least differently stimulated. The data processor is configured to generate a treatment response index. In an example, the data output is configured to provide a classification of the subject into one of at least two groups of subjects, based on the treatment response index.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for measurement of pulse wave velocity of a vessel. An intravascular device comprises a first and a second marker provided at different locations along the length of the intravascular device of which positions are localizable by a tracking apparatus. The intravascular device provides plurality of measurements along the length of the vessel, while the intravascular device is moved from a first position to a second position, corresponding to a first and a second time. At the second time the position of the first marker in the vessel corresponds to the position of the second marker at the first time. The pulse wave velocity value of the vessel is ascertained based on measurements associated for the first time and the second time from the plurality of measurements and based on the distance between the locations of the two markers along the length of the intravascular device.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a functional index for stenosis assessment of a vessel is provided. The apparatus comprises an input interface (40) and a processing unit (50). The input interface is configured to obtain image data (30) representing a two-dimensional representation of a vessel (6). The processing unit (50) is configured to determine a course of the vessel (6) and a width (w1, w2) of the vessel along its course in the image data and is further configured to determine the functional index for stenosis assessment of the vessel based on the width of the vessel in the image data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the supply of a sensor of an interventional device. In order to provide an interventional device with improved handling, an interventional device is provided, the device comprising a longitudinal elongated main body with a distal portion and a proximal portion; and a sensor provided on the distal portion. The elongated main body comprises a hollow shaft. The proximal portion of the main body comprises an optical energy generation section, in which the hollow shaft is at least partially provided as a transparent hypotube, and in which a doped material is provided inside the hollow shaft. Further, the doped material is configured to generate light as stimulated emission with a predetermined wavelength upon the doped material being radiated with a pumping wavelength. Still further, the transparent hypotube is configured to receive light from an external light source as a substantially transversal light input providing the pumping wavelength to the doped material.

Abstract: Systems and related methods to estimate, for a liquid dynamic system, flow or resistance based on a model of an object and pressure measurements collected in-situ at said object. Alternatively, pressure flow measurements are collected and pressure or resistance is being estimated.