Abstract: A catheter is disclosed for providing pressure measurements at a vascular lesion. The catheter includes an outer component having a side opening the providing transverse access to a lumen thereof and an inner component slidably disposed within the lumen. The inner component has a guidewire lumen with a proximal side port. When the inner component is longitudinally translated relative to the outer component, the side port of the inner component is accessible through the side opening of the outer component for providing transverse access to a guidewire. A first pressure sensor is disposed proximate of a distal end of the outer component and a second pressure sensor is disposed proximate of a distal end of the inner component, such that relative longitudinal translation between the inner and outer components permits a distance between the first and second pressure sensors to be varied.

Abstract: A catheter is disclosed for providing a pressure measurement at a vascular lesion. The catheter includes a tubular component having dual lumens along at least a segment thereof in which a first lumen acts as a pressure inlet and a second lumen allows the catheter to be tracked over a guidewire. A plurality of openings are located along a distal segment of the tubular component that permit blood flow into the first lumen when disposed in vivo. A pressure sensor is located within a handle component of the catheter or within the tubular component to be in fluid communication with a proximal end of the first lumen. When the catheter is positioned at the vascular lesion, the first lumen fills with blood via the plurality of openings such that the pressure sensor is able to sense a pressure of the blood at a distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: Embodiments hereof relate to methods and systems for determining a pressure gradient across a lesion of a vessel without requiring the use of a pharmacological hyperemic agent. A measurement system includes at least an injection catheter and a pressure-sensing instrument or guidewire slidingly disposed through the catheter, the pressure-sensing guidewire including at least one pressure sensor configured to obtain a pressure measurement for use in determining the pressure gradient across the lesion. The catheter is configured to deliver or inject a non-pharmacological fluid, such as saline or blood, across the lesion in order to increase a flow rate there-through, thereby simulating hyperemia without the use of a pharmacological hyperemic agent. Once an increased flow rate that simulates hyperemia is achieved, the pressure sensor of the pressure-sensing guidewire may be utilized to measure the pressure gradient across the lesion in order to assess the severity of the lesion.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for the selective positioning of an intravascular ultrasound neuromodulation device are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology is directed to positioning systems for focused ultrasound devices. Some embodiments, for example, are directed to dual-balloon positioning systems. Such systems can include, for example, an elongated shaft and a therapeutic assembly and a balloon assembly carried by a distal portion of the elongated shaft. The therapeutic assembly is configured for delivery within a blood vessel. The balloon assembly can include a first balloon and a second balloon circumferentially offset from the first balloon about the elongated shaft. The first and second balloons can be selectively inflated to position an ultrasound transducer of the therapeutic assembly at a precise location within the blood vessel.

Abstract: Assemblies, systems, and methods for intravascular neuromodulation include a method of positioning a treatment device and a track element at a treatment site in an artery of a human patient and transforming the track element from a delivery configuration to a deployed configuration to form a spiral-shaped track tending to be in apposition with an inner wall of the artery. The treatment device has a distally-located neuromodulation element for sliding along the spiral-shaped track. The method can also include delivering energy via the neuromodulation element across the inner wall of a renal artery to heat or otherwise electrically modulate neural fibers that contribute to renal function.

Abstract: Medical devices for positioning a valve in a subject's body, such as a prosthetic heart valve in a subject's heart, are disclosed. The prosthetic heart valve may include a valve assembly, a frame, and a control arm. The prosthetic heart valve may include a commissural post or multiple commissural posts. The prosthetic heart valve may include a positional marker on a control arm. The prosthetic heart valve may include multiple positional markers on one or more control arms. The positional markers can be shapes, characters, or other symbols. The positional markers may themselves be asymmetric. The positional markers may be placed in an asymmetric location on a control arm. The control arm may be asymmetrically shaped.

Abstract: Delivery systems for delivering medical devices and prosthetic heart valves in a patient's body are disclosed. The delivery system may include a catheter-based delivery system. The delivery system may include a tip, a capsule, an inner sheath, and a projection. The delivery system may include an outer sheath and a handle. The delivery system may be configured to be actuated via an actuator disposed on the handle. The projection may include an arm portion and a feeler portion. The feeler portion may include an indentation. The delivery system may be configured to correctly position a medical device or prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: A vascular filter device (1) has a perfusion balloon (3) with a through-hole for blood flow. There is a distal filter (4) for trapping emboli, and the filter (4) is configured to filter an annular cross-sectional area extending from a vessel wall, while leaving an un-filtered central passageway. The filter (4) may be substantially frusto-conical in shape when deployed, and have a proximal tubular part (41) which is attached to the perfusion balloon or a support for the perfusion balloon. The filter has a retainer (5) to retain an end of the filter in an in-use position abutting a vessel wall. The retainer may comprise wires (5) or an inflated ring (8). The device may have an internal support (2, 12, 22, 96, 112) for the perfusion balloon (3, 11, 21, 95, 111). The balloon inflates and expands the inner arterial wall, and the filter captures emboli released during the procedure while leaving a channel that allows blood to flow to tissues distal to the blockage, maintaining antegrade flow.

Abstract: A test methodology is provided for testing metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structures under high temperatures at the wafer level. A resistor is formed on a region of dielectric isolation material formed in a semiconductor substrate. The MIM capacitor is formed over the resistor and separated therefrom by dielectric material. A metal thermometer, formed from the same material as the plates of the MIM capacitor, is placed above the resistor and in close proximity to the capacitor. High current is forced through the resistor, causing both the metal thermometer and the MIM capacitor to heat up along with the resistor. The change in resistance of the metal thermometer is monitored. Using the known temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) for the metal used to form both the capacitor and the thermometer, changes in the measured resistance of the metal thermometer are converted to temperature.

Abstract: A test methodology is provided for testing metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structures under high temperatures at the wafer level. A resistor is formed on a region of dielectric isolation material formed in a semiconductor substrate. The MIM capacitor is formed over the resistor and separated therefrom by dielectric material. A metal thermometer, formed from the same material as the plates of the MIM capacitor, is placed above the resistor and in close proximity to the capacitor. High current is forced through the resistor, causing both the metal thermometer and the MIM capacitor to heat up along with the resistor. The change in resistance of the metal thermometer is monitored. Using the known temperature coeffecient of resistance (TCR) for the metal used to form both the capacitor and the thermometer, changes in the measured resistance of the metal thermometer are converted to temperature.

Abstract: A test structure and a test methodology are provided for testing metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structures under high temperatures at the wafer level. The test structure includes a resistor formed on a region of dielectric isolation material formed in a semiconductor substrate. The MIM capacitor is formed over the resistor and separated therefrom by dielectric material. A metal thermometer, formed from the same material as the plates of the MIM capacitor, is placed above the resistor and in close proximity to the capacitor. High current is forced through the resistor, causing both the metal thermometer and the MIM capacitor to heat up along with the resistor. The change in resistance of the metal thermometer is monitored. Using the known temperature coeffecient of resistance (TCR) for the metal used to form both the capacitor and the thermometer, changes in the measured resistance of the metal thermometer are converted to temperature.