Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a needle for gaining access to the pericardial cavity of a heart. The needle includes an elongate member (e.g. a main shaft) defining a lumen and a side-port in fluid communication with the lumen; a blunt atraumatic tip for delivering energy for puncturing tissue; and a guiding surface (e.g. a ramp) for directing a device (e.g. a guidewire) through the side-port. The method includes using the needle for tenting a pericardium and delivering energy for puncturing the pericardium, and advancing a guidewire or other device through the needle and into the pericardial cavity.

Abstract: A pericardial puncture device includes an introducer, a needle, and an actuator. The introducer has a lumen and extends between an introducer proximal portion defining an introducer proximal end and an introducer distal portion defining an introducer distal end. The needle is received in the lumen and extends between a needle proximal portion and a needle distal portion having a sharp distal tip. The needle is movable from a retracted configuration to an advanced configuration. In the retracted configuration, the sharp distal tip is within the lumen and shy of the introducer distal end. In the advanced configuration, the sharp distal tip outside of the lumen and proud of the introducer distal end. The actuator includes a handle that is rotatable in a first direction with respect to the introducer to drive movement of the needle from the retracted configuration towards the advanced configuration.

Abstract: A three-dimensional structure is formed when layers of a material are deposited onto a substrate and scanned with a high energy beam to at least partially melt each layer of the material. Upon scanning the layers at predetermined locations at least a first segment overlapping a second segment and underlapping a third segment is formed.

Abstract: A three-dimensional structure is formed when layers of a material are deposited onto a substrate and scanned with a high energy beam to at least partially melt each layer of the material. Upon scanning the layers at predetermined locations at least a first segment overlapping a second segment and underlapping a third segment is formed.

Abstract: A perforation system for accessing a location in or near a patient's heart is disclosed. The system includes a puncture device having a proximal portion and a distal portion including a distal tip. The system further includes an elongated introducer defining a lumen adapted to receive and allow longitudinal translation of the puncture device therein, the elongated introducer having an introducer proximal portion and an introducer distal portion, the introducer proximal portion including a locking hub. The locking hub includes a slot and an engaging surface configured so that the proximal portion can be positioned in the slot and against the engaging surface, so as to generate a securing frictional force between the proximal portion and the engaging surface, the securing friction force sufficient to inhibit the longitudinal translation of the puncture device with respect to the elongated introducer.

Abstract: A radiofrequency perforation device is disclosed. The device includes an elongate member defining a lumen and extending from a proximal portion including a hub to a distal portion including a distal tip electrode having a distal face defining a distal opening and a slot. The device also includes an outer insulation layer covering a portion of an outer surface of the elongate member and leaving the distal tip electrode uncovered. Finally, the device includes an inner insulation layer covering at least the distal portion of the lumen.

Abstract: A radiofrequency guidewire is disclosed. The system includes a core wire having a tapered section, a first insulator portion having a first insulator property and a first insulator length, and a second insulator portion having a second insulator property and a second insulator length. The first insulator portion and the second insulator portion are positioned along the core wire so as to form an overlap portion aligned with the tapered section of the core wire.

Abstract: A three-dimensional structure is formed when layers of a material are deposited onto a substrate and scanned with a high energy beam to at least partially melt each layer of the material. Upon scanning the layers at predetermined locations at least a first segment overlapping a second segment and underlapping a third segment is formed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for data management are described. A wallet service may include one or more application programming interface (API) endpoints. An API endpoint may receive a set of requests to broadcast messages via one or more blockchain networks, the set of requests including a first request to broadcast a first message via a first blockchain network and a second request to broadcast a second message via a second blockchain network. A first blockchain message may be generated using a mapping of a plurality of sets of network-specific parameters to respective blockchain networks, and the first blockchain message may include a first set of network-specific parameters. A second blockchain message may also be generated using the mapping, and the second blockchain message may include a second set of network-specific parameters. The first and second blockchain messages may be broadcast via respective nodes of the blockchain networks.

Abstract: A custodial token platform may implement a single smart contract for outbound messages. The custodial token platform may deploy, to a blockchain distributed data store, a self-executing program that batches messages from the self-executing program to multiple addresses of the blockchain distributed data store that are external to a custodial token platform associated with the self-executing program. The custodial token platform may select, from the multiple withdrawal requests and based on selection criteria, a set of withdrawal requests to fulfill via a batch message from the self-executing program. The custodial token platform may broadcast, to the blockchain distributed data store, a message that calls the self-executing program. The message includes an indication of a set of external addresses associated with the set of withdrawal requests, and the message causes a transfer of a set of crypto tokens from the self-executing program to the external addresses via the batch message.

Abstract: A system of medical devices includes a needle, an endoscope, and an introducer. The needle extends between a needle proximal portion and a needle distal portion having a puncturing tip. The endoscope extends between an endoscope proximal portion and an endoscope distal portion having a camera. The introducer is for guiding the needle and the endoscope towards a target location. The introducer extends between an introducer proximal portion and an introducer distal portion and has a first lumen extending therethrough from the introducer proximal portion to the introducer distal portion and a second lumen extending therethrough from the introducer proximal portion to the introducer distal portion. The needle is advanceable through the first lumen to position the puncturing tip proud of the introducer distal portion and the endoscope is advanceable through the second lumen to position the camera proximate the introducer distal portion and outside of the lumen.

Abstract: An elongated medical sheath is configured to be movable and positionable proximate to a biological feature of a patient. An expandable-and-collapsible support structure is configured to be selectively movable, at least in part, between an interior of the elongated medical sheath and an exterior of the elongated medical sheath. An energy-emitting assembly is supported by the expandable-and-collapsible support structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a needle for gaining access to the pericardial cavity of a heart. The needle includes an elongate member (e.g. a main shaft) defining a lumen and a side-port in fluid communication with the lumen; a blunt atraumatic tip for delivering energy for puncturing tissue; and a guiding surface (e.g. a ramp) for directing a device (e.g. a guidewire) through the side-port. The method includes using the needle for tenting a pericardium and delivering energy for puncturing the pericardium, and advancing a guidewire or other device through the needle and into the pericardial cavity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for puncturing tissue, including a surgical introducer with a stiff main body and a flexible tip which can be used with a puncture device to gain epicardial access. The surgical introducer comprises an introducer shaft having a rigid portion and a flexible tip portion. The rigid portion has a metal tube extending to the rigid portion distal end. The flexible tip portion is distal of the metal tube distal end. The flexible tip portion includes a first polymer and a second polymer, wherein the second polymer is more flexible than the first polymer. The second polymer extends distally from the metal tube distal end to define a second polymer flexible tip segment. The first polymer extends distally from the second polymer flexible tip segment end to define a flexible tip portion cap.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a needle for gaining access to the pericardial cavity of a heart. The needle includes an elongate member (e.g. a main shaft) defining a lumen and a side-port in fluid communication with the lumen; a blunt atraumatic tip for delivering energy for puncturing tissue; and a guiding surface (e.g. a ramp) for directing a device (e.g. a guidewire) through the side-port. The method includes using the needle for tenting a pericardium and delivering energy for puncturing the pericardium, and advancing a guidewire or other device through the needle and into the pericardial cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a guidewire that comprises an elongate member with a proximal and distal portion. The distal portion includes a distal curved portion, ending in a distal tip, and a tapered region that reduces the cross-section from a larger cross-section to a smaller cross-section. The elongate member further includes a plurality of flattened regions positioned at discrete locations along the elongate member. Each of the plurality of flattened regions are separated from one another by an unflattened region whereby when a force is exerted onto the guidewire, the guidewire undergoes bending at the plurality of flattened regions.

Abstract: A medical device includes a guidewire extending between a proximal portion defining a proximal end and a distal portion defining a distal end. The distal portion includes a radially expandable part, and the guidewire is movable between a retracted configuration in which the part is radially retracted and an expanded configuration in which the part is radially expanded. The part is radiopaque.

Abstract: A system of medical devices includes a radiofrequency generator, a stylet, and an introducer. The stylet includes an elongate shaft having a shaft proximal portion and a shaft distal portion defining a shaft distal end. The shaft is rigid. A radiofrequency puncture electrode is at the shaft distal end. The radiofrequency puncture electrode is electrically connectable to the radiofrequency generator. The introducer includes an elongate tube extending between a tube proximal portion and a tube distal portion defining a tube distal end. The shaft is receivable in the tube with the electrode proud of the tube distal end.

Abstract: A system of medical devices includes a puncture device and an introducer. The puncture device extends from a puncture device proximal end to a puncture device distal end. The puncture device includes a radiofrequency puncture electrode at the puncture device distal end. The electrode is radiopaque. The introducer extends between an introducer proximal end and an introducer distal end. The introducer has a lumen extending therethrough from the introducer proximal end to the introducer distal end. The introducer includes at least a first radiopaque marker associated with the introducer distal end. The puncture device is advanceable through the lumen from the introducer proximal end towards the introducer distal end to position the puncture device in a puncture position in which the radiofrequency puncture electrode is proud of the introducer distal. When the puncture device is in the puncture position, the electrode is spaced distally from the first radiopaque marker.

Abstract: An elongated medical needle includes an electrically-insulated elongated body having an outer surface extending between an electrically-insulated distal section and an electrically-insulated proximal section. An insulated electrically-conductive wire is aligned proximately along the outer surface between the electrically-insulated distal section and the electrically-insulated proximal section. An exposed electrically-conductive portion is mounted at the electrically-insulated distal section. The exposed electrically-conductive portion is electrically connected to the insulated electrically-conductive wire.