Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a distal tip of an endoscope includes a driver configured to be mounted over a shaft of the endoscope, the driver adapted for generating transverse waves along a length of the shaft. The apparatus may be provided as a retrofit to existing equipment, or as a feature of new equipment. Methods of operation are disclosed.

Abstract: A multifunctional medical device, apparatus or system that is capable of perforating a surgical procedure or operation and also capable of attracting, collecting, removing or reducing debris generated by the surgical procedure or operation, on a subject The apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes, two of which are configured to be in electrical communication with or being electrically connectable to opposite poles of a source of high voltage dc electricity to ionize, attract, collect, and remove or reduce debris. At least one of the electrodes is also configured to be part of a RF circuit to perform a surgical procedure or operation such as tissue cutting, cauterization tissue sealing or coagulating at a surgical site on the subject.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent to a vessel wall. The method includes the steps of generating energy with an energy source; receiving the energy with a plurality of energy guides; and controlling the energy source with a system controller of a catheter system so that the energy from the energy source is sequentially directed to each of the plurality of energy guides in a first firing sequence. The method can include the system controller controlling a firing rate of the energy source to each of the plurality of energy guides. The method can include the system controller controlling a firing sequence to the plurality of energy guides so that an advancing wavefront is generated toward the vascular lesion from near a balloon proximal end and/or from near a balloon distal end.

Abstract: A catheter system for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent to a vessel wall includes an energy source, a plurality of energy guides and a system controller. The energy source generates energy. The plurality of energy guides receive energy from the energy source. The system controller controls the energy source so that the energy is sequentially directed to each of the plurality of energy guides in an advancing wavefront. The system controller controls a firing rate of the energy source to each of the plurality of energy guides. The system controller can control a firing sequence to the plurality of energy guides so that the advancing wavefront is generated toward the vascular lesion from near the balloon proximal end and from near the balloon distal end. The system controller can control the energy source so that light energy from the energy source is alternatively directed to at least two of the plurality of energy guides at a different firing energy level from one another.

Abstract: A catheter system for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient includes a single light source that generates light energy, a first light guide and a second light guide, and a multiplexer. The first light guide and the second light guide are each configured to selectively receive light energy from the light source. The multiplexer receives the light energy from the light source in the form of a source beam and selectively directs the light energy from the light source in the form of individual guide beams to each of the first light guide and the second light guide.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a thermally robust laser probe assembly. The probe assembly comprises a cannula through which one or more optical fibers extend at least partially for transmitting laser light from a laser source to a target location. The probe assembly also comprises a lens housed in the cannula and a protective component at a distal end of the cannula, wherein the lens is positioned between the one or more optical fibers and the protective component, and wherein the distal end of the cannula is sealed at a sealing location of the probe assembly.

Abstract: A multifunctional medical device, apparatus or system that is capable of perforating a surgical procedure or operation and also capable of attracting, collecting, removing or reducing debris generated by the surgical procedure or operation, on a subject The apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes, two of which are configured to be in electrical communication with or being electrically connectable to opposite poles of a source of high voltage dc electricity to ionize, attract, collect, and remove or reduce debris. At least one of the electrodes is also configured to be part of a RF circuit to perform a surgical procedure or operation such as tissue cutting, cauterization tissue sealing or coagulating at a surgical site on the subject.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multifunctional medical device, apparatus or system that is capable of performing a surgical procedure or operation and also capable of removing or reducing smoke particles generated by the surgical procedure or operation on a subject, the apparatus comprising a plurality of electrodes, two of which are configured to be in electrical communication with or being electrically connectable to opposite poles of a source of high voltage dc electricity to ionize, and remove or reduce smoke particles, and at least one of which is also configured to be part of a RF circuit to perform a surgical procedure or operation such as tissue cutting, cauterization, tissue sealing or coagulating at a surgical site on the subject. Also disclosed is a method of employing the above disclosed device, apparatus or system or variations thereof to perform a surgical procedure or operation at a surgical site and to remove or reduce smoke particles generated during the surgical procedure or operation.

Abstract: A catheter system for treating a vascular lesion within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient includes a catheter fluid, an energy source that generates energy, an energy guide and an energy manifold. The energy guide includes a guide distal end that is selectively positioned near the vascular lesion. The energy guide is configured to receive energy from the energy source and generate a plasma bubble within the catheter fluid. The energy manifold is coupled to the energy guide near the guide distal end. The energy manifold includes (i) a manifold body that defines a body chamber, the body chamber being configured to retain at least some of the catheter fluid, and (ii) a manifold aperture that extends through the manifold body. The energy manifold directs energy from the plasma bubble out of the body chamber through the manifold aperture and toward the vascular lesion.

Abstract: A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a blood vessel within a body of a patient, the treatment site having a proximal region and a distal region, includes an energy source, a guide shaft, and an energy guide. The energy source generates energy. The guide shaft is positionable adjacent to the treatment site. The energy guide receives energy from the energy source. The energy guide is movably coupled to the guide shaft. The energy guide includes a guide distal end that is configured to be positioned adjacent to the treatment site. The guide distal end of the energy guide is selectively movable relative to the guide shaft and adjacent to and between the proximal region and the distal region of the treatment site while the energy guide receives energy from the energy source.

Abstract: Twisted pair communication cables that include reduced or minimal use of colorant may include a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated conductors, and the respective insulation formed around each conductor included in the plurality of twisted pairs may include one or more polymeric materials that are not blended or compounded with any colorant. A plurality of dielectric separators may be provided including a dielectric separator respectively positioned between the individually insulated conductors of each of the plurality of twisted pairs. Physical indicia may be selectively formed on at least two of the plurality of dielectric separators, and the physical indicia may facilitate identification of the plurality of twisted pairs. A jacket may be formed around the plurality of twisted pairs and the plurality of dielectric separators.

Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for defining and executing functions for determining a matching entity that is relevant to an entity of interest when, for example, there is a significant number of intermediary links and entities between the matching entity and the entity of interest. A visual depiction of a path traversal from a seed input entity to an output matched entity can be presented to an end user in a manner that allows the end user to ascertain the sequence of intermediary links and entities that connect the matched entity to the seed entity.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis for replacing a native atrioventricular valve of the heart. The prosthesis includes a housing component that is configured to be radially expandable and compressible between a radially compressed state and a radially expanded state to engage structure of the native atrioventricular valve to fix the housing component relative to the native atrioventricular valve. The housing component includes a housing body and an annular sealing element connected to an atrial end of the housing body. The annular sealing element is made of polyester and is reinforced with wire. A valve component is configured to be radially expandable and compressible between a radially compressed state and a radially expanded state within the housing component. The valve component includes a valve body having a valve passage extending therethrough and three leaflets made from pericardium secured to the valve body.

Abstract: A backup including a radially inwardly disposed circumferentially continuous ring; a radially outwardly disposed circumferentially discontinuous ring, the circumferentially discontinuous ring comprising a plurality of segments arranged to overlap adjacent ones thereof about a circumference of the circumferentially discontinuous ring.

Abstract: A system with methodology for providing multi-language support for dynamic ontology. In one embodiment, for example, a method comprises: storing an ontology for a data store, wherein the ontology comprises a plurality of data types; for each data type of the plurality of data types: storing, in the ontology, one or more display values, wherein each display value is associated with a locale; determining a locale identifier corresponding to a particular locale; selecting a particular display value corresponding to the particular locale; displaying the particular display value.

Abstract: A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a blood vessel includes a power source, a light guide and a plasma target. In various embodiments, the light guide receives power from the power source. The light guide has a distal tip, and the light guide emits light energy in a direction away from the distal tip. The plasma target is spaced apart from the distal tip of the light guide by a target gap distance. The plasma target is configured to receive light energy from the light guide so that a plasma bubble is generated at the plasma target. The power source can be a laser and the light guide can be an optical fiber. In certain embodiments, the catheter system can also an inflatable balloon that encircles the distal tip of the light guide. The plasma target can be positioned within the inflatable balloon. The target gap distance can be greater than 1 ?m. The plasma target can have a target face that receives the light energy from the light guide.

Abstract: Twisted pair communication cables that include reduced or minimal use of colorant may include a plurality of twisted pairs of individually insulated conductors, and the respective insulation formed around each conductor included in the plurality of twisted pairs may not be blended or compounded with any colorant. Physical indicia may be selectively formed on respective outer surfaces of the insulation of at least two of the plurality of twisted pairs. The physical indicia may include colorant that occupies less than 5.0% of a surface area of the insulation on which it is formed, and the physical indicia facilitate identification of the plurality of twisted pairs. A jacket may formed around the plurality of twisted pairs.

Abstract: A method of treating a heart includes radially expanding a housing component within a native atrioventricular valve. The housing component includes an atrial anchoring mechanism for deployment in the left atrium and ventricular prongs for engagement with native tissue in the left ventricle. The housing component also includes an interior passageway sized for receiving a valve component. After the housing component has been deployed, the valve component is radially expanded within the passageway of the housing component. The valve component includes three leaflets configured for allowing blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. After expansion within the housing component, the valve component may have an inflow end portion that protrudes above the housing component into the left atrium. The housing component and valve component are preferably collapsible for advancement through a patient's vasculature using one or more catheters.

Abstract: A method of treating a heart includes radially expanding a housing component within a native atrioventricular valve. The housing component includes an atrial anchoring mechanism for deployment in the left atrium and ventricular prongs for engagement with native tissue in the left ventricle. The housing component also includes an interior passageway sized for receiving a valve component. After the housing component has been deployed, the valve component is radially expanded within the passageway of the housing component. The valve component includes three leaflets configured for allowing blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. After expansion within the housing component, the valve component may have an inflow end portion that protrudes above the housing component into the left atrium. The housing component and valve component are preferably collapsible for advancement through a patient's vasculature using one or more catheters.

Abstract: A backup including a radially inwardly disposed circumferentially continuous ring; a radially outwardly disposed circumferentially discontinuous ring, the circumferentially discontinuous ring comprising a plurality of segments arranged to overlap adjacent ones thereof about a circumference of the circumferentially discontinuous ring.