Abstract: A photoacoustic catheter adapted for placement within a blood vessel having a vessel wall includes an elongate shaft, a balloon and a photoacoustic transducer. The elongate shaft can extend from a proximal region to a distal region. The elongate shaft can include a light guide that is configured to be placed in optical communication with a light source. The balloon is coupled to the elongate shaft, and can be configured to expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the photoacoustic catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the photoacoustic catheter in position relative to a treatment site. The photoacoustic transducer can be disposed on a surface of the balloon and in optical communication with the light guide. The photoacoustic transducer can include a light-absorbing material and a thermal expansion material.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to regulate operation of the drive mechanism. A guidewire motion detector is adapted to detect movement of the guidewire. The controller is further adapted to take action when the guidewire motion detector detects movement of the guidewire relative to the drive mechanism while the drive mechanism is operating.

Abstract: A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) includes an energy source (124), a balloon (104), an energy guide (122A), and a balloon integrity protection system (142). The energy source (124) generates pulses of energy. The balloon (104) is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site (106). The balloon (104) has a balloon wall (130) that defines a balloon interior (146). The balloon (104) is configured to retain a balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The energy guide (122A) is configured to receive the energy from the energy source (124) and guide the energy into the balloon interior (146) so that plasma is formed in the balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The balloon integrity protection system (142) is operatively coupled to the balloon (104).

Abstract: Disclosed is a robot for performing three-dimensional (“3D”) or multi-plane sortation and/or order fulfillment. The robot may include a motorized base to move about a first plane, a lift that raises and lowers a dispensing receptacle atop the lift about a second plane, and one or more actuators that modify a position of the dispensing receptacle from an upright position to a first tilted position in which the dispensing receptacle is tilted towards a first side of the robot and to a second tilted position in which the dispensing receptacle is tilted towards an opposite second side of the robot. The robot may receive and carry items when the dispensing receptacle is in the upright position, and may dispense the items to a destination on either side of the robot by tilting the dispensing receptacle to the first tilted position or the second tilted position.

Abstract: A catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures at a treatment site within or adjacent a blood vessel wall includes a catheter, a fortified balloon inflation fluid and a first light guide. The catheter includes an elongate shaft and a balloon that is coupled to the elongate shaft. The balloon has a balloon wall and can expand to a first expanded configuration to anchor the catheter in position relative. The fortified balloon inflation fluid can expand the balloon to the first expanded configuration. The fortified balloon inflation fluid includes a base inflation fluid and a fortification component. The fortification component reduces a threshold for inducing plasma formation in the fortified balloon inflation fluid compared to the base inflation fluid. The fortification component can include at least one of carbon and iron. The first light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is positioned at least partially within the balloon.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a housing and a drive mechanism disposed within the housing, the drive mechanism including a knob that allows translation of the drive mechanism relative to the housing. A sensor is adapted to output a signal representative of a current position of the knob relative to the housing. A controller is adapted to receive the signal representative of the current position of the knob. The controller may be adapted to quantify operation of the atherectomy system.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a housing and a drive mechanism disposed within the housing, the drive mechanism including a knob that allows translation of the drive mechanism relative to the housing. A sensor is adapted to detect a current position of the knob relative to the housing. A controller is adapted to utilize the signal representative of the current position of the knob to ascertain whether the drive assembly is moving in a direction indicative of anterograde ablation or a direction indicative of retrograde ablation. A stall stop mechanism is adapted to move the drive assembly in a direction opposite a direction of ablation when a stall is determined to be imminent. The controller is further adapted to determine when a stall is imminent, and to actuate the stall stop mechanism in an appropriate direction when a stall is imminent.

Abstract: An atherectomy burr adapted for use in an atherectomy system includes an atherectomy burr body adapted to be secured to a driveshaft. The atherectomy burr body has an outer surface defining a distal tapered surface and a proximal tapered surface, where the distal tapered surface has a first abrasiveness adapted for anterograde ablation and the proximal tapered surface has a second abrasiveness adapted for retrograde ablation. In some cases, the first abrasiveness is greater than the second abrasiveness.

Abstract: A catheter system for pressure wave and inertial impulse generation for intravascular lesion disruption at a treatment site includes a catheter including an elongate shaft and balloon coupled to the elongate shaft. The catheter system includes a light guide disposed along the elongate shaft and at least partially within the balloon, where the light guide is in optical communication with a light source and a balloon fluid. The catheter can include a first focusing element located at a distal portion of the light guide and in optical communication with the light source. The first focusing element can direct light from within the light guide to a first location at a first distance away from the distal portion of the light guide to initiate plasma formation in the balloon fluid away from the distal portion and to cause rapid bubble formation, thereby imparting pressure waves at the treatment site.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to identification of anthropometric information for fitting of compression garments. In one example, a method of generating compression garment fit information includes acquiring images including a selected body part or body area in need of compression therapy; processing the acquired images along with a library of compression garment fit information; generating a 3D reconstruction of the selected body part/area; deriving anthropometric information for the selected body part/area from the 3D reconstruction; providing a compression value corresponding to a prescribed or intended amount of compression therapy applied to the selected body part/area; and generating compression garment fit information for the selected body part/area.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to operate the drive mechanism in a first operating mode in which the atherectomy burr is operated at a speed reference and with a predetermined torque limit. The controller is adapted to determine when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck while in the first operating mode and is further adapted to, when the atherectomy burr becomes stuck, operate the drive mechanism in a second operating mode that is different from the first operating mode.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to identification of anthropometric information for fitting of compression garments. In one example, a method of generating compression garment fit information includes acquiring images including a selected body part or body area in need of compression therapy; processing the acquired images along with a library of compression garment fit information; generating a 3D reconstruction of the selected body part/area; deriving anthropometric information for the selected body part/area from the 3D reconstruction; providing a compression value corresponding to a prescribed or intended amount of compression therapy applied to the selected body part/area; and generating compression garment fit information for the selected body part/area.

Abstract: A catheter system (100) for placement within a treatment site (106) at a vessel wall (208A) or a heart valve includes an energy source (124), a balloon (104), an energy guide (122A), and a tissue identification system (142). The energy source (124) generates energy. The balloon (104) is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site (106). The balloon (104) has a balloon wall (130) that defines a balloon interior (146). The balloon (104) is configured to retain a balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The energy guide (122A) is configured to receive energy from the energy source (124) and guide the energy into the balloon interior (146) so that plasma is formed in the balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The tissue identification system (142) is configured to spectroscopically analyze tissue within the treatment site (106).

Abstract: A catheter system includes a catheter having an elongate shaft, a balloon and a light guide. The balloon expands from a collapsed configuration to a first expanded configuration. The light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is in optical communication with a light source and a balloon fluid. A first portion of the light guide extends into a recess defined by the elongate shaft. A protection structure is disposed within the recess and is in contact with the first portion of the light guide. The light source provides pulses of light to the balloon fluid, thereby initiating plasma formation and rapid bubble formation within the balloon, thereby imparting pressure waves upon a vascular lesion. The protection structure can provide structural protection from the pressure waves to the first portion of the light guide.

Abstract: A braking system includes an actuating unit for specifying a braking intention, and multiple braking devices. A first braking device includes a wheel brake, onto which a drivable pressure generator is able to apply a pressure medium, which is under braking pressure, the pressure generator being contactable with a pressure medium reservoir via a supply line. A second braking device, for converting kinetic energy of the motor vehicle into electric energy, is equipped with a drivable electric machine. The two braking devices jointly contribute to the generation of the braking power of the braking system, the respective proportion of a braking device in the braking power being variable. A connection is established, through which pressure medium is able to flow, from the wheel brake to the pressure medium reservoir using an electronic control unit, when the second braking device is able to itself generate the braking power.

Abstract: A catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures at a treatment site within or adjacent a blood vessel wall includes a catheter, a fortified balloon inflation fluid and a first light guide. The catheter includes an elongate shaft and a balloon that is coupled to the elongate shaft. The balloon has a balloon wall and can expand to a first expanded configuration to anchor the catheter in position relative. The fortified balloon inflation fluid can expand the balloon to the first expanded configuration. The fortified balloon inflation fluid includes a base inflation fluid and a fortification component. The fortification component reduces a threshold for inducing plasma formation in the fortified balloon inflation fluid compared to the base inflation fluid. The fortification component can include at least one of carbon and iron. The first light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is positioned at least partially within the balloon.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to identification of anthropometric information for fitting of compression garments. In one example, a method of generating compression garment fit information includes acquiring images including a selected body part or body area in need of compression therapy; processing the acquired images along with a library of compression garment fit information; generating a 3D reconstruction of the selected body part/area; deriving anthropometric information for the selected body part/area from the 3D reconstruction; providing a compression value corresponding to a prescribed or intended amount of compression therapy applied to the selected body part/area; and generating compression garment fit information for the selected body part/area.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating dynamic voicemail greetings are disclosed. According to an implementation, a voice call made from a caller to a recipient is directed to a voicemail server when the recipient is unreachable. The voicemail server may determine a relationship between the caller and the recipient. The voicemail server may further determine at least one of location data, event data, or time data associated with the recipient. The voicemail server may obtain the real-time location and event data from the recipient's phone and combine it with the saved location and event data to determine the content for the voicemail greeting message. The voicemail server may further select one or more templates based on the relationship between the caller and the recipient and the location and event content and generate a dynamic greeting message to be transmitted to the caller.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to systems and methods for intravascular lesion disruption. In an embodiment, a catheter system for imparting pressure to induce fractures upon a vascular lesion within or adjacent a blood vessel wall is included. The system includes a catheter configured to advance to a vascular lesion, the catheter including an elongate shaft that defines at least a first orifice for fluid flow; a balloon, coupled to the elongate shaft, that surrounds the first orifice where the balloon can expand from a collapsed configuration suitable for advancing the catheter through a patient's vasculature to a first expanded configuration suitable for anchoring the catheter in position relative to a treatment site; and a propulsion system configured to propel a fluid from the first orifice toward the balloon wall to create an inertial impulse in a vessel wall to transfer momentum to the vascular lesion. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: An atherectomy system includes a handle having a handle housing, with a drive member extending through the handle housing and operably coupled to an atherectomy burr. A drive mechanism is disposed within the handle housing and is adapted to rotatably engage the drive member. The drive mechanism may include an electric drive motor, a drive gear that is rotatably engaged with the electric drive motor and a driven gear that is coupled with the drive member and is engaged with the drive gear such that rotation of the driven gear causes rotation of the drive member. The drive mechanism may be configured to enable a rotation speed of the atherectomy burr of up to at least about 200,000 revolutions per minute (rpm).