Abstract: An intravascular imaging system includes a catheter with an elongate outer sheath and a torque cable axially translatable and rotatable in the elongate outer sheath, a pullback and rotation unit for axially translating and rotating the torque cable, a sensor configured to provide an output indicative of an axial force exerted by the torque cable on a rotor in the pullback and rotation unit, and a controller configured to cause the pullback and rotation unit to operate in a remedial mode if the output exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An intravascular imaging system includes a catheter with an elongate outer sheath and a torque cable axially translatable and rotatable in the elongate outer sheath, a pullback and rotation unit for axially translating and rotating the torque cable, a sensor configured to provide an output indicative of an axial force exerted by the torque cable on a rotor in the pullback and rotation unit, and a controller configured to cause the pullback and rotation unit to operate in a remedial mode if the output exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method of imaging a vessel with a catheter includes positioning an imaging tip in a reinforced terminal section of an outer sheath of the catheter, inserting the catheter into a vessel, and performing near infrared spectroscopy of the vessel by retracting the imaging tip to a retracted position proximally spaced from the reinforced terminal section of the outer sheath, transmitting near infrared light from the imaging tip to the vessel wall via the outer sheath, and collecting near infrared light from the vessel wall at the imaging tip via the outer sheath. Transmitting and collecting may be performed after retracting the cable and while the imaging tip is rotated and translated proximally from the retracted position along the outer sheath. Ultrasound energy may be transmitted to the vessel from a transducer on the imaging tip and received from the vessel at the transducer.

Abstract: An intraluminal imaging catheter comprises an outer sheath of material that is efficiently transmissive of near infrared light, a guidewire lumen section extending distally from a distal end of the outer sheath, a terminal length section of the outer sheath extending proximally from the guidewire lumen section, a cable longitudinally and rotatably disposed lengthwise within the outer sheath and having an imaging tip located at its distal end including optical components for transmitting and receiving near infrared light, wherein the cable is longitudinally extendable to position the imaging tip at the terminal length section of the outer sheath, and reinforcement means for structurally reinforcing the terminal length section of the outer sheath against transverse bending or kinking.

Abstract: A method of imaging a vessel with a catheter includes positioning an imaging tip in a reinforced terminal section of an outer sheath of the catheter, inserting the catheter into a vessel, and performing near infrared spectroscopy of the vessel by retracting the imaging tip to a retracted position proximally spaced from the reinforced terminal section of the outer sheath, transmitting near infrared light from the imaging tip to the vessel wall via the outer sheath, and collecting near infrared light from the vessel wall at the imaging tip via the outer sheath. Transmitting and collecting may be performed after retracting the cable and while the imaging tip is rotated and translated proximally from the retracted position along the outer sheath. Ultrasound energy may be transmitted to the vessel from a transducer on the imaging tip and received from the vessel at the transducer.

Abstract: An intraluminal imaging catheter comprises an outer sheath of material that is efficiently transmissive of near infrared light, a guidewire lumen section extending distally from a distal end of the outer sheath, a terminal length section of the outer sheath extending proximally from the guidewire lumen section, a cable longitudinally and rotatably disposed lengthwise within the outer sheath and having an imaging tip located at its distal end including optical components for transmitting and receiving near infrared light, wherein the cable is longitudinally extendable to position the imaging tip at the terminal length section of the outer sheath, and reinforcement means for structurally reinforcing the terminal length section of the outer sheath against transverse bending or kinking.

Abstract: An intravascular imaging system includes a catheter with an elongate outer sheath and a torque cable axially translatable and rotatable in the elongate outer sheath, a pullback and rotation unit for axially translating and rotating the torque cable, a sensor configured to provide an output indicative of an axial force exerted by the torque cable on a rotor in the pullback and rotation unit, and a controller configured to cause the pullback and rotation unit to operate in a remedial mode if the output exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An intraluminal imaging catheter comprises an outer sheath of material that is efficiently transmissive of near infrared light, a guidewire lumen section extending distally from a distal end of the outer sheath, a terminal length section of the outer sheath extending proximally from the guidewire lumen section, a cable longitudinally and rotatably disposed lengthwise within the outer sheath and having an imaging tip located at its distal end including optical components for transmitting and receiving near infrared light, wherein the cable is longitudinally extendable to position the imaging tip at the terminal length section of the outer sheath, and reinforcement means for structurally reinforcing the terminal length section of the outer sheath against transverse bending or kinking.

Abstract: A method of imaging a vessel with a catheter includes positioning an imaging tip in a reinforced terminal section of an outer sheath of the catheter, inserting the catheter into a vessel, and performing near infrared spectroscopy of the vessel by retracting the imaging tip to a retracted position proximally spaced from the reinforced terminal section of the outer sheath, transmitting near infrared light from the imaging tip to the vessel wall via the outer sheath, and collecting near infrared light from the vessel wall at the imaging tip via the outer sheath. Transmitting and collecting may be performed after retracting the cable and while the imaging tip is rotated and translated proximally from the retracted position along the outer sheath. Ultrasound energy may be transmitted to the vessel from a transducer on the imaging tip and received from the vessel at the transducer.

Abstract: A technique for adaptively disrupting UAVs detects a target UAV using a camera, monitors the target UAV's communications using a directional antenna aligned with the camera, and attempts to communicate with the target UAV to request that it land, fly away, or return to launch. With the camera trained on the UAV, the directional antenna detects down-link signals from the UAV, which the UAV may employ to communicate with a ground-based controller. Control circuitry analyzes the down-link signals and generates a disrupting signal based thereon. The disrupting signal shares characteristics with the down-link signal, such as its protocol, bit rate, and/or packet length. The directional antenna transmits the disrupting signal back toward the UAV to affect the UAV's flight.

Abstract: A technique for adaptively disrupting UAVs detects a target UAV using a camera, monitors the target UAV's communications using a directional antenna aligned with the camera, and attempts to communicate with the target UAV to request that it land, fly away, or return to launch. With the camera trained on the UAV, the directional antenna detects down-link signals from the UAV, which the UAV may employ to communicate with a ground-based controller. Control circuitry analyzes the down-link signals and generates a disrupting signal based thereon. The disrupting signal shares characteristics with the down-link signal, such as its protocol, bit rate, and/or packet length. The directional antenna transmits the disrupting signal back toward the UAV to affect the UAV's flight.

Abstract: A system for modifying a heart valve annulus includes a helically helical anchored annuloplasty device delivered to the annulus via an elongated delivery member. The helical anchors of the devices disclosed herein are rotated into the valve annulus along an anchor guide by using a driver that is movably disposed in the delivery member. A tether is disposed within an inner channel of the helical anchor and a locking device is used to secure the annuloplasty device after the valve annulus has been modified. The annuloplasty device can be delivered to the annulus using, traditional surgical approach or a minimally invasive or catheter based methods.

Abstract: A method for modifying a heart valve annulus includes placing a purse string suture at a puncture site adjacent a heart valve, inserting at least one delivery member through the puncture site, positioning a distal end of the at least one delivery member adjacent a portion of a valve annulus, deploying an annuloplasty device carried within the at least one delivery member and implanting the annuloplasty device into the valve annulus. The method also includes reshaping the heart valve annulus after implantation of the at least one annuloplasty device.

Abstract: A system for modifying a heart valve annulus includes a helically helical anchored annuloplasty device delivered to the annulus via an elongated delivery member. The helical anchors of the devices disclosed herein are rotated into the valve annulus along an anchor guide by using a driver that is movably disposed in the delivery member. A tether is disposed within an inner channel of the helical anchor and a locking device is used to secure the annuloplasty device after the valve annulus has been modified. The annuloplasty device can be delivered to the annulus using, traditional surgical approach or a minimally invasive or catheter based methods.

Abstract: A system for modifying a heart valve annulus includes a helically helical anchored annuloplasty device delivered to the annulus via an elongated delivery member. The helical anchors of the devices disclosed herein are rotated into the valve annulus along an anchor guide by using a driver that is movably disposed in the delivery member. A tether is disposed within an inner channel of the helical anchor and a locking device is used to secure the annuloplasty device after the valve annulus has been modified. The annuloplasty device can be delivered to the annulus using, traditional surgical approach or a minimally invasive or catheter based methods.

Abstract: A system for modifying a heart valve annulus includes a helically helical anchored annuloplasty device delivered to the annulus via an elongated delivery member. The helical anchors of the devices disclosed herein are rotated into the valve annulus along an anchor guide by using a driver that is movably disposed in the delivery member. A tether is disposed within an inner channel of the helical anchor and a locking device is used to secure the annuloplasty device after the valve annulus has been modified. The annuloplasty device can be delivered to the annulus using, traditional surgical approach or a minimally invasive or catheter based methods.

Abstract: A system for modifying a heart valve annulus includes a helically helical anchored annuloplasty device delivered to the annulus via an elongated delivery member. The helical anchors of the devices disclosed herein are rotated into the valve annulus along an anchor guide by using a driver that is movably disposed in the delivery member. A tether is disposed within an inner channel of the helical anchor and a locking device is used to secure the annuloplasty device after the valve annulus has been modified. The annuloplasty device can be delivered to the annulus using, traditional surgical approach or a minimally invasive or catheter based methods.

Abstract: A method for modifying a heart valve annulus includes placing a purse string suture at a puncture site adjacent a heart valve, inserting at least one delivery member through the puncture site, positioning a distal end of the at least one delivery member adjacent a portion of a valve annulus, deploying an annuloplasty device carried within the at least one delivery member and implanting the annuloplasty device into the valve annulus. The method also includes reshaping the heart valve annulus after implantation of the at least one annuloplasty device.

Abstract: A catheter-based, annulus reduction device and system for cardiac valve repair and method of using the same. The system is usable for treating mitral valve regurgitation and comprises a catheter, a reduction ring carried within the catheter, the reduction ring including a plurality of exit ports formed in a side wall of the reduction ring and filament received in the reduction ring. The filament includes a plurality of radially extendible barbs corresponding to the sidewall openings. The reduction ring carrying the filament is deployed adjacent a mitral valve annulus and the filament is translated relative to the reduction ring to deploy the barbs through the exit ports and into the annulus and to further translate the reduction ring with deployed barbs to reshape the annulus.

Abstract: An apparatus for temporary prevention of embolization in a human blood vessel. The apparatus comprises a body that is transformable between a radially collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration sized and shaped for sealing against an inner wall of the vessel to at least partially obstruct fluid flowing there through, the body having a vasodilator coating.