Abstract: A catheter system can include a first catheter having an elongated body that defines a lumen, and a second catheter slidably disposed within the lumen of the first catheter. The second catheter can include an acoustic device. The acoustic device can create a sound for verifying the location of the second catheter within a body lumen. The distal end portion of the second catheter can include a pre-formed bend that extends at a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the first catheter. In some embodiments, the second catheter can be used to aspirate a substance from a body lumen.

Abstract: A catheter system can include a first catheter including a first proximal end portion and a lumen. The first proximal end portion has a first key joint component that extends along a partial length of the first proximal end portion. The catheter system can also include a second catheter including a second key joint component that corresponds with the first key joint component. The first key joint component and the second key joint component are configured to be coupled together when the second catheter is slidably disposed within the lumen of the first catheter such that a rotational orientation of the second catheter is fixed relative to a rotational orientation of the first catheter. The first proximal end portion can be a fitting, and the first key joint component can include an opening defined by the fitting.

Abstract: Rheology system. The system includes a first piezoelectric actuator assembly for providing microscale displacement of a sample and a second piezoelectric actuator assembly for oscillating the sample at a nano/micro scale displacement in a selected frequency range extended significantly as compared to the frequency range available on the commercial AFMs. A preferred sample is cartilage and the disclosed system can distinguish between normal cartilage and GAG-depleted cartilage.

Abstract: A catheter system can include a first catheter having an elongated body that defines a lumen, and a second catheter slidably disposed within the lumen of the first catheter. The second catheter can include an acoustic device. The acoustic device can create a sound for verifying the location of the second catheter within a body lumen. The distal end portion of the second catheter can include a pre-formed bend that extends at a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the first catheter. In some embodiments, the second catheter can be used to aspirate a substance from a body lumen.

Abstract: A catheter system can include a first catheter having an elongated body that defines a lumen, and a second catheter slidably disposed within the lumen of the first catheter. The lumen of the first catheter can also include a key joint component that corresponds to a key joint component on the second catheter. The distal end portion of the second catheter can include a pre-formed bend that extends at a non-zero angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the first catheter. In some embodiments, the second catheter can be used to aspirate a substance from a body lumen.

Abstract: A catheter system can include a first catheter including a first proximal end portion and a lumen. The first proximal end portion has a first key joint component that extends along a partial length of the first proximal end portion. The catheter system can also include a second catheter including a second key joint component that corresponds with the first key joint component. The first key joint component and the second key joint component are configured to be coupled together when the second catheter is slidably disposed within the lumen of the first catheter such that a rotational orientation of the second catheter is fixed relative to a rotational orientation of the first catheter. The first proximal end portion can be a fitting, and the first key joint component can include an opening defined by the fitting.

Abstract: A catheter includes a catheter shaft, an expandable member coupled to an outer surface of the catheter shaft, and a needle having a distal end portion disposed on an outer side of the catheter shaft adjacent the expandable member. The expandable member is selectively radially expandable from the radial perimeter of the catheter for making contact with a body lumen wall. The needle is configured to extend laterally from the outer side of the catheter shaft at a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft. The needle contacts the expandable member during the selective radial expansion of the expandable member such that the non-zero angle of the extended needle is controlled by the expansion of the expandable member. The radial center of the expandable member can be eccentrically arranged with respect to a longitudinal axis of the catheter. The expandable member can include at least one opening for allowing bodily fluid or gas (e.g.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a concentrically arranged proximal catheter and an inner catheter; a conical tip attached to a distal end of the inner catheter; and at least one articulating assembly disposed on the catheter. The articulating assembly includes a distal ring attached to the inner catheter adjacent a proximal end of the conical tip and a proximal ring having a wedge shaped cross section attached to the distal end of the proximal catheter.

Abstract: The change in tissue impedance due to the change in the extracellular matrix that results from the degradation of cartilage is utilized to detect degradation of articular cartilage. A probe includes electrodes that apply a current to the articular cartilage which results in a current distribution and electric field within the cartilage, along with an associated voltage drop across the electrodes. The amplitude of this voltage drop is then measured and divided by the current applied to determine the tissue impedance. By measuring the impedance of patient tissue and comparing the detected patient impedance to a normal value for the tissue from clinically normal tissue, a determination of whether the patient tissue is degraded, and a determination of the extent of degradation is possible. Preferably, the impedance is measured using a probe with interdigitated electrodes.

Abstract: The change in tissue impedance due to the change in the extracellular matrix that results from the degradation of cartilage is utilized to detect degradation of articular cartilage. A probe comprising electrodes is applies a current to the articular cartilage which results in a current distribution and electric field within the cartilage, along with an associated voltage drop across the electrodes. The amplitude of this voltage drop is then measured and divided by the current applied to determine the tissue impedance. By measuring the impedance of patient tissue and comparing the detected patient impedance to a normal value for the tissue from clinically normal tissue, a determination of whether the patient tissue is degraded and the extent of degradation is possible. Preferably, the impedance is measured using a probe with interdigitated electrodes. By changing which electrodes are utilized, the wavelength of the current distribution changes, allowing the probe to image depth dependent focal lesions.

Abstract: The change in tissue impedance due to the change in the extracellular matrix that results from the degradation of cartilage is utilized to detect degradation of articular cartilage. A probe applies a current to the articular cartilage which results in a current distribution and electric field within the cartilage, along with an associated voltage drop across the electrodes. The amplitude of this voltage drop is then measured and divided by the current applied to determine the tissue impedance. By measuring the impedance of patient tissue and comparing the detected patient impedance to a normal value for the tissue from clinically normal tissue, a determination of whether the patient tissue is degraded and the extent of degradation is possible. Preferably, the impedance is measured using a probe with interdigitated electrodes. By changing which electrodes are utilized, the wavelength of the current distribution changes, allowing the probe to image depth dependent focal lesions.

Abstract: The change in tissue impedance due to the change in the extracellular matrix that results from the degradation of cartilage is utilized to detect degradation of articular cartilage. A probe comprising electrodes is applies a current to the articular cartilage which results in a current distribution and electric field within the cartilage, along with an associated voltage drop across the electrodes. The amplitude of this voltage drop is then measured and divided by the current applied to determine the tissue impedance. By measuring the impedance of patient tissue and comparing the detected patient impedance to a normal value for the tissue from clinically normal tissue, a determination of whether the patient tissue is degraded and the extent of degradation is possible. Preferably, the impedance is measured using a probe with interdigitated electrodes. By changing which electrodes are utilized, the wavelength of the current distribution changes, allowing the probe to image depth dependent focal lesions.

Abstract: The change in tissue impedance due to the change in the extracellular matrix that results from the degradation of cartilage is utilized to detect degradation of articular cartilage. A probe comprising electrodes is applies a current to the articular cartilage which results in a current distribution and electric field within the cartilage, along with an associated voltage drop across the electrodes. The amplitude of this voltage drop is then measured and divided by the current applied to determine the tissue impedance. By measuring the impedance of patient tissue and comparing the detected patient impedance to a normal value for the tissue from clinically normal tissue, a determination of whether the patient tissue is degraded and the extent of degradation is possible. Preferably, the impedance is measured using a probe with interdigitated electrodes. By changing which electrodes are utilized, the wavelength of the current distribution changes, allowing the probe to image depth dependent focal lesions.

Abstract: The change in tissue impedance due to the change in the extracellular matrix that results from the degradation of cartilage is utilized to detect degradation of articular cartilage. A probe comprising electrodes is applies a current to the articular cartilage which results in a current distribution and electric field within the cartilage, along with an associated voltage drop across the electrodes. The amplitude of this voltage drop is then measured and divided by the current applied to determine the tissue impedance. By measuring the impedance of patient tissue and comparing the detected patient impedance to a normal value for the tissue from clinically normal tissue, a determination of whether the patient tissue is degraded and the extent of degradation is possible. Preferably, the impedance is measured using a probe with interdigitated electrodes. By changing which electrodes are utilized, the wavelength of the current distribution changes, allowing the probe to image depth dependent focal lesions.