Abstract: An invasive medical device (10) is disclosed comprising a flexible sheath (11) enveloping at least one lumen (17, 17?) comprising an electrically conductive wire (20) including a deformable actuator (21) for deforming a section of the invasive medical device in response to an electric current provided through the electrically conductive wire, wherein the flexible sheath comprises a set of apertures (31) extending through the flexible sheath to the at least one lumen, said apertures being filled with an adhesive (33) anchoring the deformable actuator to the flexible sheath. A manufacturing method for such an invasive medical device (10) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device with bendable distal end of its elongate body and a system actuating the distal portion of the device is disclosed. A rigid elongate member fixedly attached to a distal portion of a grip structure and forming a pathway for pull-wires, can be manipulated by a control organ, such that an angular displacement of the rigid elongate member within the hollow grip structure with respect to the distal portion of the grip generates bending of the distal portion of the elongate body. The device may further comprise a mechanism for immobilizing the rigid elongate member with respect to the grip in a selected position, such that the bent distal portion of the elongate body remains fixed in the selected position.

Abstract: A device with bendable distal end of its elongate body and a system actuating the distal portion of the device is disclosed. A rigid elongate member fixedly attached to a distal portion of a grip structure and forming a pathway for pull-wires, can be manipulated by a control organ, such that an angular displacement of the rigid elongate member within the hollow grip structure with respect to the distal portion of the grip generates bending of the distal portion of the elongate body. The device may further comprise a mechanism for immobilizing the rigid elongate member with respect to the grip in a selected position, such that the bent distal portion of the elongate body remains fixed in the selected position.

Abstract: A deflectable device (100) comprising an elongate body (110) and a folded elongate member (120) is configured to change an orientation of the distal portion (114) of the elongate body (110) with respect to the proximal portion (112) of the elongate body (110) upon an electrical current flowing through the folded elongate member (120) causing a change of a length of the folded elongate member (120).

Abstract: The presence of the pull wire ring in the distal end portion leads to limited functionality of the distal end of a steerable medical device. A steerable medical device (1) includes a pull wire ring (100a-e) for imparting a bending movement on the steerable medical device. By providing the pull wire ring (100a-e) with an eccentric recess (105a-f) which defines a passage between a first end face (101) and a second end face (105) of the ring, it becomes possible to guide ancillary elements such as electrical lines, data cables and fiber optics past the pull wire ring (100a-e) further towards the distal end of the steerable medical device. By this measure, functionality of the distal end of the medical device is enhanced without obstructing a main lumen of the device.

Abstract: An invasive medical device (10) is disclosed comprising a flexible sheath (11) enveloping at least one lumen (17, 17?) comprising an electrically conductive wire (20) including a deformable actuator (21) for deforming a section of the invasive medical device in response to an electric current provided through the electrically conductive wire, wherein the flexible sheath comprises a set of apertures (31) extending through the flexible sheath to the at least one lumen, said apertures being filled with an adhesive (33) anchoring the deformable actuator to the flexible sheath. A manufacturing method for such an invasive medical device (10) is also disclosed.

Abstract: An internal probe device for insertion into the body of a patient, comprises an elongate body with a plurality of EAP actuators mounted at the surface of the body. The EAP actuators are made to vibrate so that their position becomes visible in a Doppler ultrasound image. The use of EAP actuators to provide vibrations enables individual locations to be identified. In particular, the movement of the EAP actuator may be largely isolated from the main body of the probe. Furthermore, EAP actuators can be thin, lightweight and have a small form factor suitable for application to or within the surface of a probe, such as a catheter, needle or endoscope.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interventional apparatus comprising an interventional device with a handle (6). The handle comprises a) a first guide (20, 51) guiding an optical fiber, which is also guided within the interventional device, from a first proximal opening (14) of the handle to a distal portion (21) of the handle, wherein the first guide only has radii of curvature being larger than 10 mm, and b) a second guide (22) for guiding an elongated interventional instrument from a second proximal opening (13) of the handle to the distal portion of the handle. Since the first guide is relatively straight, the optical fiber is substantially not bent or only slightly bent and the likelihood that the interventional instrument and the optical fiber press against each other can be significantly reduced. This allows for an improved accuracy of determining the position of the interventional device by optical shape sensing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interventional instrument like a catheter comprising an ultrasound unit (41) and a rotation unit (5) for rotating the ultrasound unit, wherein the rotation unit comprises an actuation element (8) being an electroactive polymer or a one-way shape memory alloy for actuating the rotation of the ultrasound unit. Since the rotation unit comprises, as an actuation element for actuating the rotation of the ultrasound unit, an electroactive polymer or a one-way shape memory alloy, the rotation unit with the actuation element can be very compact and small.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elongated device (10). The device (10) comprises an elongated body (12) having a proximal body end portion (14), a distal body end portion (16) and a longitudinal fiber lumen (18) extending from the proximal body end portion (14) to the distal body end portion (16). An optical fiber (20) extends through the fiber lumen (18) and has a distal fiber end portion (22). A socket (24) is arranged at the distal body end portion (16) of the elongated body (12), the socket (24) having a proximal socket end (28) and a distal socket end (30) and a hole (26) in axial alignment with the fiber lumen (18). The distal fiber end portion (22) is inserted in the hole (26), and the socket (24) is radio-opaque.

Abstract: A device with bendable distal end of its elongate body and a system actuating the distal portion of the device is disclosed. A rigid elongate member fixedly attached to a distal portion of a grip structure and forming a pathway for pull-wires, can be manipulated by a control organ, such that an angular displacement of the rigid elongate member within the hollow grip structure with respect to the distal portion of the grip generates bending of the distal portion of the elongate body. The device may further comprise a mechanism for immobilizing the rigid elongate member with respect to the grip in a selected position, such that the bent distal portion of the elongate body remains fixed in the selected position.

Abstract: A shape sensing enabled instrument includes a flexible longitudinal body (300) including a plurality of longitudinal members (310) held together to form a lumen (205). The longitudinal members have frictional contact therebetween and are configured to engage neighboring longitudinal members during bending, twisting or external pressure to maintain dimensions of the lumen. A shape sensing optical fiber (302) is disposed within the lumen.

Abstract: A deflectable device (100) comprising an elongate body (110) and a folded elongate member (120) is configured to change an orientation of the distal portion (114) of the elongate body (110) with respect to the proximal portion (112) of the elongate body (110) upon an electrical current flowing through the folded elongate member (120) causing a change of a length of the folded elongate member (120).

Abstract: The invention relates to an elongated interventional device (1), configured to receive an optical shape sensing fiber (9) and comprising (i) an elongated proximal section (22) including at fixation element (24) at its proximal end, the fixation element (24) being connectable to a reception (25) at a predetermined location (3); and (ii) an elongated distal section (21) connected to the proximal section (22). The proximal section (22) has a lower torsion stiffness than the distal section (21) and comprises at least two substantially co-axial tubes, the outer tube having a lower torsion stiffness than an inner tube. Thus, the elongated interventional device (1) can be affixed to the predetermined location in order to determine its shape and position by means of optical shape sensing without affecting the device's maneuverability, particularly with respect to rotational movements of the distal section (21).

Abstract: An internal probe device for insertion into the body of a patient, comprises an elongate body with a plurality of EAP actuators mounted at the surface of the body. The EAP actuators are made to vibrate so that their position becomes visible in a Doppler ultrasound image. The use of EAP actuators to provide vibrations enables individual locations to be identified. In particular, the movement of the EAP actuator may be largely isolated from the main body of the probe. Furthermore, EAP actuators can be thin, lightweight and have a small form factor suitable for application to or within the surface of a probe, such as a catheter, needle or endoscope.

Abstract: The invention addresses the problem of limited functionality of the distal end of a steerable medical device due to the presence of the pull wire ring in the distal end portion. It relates to a steerable medical device (1) comprising a pull wire ring (100a-e) for imparting a bending movement on the steerable medical device. By providing the pull wire ring (100a-e) with an eccentric recess (105a-f) which defines a passage between a first end face (101) and a second end face (105) of the ring, it becomes possible to guide ancillary elements such as electrical lines, data cables and fiber optics past the pull wire ring (100a-e) further towards the distal end of the steerable medical device. By this measure, functionality of the distal end of the medical device is enhanced without obstructing a main lumen of the device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interventional apparatus comprising an interventional device with a handle (6). The handle comprises a) a first guide (20, 51) guiding an optical fiber, which is also guided within the interventional device, from a first proximal opening (14) of the handle to a distal portion (21) of the handle, wherein the first guide only has radii of curvature being larger than 10 mm, and b) a second guide (22) for guiding an elongated interventional instrument from a second proximal opening (13) of the handle to the distal portion of the handle. Since the first guide is relatively straight, the optical fiber is substantially not bent or only slightly bent and the likelihood that the interventional instrument and the optical fiber press against each other can be significantly reduced. This allows for an improved accuracy of determining the position of the interventional device by optical shape sensing.

Abstract: A guidewire with a cross section of at least a part of its length, comprising a filling material (PLM), a lumen (LM) arranged inside the filling material (PLM) for accommodating an optical fiber (OF) with optical shape sensing properties. One or more stiffening elements (RD) are arranged inside the first material (PLM), wherein the stiffening element(s) (RD) is formed by a material having a higher axial stiffness than the filling material. A braiding structure (BR) encircles all of: the filling material (PLM), the lumen (LM), and the stiffening element(s) (RD). Such guidewire can be designed with a circular symmetric bending behavior, and is thus suitable as an interventional medical device, e.g. for endovascular procedures, and still it can provide optical shape sensing properties.

Abstract: A shape sensing enabled instrument includes a flexible longitudinal body (300) including a plurality of longitudinal members (310) held together to form a lumen (205). The longitudinal members have frictional contact therebetween and are configured to engage neighboring longitudinal members during bending, twisting or external pressure to maintain dimensions of the lumen. A shape sensing optical fiber (302) is disposed within the lumen.