Abstract: Disclosed is a flexible medical guide wire assembly configured to be inserted into a confined space defined by a living body. A sensor assembly is securely supported by the flexible medical guidewire assembly. This is done in such a way that the sensor assembly and the flexible medical guidewire assembly are movable along the confined space defined by the living body once the flexible medical guidewire assembly is inserted into, and moved along, the confined space defined by the living body. Also disclosed is an electrical-connector assembly having a connector terminal. The connector terminal is configured to be electrically connectable with a terminal portion of a flexible medical guidewire assembly. The terminal portion is electrically connected, via an electrical wire, to a sensor assembly of the flexible medical guidewire assembly.

Abstract: A stop-movement device is configured to be mounted to a first elongated medical assembly and a second elongated medical assembly. The stop-movement device has a body configured to stop, at least in part, relative movement between the second elongated medical assembly and the first elongated medical assembly.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device comprises an electrically conductive elongate member for traversing body vasculature defining a hollow lumen with one or more apertures at or near its distal end, wherein electrical energy can flow through the wall of the elongate member; and an energy delivery device in electrical communication with the elongate member is located distal to the end of the elongate member. The energy delivery device includes an electrode for delivering energy. Methods of using the electrosurgical device include cutting through occlusions and creating transseptal punctures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for an elongated introducer assembly and an elongated guidewire assembly. The elongated introducer assembly is manipulated and positioned proximate to a first biological wall. An elongated guidewire assembly is selectively maneuvered along the elongated introducer assembly and is comprised of a distal tip, distal portion, and elongated shaft section. The distal portion is further comprised of a flexible preset spatial geometry which comprises a distal length and distal deflective portion. The distal tip is used to puncture the first biological wall and the distal deflective portion directs the distal length away from a second biological wall positioned proximate to the first biological wall.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing forward fluid delivery through an electrosurgical device, while avoiding coring when energy is delivered to the electrosurgical device. The device has a distal face defining an opening, with the distal face including at least one cutting portion and at least one non-cutting portion. An embodiment of the electrosurgical device for puncturing tissue includes an elongate member defining a lumen for fluid; a distal portion including an electrode and the distal face which defines at least one aperture. The portion of the at least one cutting portion defines a leading portion partially surrounding a circumference of the at least one aperture wherein the outer diameter of the at least one of the distal portion of the electrosurgical device or the electrode decreases towards a distal tip of the electrosurgical device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for ensuring safe dilation after puncture. The method includes puncturing the target tissue via a distal tip with the puncturing device. The flexible puncturing device is advanced through the puncture into a cardiac space and visualizing the flexible puncturing device using a visualization system. The user checks the constraints imposed on the flexible puncturing device within the new cardiac space.

Abstract: An appliance operation signal processing system comprises: an input for receiving an appliance operation signal, the appliance operation signal comprising information relating to operation of an appliance; an output for outputting information relating to a recall status of the appliance; and a processor configured to: monitor an input appliance operation signal for a change in magnitude; if a change is detected: identify a component event corresponding to the change; determine whether the component event is a designated sequence start component event; if the component event is determined to be a designated sequence start component event: extract one or more features from the input appliance operation signal between the sequence start component event and a sequence stop point; determine information relating to a recall status of the appliance by inputting the one or more features into a first algorithm.

Abstract: A method of producing vehicles comprises: in a vehicle production process, manufacturing vehicle components of different types, and assembling the vehicle components to form vehicles; creating a set of vehicle records, each being a record of one of the vehicles entering active service; performing vehicle repairs on a subset of the vehicles after they have entered active service; creating a respective record of each of the vehicle repairs, each of which comprises or indicates a vehicle age or usage value, and records a vehicle component fault identified in the vehicle repair; receiving at a data processing stage the vehicle records and vehicle repair records, wherein a predictive algorithm executed at the data processing stage processes the received records so as to, for each type of vehicle component: 1) identify a respective set of the vehicle repair records relating to that type of vehicle component, and 2) use the respective set of vehicle repair records to predict a respective number of or resource value

Abstract: An elongated medical assembly is configured to be maneuverable proximate to a first biological feature of a patient. The elongated medical assembly is also configured to facilitate movement along an elongated length of the elongated medical assembly of a first medical device and a second medical device.

Abstract: A medical sheath includes an elongate member having a proximal portion defining a proximal end and a distal portion defining a distal end. A first lumen extends through the elongate member and is open at the proximal and the distal end for passage of a medical device through the lumen. The medical sheath further includes an anchoring mechanism that is deployable from the elongate member. The anchoring mechanism includes an anchor that is removably securable to an anatomical feature to secure the elongate member to the anatomical feature, and a connector securing the anchor to the elongate member.

Abstract: A medical dilator includes an elongate member having a proximal end portion, an opposed distal end portion, and a lumen extending through the elongate member from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. A dilating tip is at the distal end portion. The dilating tip has a first end of enlarged cross-sectional area and tapers going in the distal direction to a second end of reduced cross-sectional area. At least a first electrode is associated with the dilating tip. An electrical conductor is electrically connected to the first electrode and extends proximally from the first electrode towards the proximal end portion for electrical connection with an electroanatomical mapping system.

Abstract: A system of medical devices includes a first medical device, a second medical device, an RLC circuit, a processor, and an output device. The first medical device includes an elongate member having a lumen. The second medical device includes a needle advanceable through the lumen. The RLC circuit includes an excitation voltage source, a resistor, a capacitor, an inductor, and an output voltage sensor. The inductor includes a coil that is supported by the first medical device and wound around the lumen. As the needle is advanced through the lumen, an output voltage of the RLC circuit is an indicator of a longitudinal position of the needle with respect to the elongate member. The voltage sensor is configured to sense the output voltage, and the processor and output device are configured to generate an output that is an indicator of the longitudinal position of the needle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for creating a puncture in a tissue. The assembly includes a puncturing device having a distal tip configured to deliver energy to the tissue, creating the puncture. The puncturing device further includes a marker positioned along the puncturing device. The assembly further includes a dilator which has a lumen extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion and configured to receive the puncturing device. The dilator further comprises a sensor positioned along a length of the dilator. When the marker and the sensor are aligned, energy is delivered to the distal tip of the puncturing device.

Abstract: A system comprising a generator which is capable of supplying energy for puncturing a tissue and an electrical current of known voltage, wherein the electrical current of known voltage can pass through the tissue without damaging the tissue. The system also includes a puncturing device comprising an elongate member. A distal tip of the elongate member comprises an energy delivery device which is configured for delivering the energy for puncturing and two electrodes which are configured for delivering the electrical current of known voltage from one electrode to the other through a material which is in contact with the distal tip. The system further includes a sensor which is capable of detecting a value of the electrical current between the two electrodes. The generator comprises a generator switch for disabling energy delivery tip based on the value of the electric current detected by the sensor.

Abstract: An elongated guidewire assembly has a distal segment configured to be selectively maneuvered, along an elongated Introducer assembly. The distal segment is configured to selectively transmit a tenting force from the elongated guidewire assembly to the first biological wall after the distal segment has contacted, at least in part, the first biological wall and the distal segment has been selectively protracted away from the distal introducer assembly.

Abstract: A lock for positioning a first medical device with respect to a second medical device includes a spacer for preventing advancement of the first medical device towards the second medical device. The spacer is movable between a lock position and an unlock position. In the lock position, the spacer is moved transverse to the longitudinal axis with respect to the unlock position. The lock further includes a rotary stop integral with the spacer for fixing the rotational position of the first medical device with respect to the second medical device. The lock further includes a clip integral with the spacer and removably securable to the first medical device in a first position to secure the spacer in the unlock position, and removably securable to the first medical device in a second position to secure the spacer in the lock position.

Abstract: A method for carrying out a medical procedure includes advancing a medical device towards a puncture site in a patient's body and positioning a radiofrequency puncture electrode of the medical device adjacent the puncture site; delivering radiofrequency energy from the radiofrequency puncture electrode to create a puncture in the puncture site; advancing the medical device through the puncture to position an auxiliary electrode of the medical device adjacent a target site in the patient's body; and using the auxiliary electrode for diagnosis, mapping, and/or treatment at the target site.

Abstract: Medical devices are disclosed having improved visualization of a portion of the medical device insertable into a patient's body while minimizing obstruction of fluid flow through a lumen of the device and while minimizing an increase in the outer diameter of the device attributable to the feature providing improved visualization. The device can include, for example, an imaging marker distal to lumen openings (exit ports), or, where the device comprises a tube, such as a metallic tube, an imaging marker embedded into a wall of the tube. Another embodiment includes attaching a marker to the surface on the inside of a lumen of a medical device without embedding the marker. Various alternative embodiments, methods and applications of using such devices are disclosed as well.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device for puncturing tissue comprises an electrically conductive elongate member which is capable of force transmission from a distal portion of the electrosurgical device to a proximal portion of the electrosurgical device to thereby provide tactile feedback to a user. The proximal portion comprises a connector system for connecting a source of energy and a source of fluid to an electrosurgical device. The connector system includes a hub which includes an electrically conductive lengthwise member having a lengthwise member distal region and a lengthwise member proximal region. The lengthwise member defines a hub lumen therebetween and is configured to be operatively coupled to an electrosurgical device.

Abstract: A puncturing device configured to create a puncture in a tissue comprising an elongate member comprising a proximal portion defining a longitudinal axis along the length of the elongate member. The elongate member further comprises a flexible distal portion of the that curves away from the longitudinal axis and a distal tip configured to deliver energy to the tissue. A sensing element placed on the flexible distal portion of the elongate member detects the curvature of the distal portion such that when the flexible distal portion of the elongate member is straightened, energy is delivered to the distal tip and when the flexible distal portion of the elongate member is curved, energy is not delivered to the distal tip.