Abstract: An intravascular Doppler ultrasonic device comprises a tip region forming a fraction of a catheter body at a distal end thereof and carrying an ultrasound probe. The tip region is bendable in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction. An actuator is provided in the tip region, which is configured to receive actuation drive power provided through the catheter body and to exert to the tip region a bending moment of a controllable amount. An actuation controller is configured to control actuation drive power delivery to the actuator so as to control the amount of the bending moment. A Doppler spectrum analysis unit is configured to receive Doppler spectrum data and to determine from it a Doppler signal quality measure indicative of a signal quality of the Doppler spectrum. The actuation controller is configured to determine the actuation drive power in dependence on the determined Doppler signal quality measure.

Abstract: An intravascular Doppler ultrasonic device comprises a tip region forming a fraction of a catheter body at a distal end thereof and carrying an ultrasound probe. The tip region is bendable in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction. An actuator is provided in the tip region, which is configured to receive actuation drive power provided through the catheter body and to exert to the tip region a bending moment of a controllable amount. An actuation controller is configured to control actuation drive power delivery to the actuator so as to control the amount of the bending moment. A Doppler spectrum analysis unit is configured to receive Doppler spectrum data and to determine from it a Doppler signal quality measure indicative of a signal quality of the Doppler spectrum. The actuation controller is configured to determine the actuation drive power in dependence on the determined Doppler signal quality measure.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to guidewires for intravascular procedures that include an electroactive polymer. An electroactive polymer can be at one or a number of locations on or within a guidewire. The polymer reacts to an applied electrical potential by changing a dimension (e.g., contracting or expanding). Electroactive polymers can be disposed along or within the guidewires in any pattern, such as wrapped helically within a surface, placed longitudinally parallel to an axis of the guidewire, dispose circumferentially around the guidewire, others, or a combination thereof. Depending on the designed geometry, a potential difference applied by an actuator will cause the guidewire to change a shape, a property, a surface characteristic, a dimension, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A multifunctional invasive cardiovascular diagnostic measurement host is disclosed that interfaces a variety of sensor devices, such as guide wire-mounted pressure sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors, etc, and provides a multi-mode graphical user interface providing a plurality of displays in accordance with the various types of sensors and measurements rendered by the sensors.