Abstract: Endovascular apparatus for determining the condition of a vessel in a body comprises an elongate waveguide element such as a wire and an activation unit comprising a source of ultrasonic energy to activate the waveguide element, hence transmitting ultrasonic energy to an active distal section of the waveguide element. A signal acquisition system acquires feedback signals from the apparatus for interpretation of vessel condition. The signal acquisition system comprises at least one acoustic sensor for acquiring acoustic feedback signals generated by, the apparatus when the waveguide element is activated. Data sets may be generated from acoustic and non-acoustic feedback signals and combinations of, or comparisons between, those data sets can characterise the condition of the vessel, including any lesion such as a blockage in the vessel.

Abstract: An elongate endovascular element for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: a proximal section; a distal tip section of smaller diameter than the proximal section; and a distally-tapering intermediate section extending between the proximal and distal tip sections; wherein the tapered intermediate section has a length that is substantially ?/2 or a multiple of ?/2, where ? is a wavelength of a driving frequency that will produce longitudinal resonance in the element.

Abstract: An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: an elongate endovascular element such as a wire; an ultrasonic transducer, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element for ultrasonically exciting a distal tip portion thereof to facilitate the crossing through the obstruction, and one or more damping features, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element to attenuate lateral displacement of the endovascular element at positions away from the distal tip portion.

Abstract: An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises an elongate endovascular element such as a wire. The element has a proximal section, a distal tip section of smaller diameter than the proximal section; and a distally-tapering intermediate section extending between the proximal and distal tip sections . The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer, mechanically coupled to the proximal section of the element for ultrasonically activating the element, hence exciting the distal tip section to facilitate crossing through the obstruction. A catheter surrounds the element, leaving at least part of the distal tip section of the element protruding distally beyond a distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises an elongate endovascular element such as a wire. The element has a proximal section, a distal tip section of smaller diameter than the proximal section; and a distally-tapering intermediate section extending between the proximal and distal tip sections. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer, mechanically coupled to the proximal section of the element for ultrasonically activating the element, hence exciting the distal tip section to facilitate crossing through the obstruction. A catheter surrounds the element, leaving at least part of the distal tip section of the element protruding distally beyond a distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: An endovascular apparatus for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: an elongate endovascular element such as a wire; an ultrasonic transducer, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element for ultrasonically exciting a distal tip portion thereof to facilitate the crossing through the obstruction, and one or more damping features, mechanically coupled to the endovascular element to attenuate lateral displacement of the endovascular element at positions away from the distal tip portion.

Abstract: An elongate endovascular element for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: a proximal section; a distal tip section of smaller diameter than the proximal section; and a distally-tapering intermediate section extending between the proximal and distal tip sections; wherein the tapered intermediate section has a length that is substantially ?/2 or a multiple of ?/2 , where ? is a wavelength of a driving frequency that will produce longitudinal resonance in the element.

Abstract: An elongate endovascular element for crossing through an obstruction in a blood vessel comprises: a proximal section; a distal tip section of smaller diameter than the proximal section; and a distally-tapering intermediate section extending between the proximal and distal tip sections; wherein the tapered intermediate section has a length that is substantially ?/2 or a multiple of ?/2, where ? is a wavelength of a driving frequency that will produce longitudinal resonance in the element.

Abstract: A medical system comprising a guidewire that is connectable to a catheter is described. The guidewire has a housing connected to the distal end of a core wire. A printed circuit board (PCB) electrically connected to a camera chip resides in the housing. An atraumatic lens is supported by the housing with the camera chip residing between the atraumatic lens and the housing so that light rays entering the atraumatic lens are refracted to a focal plane aligned along a distal face of the camera chip. A proximal connector powered by a controller is wired to a visual display. With the proximal end of the guidewire connected to the proximal connector, the controller provides electrical power to the camera chip via a power cable extending along the core wire to the PCB. The catheter has an axially-extending primary lumen and a plurality of optical fibers extending to respective light-emitting lenses. During a medical procedure, the guidewire is first inserted into the vasculature of a patient.

Abstract: A medical guidewire system including an inner member having an outer diameter and an outer member having an inner diameter, the inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The inner and outer members are relatively slidable to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire system. The lumen of the outer member forms a gap for fluid flow therethrough. A connector to the inner member and a fluid infusion channel communicating with the gap for injection of fluid through the gap to exit a distal portion of the outer member.

Abstract: A medical guidewire system including an inner member having an outer diameter and an outer member having an inner diameter, the inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The inner and outer members are relatively slidable to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire system. The lumen of the outer member forms a gap for fluid flow therethrough. A connector to the inner member and a fluid infusion channel communicating with the gap for injection of fluid through the gap to exit a distal portion of the outer member.

Abstract: A medical guidewire system including an inner member having an outer diameter and an outer member having an inner diameter, the inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The inner and outer members are relatively slidable to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire system. The lumen of the outer member forms a gap for fluid flow therethrough. A connector to the inner member and a fluid infusion channel communicating with the gap for injection of fluid through the gap to exit a distal portion of the outer member.

Abstract: A medical guidewire system including an inner member having an outer diameter and an outer member having an inner diameter, the inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The inner and outer members are relatively slidable to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire system. The lumen of the outer member forms a gap for fluid flow therethrough. A connector to the inner member and a fluid infusion channel communicating with the gap for injection of fluid through the gap to exit a distal portion of the outer member.

Abstract: A medical guidewire system including an inner member having an outer diameter and an outer member having an inner diameter, the inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The inner and outer members are relatively slidable to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire system. The lumen of the outer member forms a gap for fluid flow therethrough. A connector to the inner member and a fluid infusion channel communicating with the gap for injection of fluid through the gap to exit a distal portion of the outer member.

Abstract: A medical guidewire system including an inner member having an outer diameter and an outer member having an inner diameter, the inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The inner and outer members are relatively slidable to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire system. The lumen of the outer member forms a gap for fluid flow therethrough. A connector to the inner member and a fluid infusion channel communicating with the gap for injection of fluid through the gap to exit a distal portion of the outer member.

Abstract: A medical guidewire system including an inner member having an outer diameter and an outer member having an inner diameter, the inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The inner and outer members are relatively slidable to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire system. The lumen of the outer member forms a gap for fluid flow therethrough. A connector has a first end portion connected to the outer member, a second end portion connected to the inner member and a fluid infusion channel communicating with the gap for injection of fluid through the gap to exit a distal portion of the outer member.

Abstract: A medical guidewire system including an inner member having an outer diameter and an outer member having an inner diameter, the inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter. The inner and outer members are relatively slidable to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire system. The lumen of the outer member forms a gap for fluid flow therethrough. A connector has a first end portion connected to the outer member, a second end portion connected to the inner member and a fluid infusion channel communicating with the gap for injection of fluid through the gap to exit a distal portion of the outer member.

Abstract: A medical guidewire system comprising a first inner member having a first outer diameter, a second intermediate member having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter, and a third outer member having a third diameter larger than the second outer diameter of the second member. The second member has a longitudinal extending opening to receive the first member for sliding movement with respect to the first member and the third outer member has a longitudinally extending opening to receive the second member for sliding movement with respect to the first and second member. The first member has a first stiffness, the third member has a third stiffness greater than the first stiffness, and the second member is movable to stiffen the guidewire system.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the stiffness and size of a guidewire without full withdrawal of the guidewire from a patient's vascular system comprising providing a guidewire system comprising an inner member having a first outer diameter and a first stiffness, an outer member having a third larger diameter and a third stiffness, and a stiffener positioned between the inner and outer members and having a second outer diameter larger than the first diameter and smaller than the third diameter. The method includes selectively changing the relative positions of the members to alter the pushability and stiffness of the guidewire system.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the stiffness and size of a guidewire without full withdrawal of the guidewire from a patient's vascular system comprising providing a guidewire system comprising an inner member having a first outer diameter and a first stiffness, an outer member having a third larger diameter and a third stiffness, and a stiffener positioned between the inner and outer members and having a second outer diameter larger than the first diameter and smaller than the third diameter. The method includes selectively changing the relative positions of the members to alter the pushability and stiffness of the guidewire system.