Abstract: Medical devices that are coated with an echogenic material that includes an electrically insulative base layer and an echogenic layer demonstrate both improved ultrasonic imaging and protection against RF electrical breakdown. The echogenic layer includes a polymeric matrix that (i) defines a plurality of void spaces, (ii) includes glass microsphere particles, or (iii) both defines a plurality of void spaces and includes glass microsphere particles. Medical instruments exhibit enhanced ultrasonic imaging even when viewed along their lengths.

Abstract: The invention provides devices, systems and methods for occluding arteries without puncturing skin or vessel walls. The devices, systems and methods for occluding arteries are configured to be applied to arteries externally of the arteries. Occlusion may be temporary or permanent, and may be partial or complete. Clamping a device to tissue near to an artery is effective to compress tissue around the artery and to indirectly compress the artery. The methods, devices and systems of the invention find use in, for example, treatment of uterine disorders and conditions which may be treated by occlusion of the uterine arteries. A uterine artery may be accessed via a patient's vagina by compressing a portion of the vaginal wall around a portion of a uterine artery to occlude a uterine artery. Clamping of an artery may also be performed by clamping a device directly onto an artery.

Abstract: A system for assessing organ function has a plurality of light emitters of distinct spectral characteristics are coupled into a percutaneous fiber delivery assembly with a tip extending to or into an internal organ to illuminate organ tissue. The assembly includes a delivery optical fiber, and a collection fiber that collects and returns light scattered, reflected or emitted by the surrounding tissue to a detector at the proximal end. The device also senses temperature at the tip. Control and processing modules drive the laser diodes and process the return signals. The instrument may assess general metabolic activity by detecting light absorption of a linked substance, for example at a peak attributed to deoxygenated hemoglobin and/or at one or more peaks attributed to oxygenated hemoglobin. Preferably, change of a parameter such as pulse oxygen saturation together with one or more other parameters such as temperature are detected to provide an indication of organ function, e.g., the onset of shock.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to providing a method of preparing an anatomical vessel contained within a tissue bundle for ligation, including positioning a cannula adjacent to the tissue bundle, wherein the positioning is non-penetrating, the cannula including a first extendable member, a second extendable member, a Doppler wand, and a distal end, transmitting ultrasound signals toward the vessel through the tissue bundle with the Doppler wand, receiving ultrasound signals reflected by the vessel through the tissue bundle with the Doppler wand, invaginating the tissue bundle with the first extendable member on a first side of the tissue bundle, invaginating the tissue bundle with the second extendable member on a second side of the bundle opposite the first side, and interpenetrating a length of ligation material between the first and second extendable members on a side of the vessel opposite the cannula distal end.