Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for performing optical signal analysis and lesion predictions in ablations. A system includes a catheter coupled to a plurality of optical fibers via a connector that interfaces with a computing device. The computing device includes a memory and a processor configured to receive optical measurement data of a portion of tissue from the catheter. The processor identifies one or more optical properties of the portion of tissue by analyzing the optical measurement data and determines a time of denaturation of the portion of tissue based on the one or more optical properties. A model is created to represent a correlation between lesion depths and ablation times using the time of denaturation, the one or more optical properties, and the predetermined period of time. A predicted lesion depth for a predetermined ablation time is generated using the model.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve that is at least partially coated with an enhancement coating, and a method for inserting the prosthetic heart valve in a patient. The prosthetic heart valve includes an expandable frame, a leaflet structure, and optionally an inner skirt and/or an outer skirt. One or more of the components of the prosthetic heart valve can be partially or fully coated with the enhancement coating. One type of enhancement coating that can be used includes titanium oxynitride or titanium nitride oxide (TiNOx) and/or zirconium oxynitride (ZrNxOy).

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve that is at least partially coated with an enhancement coating, and a method for inserting the prosthetic heart valve in a patient. The prosthetic heart valve includes an expandable frame, a leaflet structure, and optionally an inner skirt and/or an outer skirt. One or more of the components of the prosthetic heart valve can be partially or fully coated with the enhancement coating. One type of enhancement coating that can be used includes titanium oxynitride or titanium nitride oxide (TiNOx) and/or zirconium oxynitride (ZrNxOy).

Abstract: A delivery handle arrangement and system that facilitates the delivery of an expandable medical device to a treatment site, and wherein the delivery handle arrangement includes a housing having an inner core that extends linearly between a proximal end and a distal end of the housing, and wherein the inner core receives a flexible catheter and a balloon catheter that is disposed coaxially within the flexible catheter; an adjustment mechanism that is configured to control a position of the balloon catheter relative to the flexible catheter, and wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a control knob that has a plurality of threads; and a threaded shaft that is configured to translate linearly within the housing; and a switch that is configured to lock or unlocked the adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the fields of biotechnology and medicine and provides the use of monoclonal antibodies against the epidermal growth factor receptor in the treatment of diseases of infectious origin that leading to a hypoxemic acute respiratory failure.

Abstract: A method of operating a switching power converter is provided wherein the power converter inclues includes an inductor and switches and is operable in a modulation mode in which a current through the inductor is modulated by operating the power converter in a repeating sequence of predetermined switching states. The method includes controlling a current waveform of the current through the inductor in the modulation mode by controlling the transition between the switching states of the sequence. The current waveform is controlled to include within one period of the current waveform a first section of rising current corresponding to a first switching state, a second section corresponding to a second switching state, wherein the second section of the current waveform does not reach or cross a zero value of the current, and a third section of falling current corresponding to a third switching state.

Abstract: A method of controlling a multi-cell switching power converter is provided. The power converter includes converter legs connected in parallel, each converter leg including at least one converter cell that is operated in accordance with a switching sequence that includes transitions between predetermined switching states and that generates a current waveform in the converter leg. The method includes operating the power converter in an interleaving mode in which each converter leg is operated with a switching sequence having a different phase, generating a periodic reference signal, and controlling the phase shift between the switching sequences of the converter legs by detecting, for each converter leg, an intersection between the current waveform generated by the converter leg and the periodic reference signal. Upon detecting the intersection of the current waveform of a converter leg with the reference signal, a transition to a predetermined switching state of the switching sequence is triggered.

Abstract: A medical device that is at least partially coated with an enhancement layer, and a method for inserting the medical device a patient. One non-limiting type of enhancement layer that can be used includes titanium oxynitride or titanium nitride oxide (TiNOx) and/or zirconium oxynitride (ZrNxOy).

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve that is at least partially coated with an enhancement layer, and a method for inserting the prosthetic heart valve in a patient. The prosthetic heart valve includes an expandable frame, a leaflet structure, and optionally an inner skirt and/or an outer skirt. One or more of the components of the prosthetic heart valve can be partially or fully coated with the enhancement layer. One type of enhancement layer that can be used includes titanium oxynitride or titanium nitride oxide (TiNOx) and/or zirconium oxynitride (ZrNxOy).

Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless deep brain stimulation using ultrasonic waves. Implantable device(s) for intracranial use within a subject may comprise at least one stimulation means, one or more circuits for collecting system data, a receiver, and a transmitter for communications using ultrasonic waves. A wearable controller external to the subject, the wearable controller configured to: communicate with the implantable device(s) using the ultrasonic waves and obtain the system data, analyze the system data to determine whether the subject is experiencing or is expected to experience an adverse medical condition, and communicate with the implantable device(s) using the ultrasonic waves to apply a stimulation to treat the adverse medical condition. The system may be used to treat Parkinson's Disease, for example.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and support structures for assembling optical fibers in catheter tips and facilitating alignment and structural support. A method for assembling a plurality of optical fibers and lenses in a support structure for an ablation catheter includes providing a support structure with a proximal end, a body, and a distal end, the distal end including a plurality of alignment orifices or slits. A plurality of optical fibers are threaded through the alignment orifices or slits, such that each optical fiber is threaded through a corresponding alignment orifice or slit. An adhesive material is applied at each alignment orifice or slit to secure the optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers are then cleaved at the distal end to remove portions of the fibers extending out of the distal end. Finally, a lens is attached to each of the ends of the plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for performing optical signal analysis and lesion predictions in ablations. A system includes a catheter coupled to a plurality of optical fibers via a connector that interfaces with a computing device. The computing device includes a memory and a processor configured to receive optical measurement data of a portion of tissue from the catheter. The processor identifies one or more optical properties of the portion of tissue by analyzing the optical measurement data and determines a time of denaturation of the portion of tissue based on the one or more optical properties. A model is created to represent a correlation between lesion depths and ablation times using the time of denaturation, the one or more optical properties, and the predetermined period of time. A predicted lesion depth for a predetermined ablation time is generated using the model.

Abstract: Wirelessly networked systems of implantable and non-implantable medical devices with networking protocols, software, and hardware that allow for communications and energy transfer between different the medical devices (free standing, implants and wearables) using ultrasonic waves. The networks and methods of use are used to construct cardiac pacing, deep brain stimulation, and neurostimulation networks based on ultrasonic wide band technology.

Abstract: A method for producing an aromatic dianhydride includes reacting an aromatic diimide with a substituted or unsubstituted phthalic anhydride in an aqueous medium in the presence of an amine exchange catalyst to provide an aqueous reaction mixture including an N-substituted phthalimide, an aromatic tetraacid salt, and at least one of an aromatic triacid salt and an aromatic imide diacid salt. The method further includes removing the phthalimide from the aqueous reaction mixture by extracting the aqueous reaction mixture with an organic solvent in a first extractor for a first time period, at a first extraction temperature and subsequent to the first time period, extracting the aqueous reaction mixture with an organic solvent in a second extractor for a second time period, at a second extraction temperature. The aromatic tetraacid salt is converted to the corresponding aromatic dianhydride. Aromatic dianhydrides prepared according to the method are also described.

Abstract: Described herein is a system including a catheter, an optical circuit, a pulsed field ablation energy source, and a processing device. The catheter includes a proximal section, a distal section, and a shaft coupled between the proximal section and the distal section. The optical circuit is configured to transport light at least partially from the proximal section to the distal section and back. The pulsed field ablation energy source is coupled to the catheter and configured to transmit pulsed electrical signals to a tissue sample. The processing device is configured to analyze one or more optical signals received from the optical circuit to determine changes in polarization or phase retardation of light reflected or scattered by the tissue sample, and determine changes in a birefringence of the tissue sample based on the changes in polarization or phase retardation.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and support structures for assembling optical fibers in catheter tips and facilitating alignment and structural support. A method for assembling a plurality of optical fibers and lenses in a support structure for an ablation catheter includes providing a support structure with a proximal end, a body, and a distal end, the distal end including a plurality of alignment orifices or slits. A plurality of optical fibers are threaded through the alignment orifices or slits, such that each optical fiber is threaded through a corresponding alignment orifice or slit. An adhesive material is applied at each alignment orifice or slit to secure the optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers are then cleaved at the distal end to remove portions of the fibers extending out of the distal end. Finally, a lens is attached to each of the ends of the plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for performing optical signal analysis and lesion predictions in ablations. A system includes a catheter coupled to a plurality of optical fibers via a connector that interfaces with a computing device. The computing device includes a memory and a processor configured to receive optical measurement data of a portion of tissue from the catheter. The processor identifies one or more optical properties of the portion of tissue by analyzing the optical measurement data and determines a time of denaturation of the portion of tissue based on the one or more optical properties. A model is created to represent a correlation between lesion depths and ablation times using the time of denaturation, the one or more optical properties, and the predetermined period of time. A predicted lesion depth for a predetermined ablation time is generated using the model.

Abstract: The present invention describes a system that uses ultrasonic waves to transfer energy and data, enabling for the control and recharging of a cardiac assist device. Data and energy transfer are accomplished using pulsed ultrasonic waves. The use of ultrasonic waves allows for wireless transcutaneous energy transfer to power the cardiac assist device pump in absence of a driveline, reducing complications associated with driveline infections and improving patient quality of life.

Abstract: Described herein is a system including a catheter, an optical circuit, a pulsed field ablation energy source, and a processing device. The catheter includes a proximal section, a distal section, and a shaft coupled between the proximal section and the distal section. The optical circuit is configured to transport light at least partially from the proximal section to the distal section and back. The pulsed field ablation energy source is coupled to the catheter and configured to transmit pulsed electrical signals to a tissue sample. The processing device is configured to analyze one or more optical signals received from the optical circuit to determine changes in polarization or phase retardation of light reflected or scattered by the tissue sample, and determine changes in a birefringence of the tissue sample based on the changes in polarization or phase retardation.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and support structures for assembling optical fibers in catheter tips and facilitating alignment and structural support. A method for assembling a plurality of optical fibers and lenses in a support structure for an ablation catheter includes providing a support structure with a proximal end, a body, and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a plurality of alignment orifices or slits. A plurality of optical fibers are threaded through the alignment orifices or slits, such that each optical fiber is threaded through a corresponding alignment orifice or slit. An adhesive material is applied at each alignment orifice or slit to secure the optical fibers, and the plurality of optical fibers are then cleaved at the distal end to remove portions of the fibers extending out of the distal end. Finally, a lens is attached to each of the ends of the plurality of optical fibers.