Abstract: Tissue-penetrating guidewires with shaped tips, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A patient treatment system in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a tissue-penetrating guidewire that in turn includes a flexible segment having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The flexible segment is elongated along an elongation axis. A penetrating member is positioned at the distal portion and includes at least one blade segment having a tapered outer peripheral surface and an adjacent generally sharp edge. The blade segment extends to a distal end of the penetrating member to form a generally blunt tip. In operation, the guidewire can be connected to an electrical current source to deliver high frequency current to the penetrating member.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transeptal cardiac procedures are disclosed. A method for treating a patient in accordance with a particular embodiment includes positioning a tissue penetrating guidewire adjacent to a cardiac septum, directing pulses of energy to the guidewire, and advancing the guidewire into and through the septum by moving the guidewire in a distal direction in a series of discrete steps. Individual steps can be of a predetermined distance measured outside the patient's body. The method can further include passing a catheter over the guidewire after the guidewire has passed through the septum.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transeptal cardiac procedures are disclosed. A patient treatment device in accordance with a particular embodiment includes an elongated intravascular guidewire that includes a first branch and a second branch fixedly secured relative to the first branch at a first location and releasably secured relative to the first branch at a second location. At least one of the first and second branches is movable relative to the other between a first position in which the first and second branches form a closed shape, and a second position in which the first and second branches form an open shape. A controller can be operatively coupled to the first and second branches to control (e.g., in a fixed increment manner or a continuously variable manner) a distance between a portion of the first branch and a portion of the second branch while the first and second branches form the closed shape.

Abstract: Tissue-penetrating guidewires with shaped tips, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A patient treatment system in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a tissue-penetrating guidewire that in turn includes a flexible segment having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The flexible segment is elongated along an elongation axis. A penetrating member is positioned at the distal portion and includes at least one blade segment having a tapered outer peripheral surface and an adjacent generally sharp edge. The blade segment extends to a distal end of the penetrating member to form a generally blunt tip. In operation, the guidewire can be connected to an electrical current source to deliver high frequency current to the penetrating member.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transeptal cardiac procedures are disclosed. A patient treatment device in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, a working portion toward the distal end, and an electrical energy path coupleable to a source of electrical energy. The device can further include a tissue penetrating member carried by the catheter and an electrode device carried by the working portion of the catheter and movable along the tissue penetrating member. The electrode device can include a collapsible stranded conductive material coupled to the electrical signal path and being changeable between a deployed position and a stowed position. The conductive material can be elongated along a deployment axis when in the stowed position, and can be contracted along the deployment axis and expanded transverse to the deployment axis when in the deployed position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transeptal cardiac procedures are disclosed. A method for treating a patient in accordance with a particular embodiment includes positioning a tissue penetrating guidewire adjacent to a cardiac septum, directing pulses of energy to the guidewire, and advancing the guidewire into and through the septum by moving the guidewire in a distal direction in a series of discrete steps. Individual steps can be of a predetermined distance measured outside the patient's body. The method can further include passing a catheter over the guidewire after the guidewire has passed through the septum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting components to an optical bench is provided. The mount allows the components to be easily detached, realigned, and remounted at will. Components that can use the mount include, but are not limited to, mirrors, output couplers, windows, filters, lenses, optical fibers, nonlinear crystals, active and passive Q-switches, piezoelectric elements, apertures, laser gain media, and detectors. The optical component is mounted to an upright portion of the optical mount, the upright portion being mounted to a base plate. The base plate includes a heater, such as a resistive heater, that is used to solder the base plate to the optical bench. Preferably the heater is electrically coupled to a pair of contacts located on the upright portion of the mount, thus providing an easy method of coupling a power source to the heater.

Abstract: An ink reservoir (34) capable of maintaining an even distribution of a single color of ink on a printer ribbon is provided. The ink reservoir is used in ribbon cassettes (10) for typewriters and dot matrix printers. The ink reservoir (34) includes a series of cylindrical ink-carrying elements (50) separated by a series of separating sheets (52). The separating sheets (52) restrict or prevent the flow of ink from one ink-carrying element to another element. This maintains an even distribution of ink throughout the height of the reservoir which, in turn, results in an even transfer of ink from the ink reservoir onto a transfer roller and subsequently onto a ribbon. The even distribution of ink in the ribbon results in an even distribution of ink in the characters printed using the ribbon and, thus, improves print quality.