Abstract: A steerable catheter device includes a catheter body, a flexing tip member coupled to a distal end of the catheter body and having a wall with a first plurality of arcuate slits and a second plurality of arcuate slits, the first and second plurality of slits being diametrically opposed and alternating with each other, and an actuator that bends the flexing tip member, wherein at least a portion of the catheter body includes a braided sheath, and wherein each of the first and second plurality of slits has two ends and a center positioned midway between the two ends, and wherein all of the first plurality of slits have centers positioned along a first axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body and all of the second plurality of slits have centers positioned along a second axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter body.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a resector balloon catheter and a hub coupled to the proximal portion of the catheter. The hub includes an inflation port that supplies fluid to a first lumen of the catheter to inflate a resector balloon. The hub further includes a delivery port for delivering an agent, such as drugs, to a second lumen of the catheter for delivery to the distal end of the catheter. The hub also includes an aperture for inserting a device, such as an imaging device, into the second lumen of the catheter. In some embodiments, the catheter includes a third lumen, and the hub includes an additional port in fluid communication with the third lumen.

Abstract: An imaging catheter device includes a catheter body with a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen; a cleaning member disposed at the distal end; and an imaging device movably disposed in the lumen and through the cleaning member; wherein the cleaning member includes a conduit through which the imaging device moves and a flexible material at least partially occluding the conduit such that the imaging device displaces at least some of the flexible material when moved through the conduit. A method of cleaning an imaging catheter device includes disposing a cleaning member including a conduit and a flexible material at least partially occluding the conduit at a distal end of a catheter lumen; positioning an imaging device in the catheter lumen; and cleaning the imaging device by moving it through the conduit such that it displaces at least some of the flexible material.

Abstract: A method of extravaated drug delivery is disclosed, including inserting a catheter with a first balloon, a second balloon, and a third balloon positioned between the first and second balloons and having a wall with an abrasive outer surface, into a bodily cavity, inflating the first and second balloons to create a chamber therebetween, stimulating a flow of blood cells by inflating the third balloon until the abrasive outer surface abrades tissue, and delivering the agent to the chamber. A balloon catheter system is also provided including a balloon having a wall with an abrasive outer surface for abrading tissue, a catheter having a first lumen for supplying fluid to the balloon to inflate the balloon such that the abrasive surface stimulates a flow of blood cells, and a second lumen for supplying an agent to tissue.

Abstract: An anchored guide wire is described including at least one expansion apparatus having an outer surface for contacting surrounding tissue, an elongated guide wire with at least one lumen for supplying fluid to the expansion apparatus, and a pump that supplies fluid to the lumen to inflate the expansion apparatus, wherein the outer surface of the expansion apparatus has a textured surface for preventing slippage on surrounding tissue. A method of securing a guide wire in a bodily cavity is also described including inserting an elongated guide wire with an expansion apparatus having a textured outer surface and a lumen for supplying fluid to the expansion apparatus, into the bodily cavity, supplying fluid to the lumen with a pump until the expansion apparatus is inflated, moving a medical device along the elongated guide wire, deflating the expansion apparatus, and withdrawing the guide wire from the bodily cavity.

Abstract: A method of ensuring the structural integrity and decontamination of a medical device includes inserting a distal end of a borescope into a lumen of the medical device, where the distal end of the borescope has an imaging portion and at least one decontamination portion, typically a UV light and a fluid sterilant or bactericide. The method includes determining both whether the lumen wall has been damaged, and whether contaminants reside on the wall, by visually inspecting the wall with the imaging portion of the borescope, and then decontaminating the wall with the decontaminating portion of the borescope. Device processing data digitally associated with the medical device is retrieved with a unique device identifier, and additional device processing data resulting from the current inspection and sterilization process is added for use by subsequent device handlers, typically by adding it to a distributed ledger, such as a blockchain.

Abstract: A robotic vision screening system includes a user interface that interacts with a customer, at least one diagnostic device that examines at least one of the customer's eyes, at least one measurement device that measures the customer's head anatomy, a processor in communication with the at least one diagnostic device and the at least one measurement device, and a 3D printer in communication with the processor that produces a customized vision correction device based on data received from the at least one diagnostic device and the at least one measurement device.

Abstract: A viewing trocar assembly is provided including a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, and an opening provided at the distal end, and at least one imaging device positioned on an outer wall of the distal end of the tubular body, wherein the at least one imaging device is adjacent to the outer wall of the distal end of the tubular body when in an inactivated position, and wherein the at least one imaging device is extended further away from the outer wall of the distal end of the tubular body when in an activated position than when in the inactivated position.

Abstract: A resector balloon includes an outer wall having a resecting surface that resects biological material. The balloon also includes a woven sleeve including at least one woven thread disposed on at least a portion of the outer wall. The woven sleeve forms at least a portion of the resecting surface. In certain embodiments, the woven sleeve includes weft knit threads including crossover points where the threads overlap. In some embodiments, the woven sleeve includes electrically conductive threads.

Abstract: A balloon resection method is disclosed generally including inserting a catheter with at least one balloon having an outer wall with a resecting, non-slip surface for resecting unwanted biological material, such as tissues or tumors, and supplying fluid thereto in pulsed fashion to repeatedly deflate and inflate the balloon. In certain embodiments, a pump controls the pulsed supply of fluid based on an established frequency or change in volume. In some embodiments, the a keyed connector is used to identify the balloon type, and in some cases, intra-lumen diameters and densities are calculated. In some embodiments, the balloon portion of the catheter includes multiple balloon segments, which in some cases, are inflatable separately from one another.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a steerable catheter device and method of using the same comprising a catheter body having a distal section. The distal section of the catheter body has an inner lumen, and one or more steering lumen radially offset from the inner lumen. The steering lumen comprise a first end having a first diameter and a second end having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. A fluid source is in fluid communication with the steering lumen for supplying fluid thereto to radially distend the first end of the steering lumen such that the catheter body bends away from the steering lumen. In some cases, a vacuum is supplied to an opposite lumen to further assist bending of the catheter body. The inner lumen may include a porous material that is utilized to clean an instrument, such as an imaging device, movably disposed in the inner lumen.

Abstract: A system for treatment of tumors includes a vessel having a photosensitizing agent therein, a delivery device for communicating the photosensitizing agent from the vessel to tumor tissue, a light source for radiating the tumor tissue after the delivery device has delivered the photosensitizing agent to the tumor tissue, a catheter having at least one inflatable balloon positioned thereon, and a fluid source that repeatedly inflates and at least partially deflates the inflatable balloon such that a resecting outer surface of the balloon contacts the radiated tumor tissue and resects the tissue.

Abstract: A balloon resection method is disclosed generally including inserting a catheter with at least one balloon having an outer wall with a resecting, non-slip surface for resecting unwanted biological material, such as tissues or tumors, and supplying fluid thereto in pulsed fashion to repeatedly deflate and inflate the balloon. In certain embodiments, a pump controls the pulsed supply of fluid based on an established frequency or change in volume. In some embodiments, the a keyed connector is used to identify the balloon type, and in some cases, intra-lumen diameters and densities are calculated. In some embodiments, the balloon portion of the catheter includes multiple balloon segments, which in some cases, are inflatable separately from one another.

Abstract: A method of delivering a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent to tissue is provided including the steps of inserting a catheter into a bodily cavity, the catheter having a proximal balloon and a distal balloon, inflating the proximal and distal balloons to create a chamber between the proximal and distal balloons, delivering the therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent to the chamber, measuring fluid pressure in the chamber, measuring at least one fluid dynamic characteristic of a subject, and adjusting the delivery of the therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent based at least in part on the measured volumetric pressure in the chamber and the at least one fluid dynamic characteristic of the subject.

Abstract: A system for visualization of eye anatomy includes at least one camera having a view vector along a first axis when in a first position, a housing to which the camera is coupled, wherein the housing engages the head of a patient such that the camera is positioned adjacent a patient's eye, and an actuator that moves the camera from the first position to a second position with a view vector along a second axis that is offset from the first axis. A method of visualization of eye anatomy includes engaging a patient's head with a housing, positioning at least one camera coupled to the housing adjacent an eye, wherein the camera has a view vector along a first axis when in a first position, and moving the camera to a second position with a view vector along a second axis offset from the first axis.

Abstract: A balloon catheter for providing a 3-dimensional rendering of the interior of a cavity, the catheter system including a controller, a catheter connected to the controller and a balloon positioned on the catheter. The balloon includes a mesh having members extending longitudinally and circumferentially about the balloon where each member of the mesh has an electrical characteristic that changes as the member is deformed. The controller uses a measurement of the variable electrical characteristic to generate a three-dimensional rendering of an interior surface of the cavity, which can be rotating to different viewing angles.

Abstract: A method of extravasated drug delivery is disclosed, including inserting a catheter with a first balloon, a second balloon, and a third balloon positioned between the first and second balloons and having a wall with an abrasive outer surface, into a bodily cavity, inflating the first and second balloons to create a chamber therebetween, stimulating a flow of blood cells by inflating the third balloon until the abrasive outer surface abrades tissue, and delivering the agent to the chamber. A balloon catheter system is also provided including a balloon having a wall with an abrasive outer surface for abrading tissue, a catheter having a first lumen for supplying fluid to the balloon to inflate the balloon such that the abrasive surface stimulates a flow of blood cells, and a second lumen for supplying an agent to tissue.

Abstract: A system for visualization of eye anatomy includes at least one camera having a view vector along a first axis when in a first position, a housing to which the at least one camera is coupled, wherein the housing is configured to engage an eye of a patient such that the at least one camera is positioned adjacent the eye, and an actuator that moves the at least one camera from the first position to a second position, wherein the at least one camera, when in the second position, has a view vector along a second axis that is offset from the first axis.

Abstract: A steerable member is disclosed generally having a steerable member for a medical apparatus, including a continuous, elongated body having a proximal section, a distal section, and a middle section between the proximal and distal sections, where the proximal section of the elongated body is less flexible than the distal section. At least one pull wire sheath extends through the proximal section and the middle section, but not through the distal section, and has a channel therethrough. A pull wire is disposed in the channel of the sheath and extends through the proximal section, middle section and distal section of the elongated body, the pull wire having a distal end affixed to a distal end of the elongated body, so that the distal section of the elongated body bends in response to a force applied to the proximal end of the pull wire.

Abstract: A system for visualization of eye anatomy includes at least one camera having a view vector along a first axis when in a first position, a housing to which the camera is coupled, wherein the housing engages the head of a patient such that the camera is positioned adjacent an eye of the patient, and an actuator that moves the camera from the first position to a second position with a view vector along a second axis that is offset from the first axis. A method of visualization of eye anatomy includes engaging a patient's head with a housing, positioning at least one camera coupled to the housing adjacent an eye, wherein the camera has a view vector along a first axis when in a first position, and moving the camera to a second position with a view vector along a second axis that is offset from the first axis.