Abstract: A medical tool may comprise a sheath and an elongate instrument. The sheath may comprise a tubular shaft member including a sheath channel and a guard member coupled to a distal portion of the tubular shaft member. The guard member may comprise a rigid distal section and a flexible proximal section that is more flexible than the rigid distal section. The elongate instrument may be sized for passage within the sheath channel. The elongate instrument may comprise a flexible tubular section and a rigid tip extending from a distal portion of the flexible tubular section.

Abstract: A system may comprise a sensing instrument including an elongate flexible member with a channel extending therein. The elongate flexible member may include a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a flexure portion between the distal and proximal portions. The sensing instrument may also include a flexure at the flexure portion of the elongate flexible member, a sensing element coupled at the distal portion of the elongate flexible member, and a flexure control apparatus extending within the elongate flexible member and configured to bend the flexure to change an orientation of the sensing element relative to the proximal portion of the elongate flexible member. The sensing instrument may also include an exit port in the proximal portion of the elongate flexible member.

Abstract: A medical device comprises an elongate sheath comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion and defining a first lumen. The medical device further comprises an elongate instrument slidably disposed at least partially within the first lumen. The elongate instrument comprises a rigid distal section defining a second lumen. The medical device further comprises a first extension member coupled to a proximal end of the elongate instrument and a second extension member coupled to a proximal end of the elongate sheath. The second extension member is configured to at least partially receive the elongate instrument. The medical device further comprises a holding mechanism coupled to the second extension member. The holding mechanism includes a protrusion configured to maintain the elongate instrument in a rotationally fixed position relative to the distal portion of the elongate sheath.

Abstract: A medical system comprises an elongate device, an elongate sheath configured to extend within the elongate device, and an imaging probe configured to extend within the elongate sheath. The elongate sheath includes an identification feature. The medical system further comprises a control system configured to receive imaging data from the imaging probe. The imaging data is captured by the imaging probe. The control system is further configured to analyze the imaging data to identify an appearance of the identification feature within the imaging data. The control system is further configured to, based on the appearance of the identification feature, register the imaging data to a reference frame of the elongate device.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a tool having a mating tool portion with a first set of angled flats and a flexible elongated body having a mating channel portion with a second set of angled flats. When the tool is inserted into a channel of the flexible elongated body, the first set of angled flats engages with the second set of angled flats. The first and second sets of angled flats may be configured such that the tool is oriented into one of a plurality of predetermined orientations relative to the flexible elongated body when the first and second sets of angled flats are engaged during tool insertion.

Abstract: A medical system may include an elongated flexible body including a channel extending through the elongated flexible body. The elongated flexible body includes an articulable portion extending along at least a portion of a length of the elongated flexible body. The medical system may include an instrument configured to be received in the channel of the elongated flexible body, a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field within the channel, and a magnetic field sensor configured to detect the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator.

Abstract: A method for controlling fluid delivery to a medical instrument comprises releasing, from a reservoir of a known size and having fluid at a volume and a first fluid pressure, a released fluid volume of the fluid to the medical instrument. The method also comprises measuring a vented fluid volume and determining a discharged fluid volume through the medical instrument based on the released fluid volume and the vented fluid volume.

Abstract: A medical instrument system includes an imaging probe and an elongated medical instrument. The imaging probe includes a first sealing feature comprising a first tapered profile formed on an external surface of the distal tip. The elongated medical instrument has a working channel extending to an opening in the distal portion. The distal portion includes a second sealing feature comprising a second tapered profile formed on an internal surface of the channel. A distal end surface of the distal tip extends through the opening and distally of a distal end surface of the elongated medical instrument when the first sealing feature is engaged with the second sealing feature. The first tapered profile and the second tapered profile form a seal that prevents fluid from passing through the opening when the imaging probe is within the working channel of the elongated medical instrument and the first and second sealing features contact.

Abstract: A medical tool comprises an elongated tubular section comprising a body wall. The body wall includes a plurality of slits. The tool further comprises a rigid needle tip coupled to a distal end of the elongated tubular section. The tool further comprises a flexible jacket covering at least a portion of the elongated tubular section. The tool further comprises an elongated flexible member coupled to a proximal end of the elongated tubular section. A distal portion of the elongated flexible member covers a proximal portion of the flexible jacket, and a proximal portion of the elongated flexible member extends into at least a portion of the plurality of slits.

Abstract: A catheter system may comprise an articulation joint including a first pair of links and a second pair of links. Each link may include a central channel enclosed at least in part by radially extending arcuate segments. The first pair of links may include a first link and a second link, and the second pair of links may include the second link and a third link. The system may also comprise a first pair of springs coupled between the first and second links. The system may also comprise a second pair of springs coupled between the second and third links. The system may also include control wires extending through the first pair of springs and a control wires extending through the second pair of springs. The spring walls may share a radial dimension with the link walls.

Abstract: A system may comprise a catheter including a wall having an inner surface defining a main lumen. The system may also comprise a device including an elongate flexible shaft configured to be slideably inserted within the catheter main lumen and a structure disposed around an outer surface of the elongate flexible shaft. The structure may be configured to engage with a plurality of flat surfaces comprising a portion of the inner surface to prevent rotation of the device within the main lumen.

Abstract: An imaging instrument comprises an elongate flexible shaft, a camera disposed at a distal end of the elongate flexible shaft, and a housing coupled to a proximal end of the elongate flexible shaft. The instrument also includes a light emitting diode (LED) within the housing and a heat dissipation system in thermal communication with the LED to transfer heat produced by the LED away from the housing.

Abstract: Sizing catheters that include an inner member and an outer member. The inner member includes an elongate shaft and a plurality of radiopaque markers spaced axially from each other and secured to an outer surface of the shaft, the span of radiopaque markers defining a first portion of the inner member. The outer member that is disposed snugly around and in substantial contact with the inner member along at least the first portion of the inner member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tissue shaping device adapted to be disposed in a vessel near a patient's heart to reshape the patient's heart. The device comprises a first anchor and a second anchor adapted to be deployed by a catheter to engage a vessel wall while the first anchor is adapted to resist the compression of a first part of the first anchor and resist the expansion of a second part of the first anchor in response to a compressive force on the first part.

Abstract: A medical instrument system comprises an imaging probe including a distal tip terminating at a first distal end of the imaging probe and a lens disposed at the first distal end. The imaging probe including a first sealing feature on an external surface of the imaging probe. The medical instrument also comprises an elongated medical instrument including a distal portion terminating at a second distal end and including a working channel configured to slidably receive the imaging probe. The working channel including a second sealing feature on a surface of the working channel. The first sealing feature and the second sealing feature are shaped and configured to contact one another to prevent the passage of fluid between the first and second sealing features.

Abstract: An imaging coupler comprises an elongate device connector configured to couple to an elongate device. The imaging coupler further comprises an instrument connector configured to couple to an imaging instrument. The imaging instrument is configured to be slidably received within a lumen of the elongate device. The imaging coupler further comprises a body portion extending between the elongate device connector and the instrument connector. The imaging coupler further comprises a tubular member coupled to the instrument connector and extending within the body portion. The instrument connector is movable in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the tubular member while the elongate device is coupled to the elongate device connector.

Abstract: A medical instrument system comprises an imaging probe including a distal tip that includes a first sealing feature. The system includes an elongated medical instrument including a distal portion and a working channel extending to an opening in the distal portion to permit fluid to pass from the working channel. The distal portion includes a second sealing feature. A first interlocking feature is on an external surface of the imaging probe and a second interlocking feature is on an internal surface of the working channel. The imaging probe is configured to be selectively interlocked with the elongated medical instrument when the imaging probe is positioned within the working channel of the elongated medical instrument. The first and second sealing features are complementarily shaped and configured to contact one another to prevent passage of the fluid therebetween when the distal tip of the imaging probe has been advanced within the distal portion of the elongated medical instrument.

Abstract: A medical tool may comprise sheath and a needle extendable from and retractable into the sheath. The sheath may comprise a tubular shaft member and a guard member attached to the tubular shaft member. The needle may comprise a flexible jacket. One or more of these components may be configured to prevent interference between the flexible jacket and a portion of the guard member as the need is extended or retracted.

Abstract: A medical device comprises an elongate sheath comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion and defining a first lumen. The medical device further comprises an elongate instrument slidably disposed at least partially within the first lumen. The elongate instrument comprises a rigid distal section defining a second lumen. The medical device further comprises a first extension member coupled to a proximal end of the elongate instrument and a second extension member coupled to a proximal end of the elongate sheath. The second extension member is configured to at least partially receive the elongate instrument. The medical device further comprises a holding mechanism coupled to the second extension member. The holding mechanism includes a protrusion configured to maintain the elongate instrument in a rotationally fixed position relative to the distal portion of the elongate sheath.

Abstract: A method for controlling fluid delivery to a catheter comprises charging a reservoir, of a known size, with a fluid to a volume at an initial fluid pressure and releasing a released fluid volume of the fluid from the reservoir to the catheter. The method also comprises measuring a vented fluid volume and determining a discharged fluid volume through the catheter based on the released fluid volume and the vented fluid volume.