Abstract: The presence of the pull wire ring in the distal end portion leads to limited functionality of the distal end of a steerable medical device. A steerable medical device (1) includes a pull wire ring (100a-e) for imparting a bending movement on the steerable medical device. By providing the pull wire ring (100a-e) with an eccentric recess (105a-f) which defines a passage between a first end face (101) and a second end face (105) of the ring, it becomes possible to guide ancillary elements such as electrical lines, data cables and fiber optics past the pull wire ring (100a-e) further towards the distal end of the steerable medical device. By this measure, functionality of the distal end of the medical device is enhanced without obstructing a main lumen of the device.

Abstract: An invasive medical device (10) is disclosed comprising an elongate device portion (20) attached to a handle (30), the elongate device portion including a flexible tip (21) at a distal end of the elongate device portion and a plurality of pull wires (23) attached to said flexible tip; and a plurality of electrically conductive shape memory elements (33) entirely contained with in said handle, each of the shape memory elements coupled to and extending in a length direction between one of said pull wires and a current source connection (61) arranged to provide an electrical current to said electrically conductive shape memory element, each of the electrically conductive shape memory elements having a negative coefficient of expansion in said length direction. The invasive medical device (10) preferably comprises a cooling arrangement (70, 80) for the plurality of electrically conductive shape memory elements to reduce the relaxation times of the shape memory elements.

Abstract: A deflectable medical device (1) includes a shape memory alloy wire (15) integrated into a flexible elongated body (11). The shape memory alloy wire (15) is arranged to shorten upon receiving energy from an energy supply (2,4), thereby deflecting the medical device (1). A rod (18) positioned in a lumen (14) of the flexible elongated body (11) and compressed between a fixture (16) in the proximal end (12) of the elongated body (11) and the distal end (13) of the elongated body (11) is responsible for the shape memory alloy wire (15) recovering its initial length upon discontinuation of energy supply.

Abstract: A deflectable medical device (1) includes a shape memory alloy wire (15) integrated into a flexible elongated body (11). The shape memory alloy wire (15) is arranged to shorten upon receiving energy from an energy supply (2,4), thereby deflecting the medical device (1). A rod (18) positioned in a lumen (14) of the flexible elongated body (11) and compressed between a fixture (16) in the proximal end (12) of the elongated body (11) and the distal end (13) of the elongated body (11) is responsible for the shape memory alloy wire (15) recovering its initial length upon discontinuation of energy supply.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interventional apparatus comprising an interventional device with a handle (6). The handle comprises a) a first guide (20, 51) guiding an optical fiber, which is also guided within the interventional device, from a first proximal opening (14) of the handle to a distal portion (21) of the handle, wherein the first guide only has radii of curvature being larger than 10 mm, and b) a second guide (22) for guiding an elongated interventional instrument from a second proximal opening (13) of the handle to the distal portion of the handle. Since the first guide is relatively straight, the optical fiber is substantially not bent or only slightly bent and the likelihood that the interventional instrument and the optical fiber press against each other can be significantly reduced. This allows for an improved accuracy of determining the position of the interventional device by optical shape sensing.

Abstract: A treatment device (100) and a treatment system are provided. The treatment device (100) is suitable for temporarily or permanently placing a therapeutic device (112) in a part of a corpus of a living being. The treatment device (100) comprises an elongated body (102) for being inserted in the part of the corpus. The elongated body (102) comprises a channel (110) and an impedance sensor element (104). The channel (110) is for guiding the therapeutic device (112) to a specific position (PI) within the channel (110) and/or for holding the therapeutic device (112) at a specific position (PI) within the channel (110). The impedance sensor element (1040) is configured to be coupled to a detection device for detecting the presence of the therapeutic device (112) at the specific position (PI) on basis of a change of a signal provided by the impedance sensor element (104).

Abstract: An elongated device includes an optical fiber arranged to allow transmission of light to phase change material arranged long the elongated device, for optically heating the phase change material to change its stiffness from one stiffness value to a different stiffness value. Using distributed tilted or blazed Bragg gratings with light wavelength dependent unique grating periods along the optical fiber, a guide wire or catheter is provided which can be stiffness controlled at selected longitudinal portions. Behavior of the tip of a guide wire or catheter is controlled for optimal navigation. Portions of phase change material arranged inside a tube material can be activated at selected longitudinal parts of the elongated device.

Abstract: A deflectable medical device (1) includes a shape memory alloy wire (15) integrated into a flexible elongated body (11). The shape memory alloy wire (15) is arranged to shorten upon receiving energy from an energy supply (2,4), thereby deflecting the medical device (1). A rod (18) positioned in a lumen (14) of the flexible elongated body (11) and compressed between a fixture (16) in the proximal end (12) of the elongated body (11) and the distal end (13) of the elongated body (11) is responsible for the shape memory alloy wire (15) recovering its initial length upon discontinuation of energy supply.

Abstract: The invention addresses the problem of limited functionality of the distal end of a steerable medical device due to the presence of the pull wire ring in the distal end portion. It relates to a steerable medical device (1) comprising a pull wire ring (100a-e) for imparting a bending movement on the steerable medical device. By providing the pull wire ring (100a-e) with an eccentric recess (105a-f) which defines a passage between a first end face (101) and a second end face (105) of the ring, it becomes possible to guide ancillary elements such as electrical lines, data cables and fiber optics past the pull wire ring (100a-e) further towards the distal end of the steerable medical device. By this measure, functionality of the distal end of the medical device is enhanced without obstructing a main lumen of the device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interventional apparatus comprising an interventional device with a handle (6). The handle comprises a) a first guide (20, 51) guiding an optical fiber, which is also guided within the interventional device, from a first proximal opening (14) of the handle to a distal portion (21) of the handle, wherein the first guide only has radii of curvature being larger than 10 mm, and b) a second guide (22) for guiding an elongated interventional instrument from a second proximal opening (13) of the handle to the distal portion of the handle. Since the first guide is relatively straight, the optical fiber is substantially not bent or only slightly bent and the likelihood that the interventional instrument and the optical fiber press against each other can be significantly reduced. This allows for an improved accuracy of determining the position of the interventional device by optical shape sensing.

Abstract: An elongated device, e.g. an interventional guide wire or catheter, comprises an optical fiber (OF) arranged to allow transmission of light to phase change material (PCM) arranged long the elongated device, for optically heating the phase change material (PCM) to change its stiffness from one stiffness value to a different stiffness value. Using distributed tilted or blazed Bragg gratings with light wavelength dependent unique grating periods along the optical fiber, it is possible to provide a guide wire or catheter which can be stiffness controlled at selected longitudinal portions. Especially, it may be preferred to be able to control the behavior of the tip of a guide wire or catheter for optimal navigation, e.g. during a FEVAR procedure. Portions of phase change material (PCM-1, PCM 2) arranged inside a tube material T_M can be activated at selected longitudinal parts of the elongated device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interventional system (1) for performing an interventional procedure. An interventional instrument (5) like a catheter comprises a bendable portion (12), which is bendable by a bending element (11), and an OSS fiber (10) for generating OSS signals being indicative of the degree of bending of the bendable portion. The actual degree of bending of the bendable portion is determined based on the generated OSS signals and the bending element is controlled depending on the actual determined degree of bending. By using OSS, the actual real degree of bending of the bendable portion of the interventional instrument can very accurately be determined. Moreover, since the bending element is controlled based on this very accurately determined degree of bending, the control of the bending element and, thus, of the interventional instrument can be very accurately.

Abstract: An electrode assembly that includes an electrode configured to provide electrical contact with a subject's skin through a subject contact surface. The electrode includes an electrode base pad having a first contact surface on a side of the electrode opposite the subject contact surface. The electrode also includes a connector assembly configured to electrically connect the electrode to an external electrical apparatus to transfer electrical signals between the subject's skin and the external electrical apparatus. The connector assembly includes a housing having a second contact surface. The second contact surface is configured to be magnetically and electrically coupled to the first contact surface of the electrode base pad. The connector assembly also includes an electrical connector configured to connect the second contact surface to the external electrical apparatus.

Abstract: An electrode assembly that includes an electrode configured to provide electrical contact with a subject's skin through a subject contact surface. The electrode includes an electrode base pad having a first contact surface on a side of the electrode opposite the subject contact surface. The electrode also includes a connector assembly configured to electrically connect the electrode to an external electrical apparatus to transfer electrical signals between the subject's skin and the external electrical apparatus. The connector assembly includes a housing having a second contact surface. The second contact surface is configured to be magnetically and electrically coupled to the first contact surface of the electrode base pad. The connector assembly also includes an electrical connector configured to connect the second contact surface to the external electrical apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disposable cartridge (10) for insertion into a sample analyzer (50), the disposable cartridge comprising a housing (16) including a sample analysis unit (18) for engaging with the sample analyzer and a sample extraction unit (14) for extracting a sample from a sample collection unit (12) and transferring said sample to the sample analysis unit, the sample extraction unit being coupled to the sample analysis unit by a flexible connection (30), wherein one of the sample analysis unit and the sample extraction unit is flexibly connected to the housing. A sample analyzer (50) for receiving such a disposable cartridge (10) is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor cartridge for the examination of a liquid or solid sample, particularly a biological fluid like saliva or blood To this end provided is a connection system (1, 2, 3) for the connection of a cartridge (3) to a cartridge reader (1), comprising a sample collection device (2) for picking up a sample releasably connected to the cartridge (3) via a first locking device (5) before taking the sample whereby the cartridge (3) is releasably connected to the reader (1) via a second locking device (6).