Abstract: System and methods for optical coherence tomography. The systems may include a source of optical radiation, an optical fiber, a detector, an interface medium, a mirror in the embedding medium, and a processor. The optical fiber may provide a common path for optical radiation reflected from a reference and a target. The detector may receive the optical radiation reflected from the reference and the target. The interface medium may be at the reference interface and in optical contact with the distal end of the optical fiber. The mirror may include a silicon die having a reflective coating. The processor may generate an image of the target based upon the optical radiation received by the detector.

Abstract: Described are implants for placing in a body, tools for delivering the implants, and systems and methods for using implants and tools for placing in a body and more particularly to nasal implants, tools for delivering nasal implants, and systems and methods for using such implants and tools. A tool may include a hand-held implant delivery device that holds, moves, orients, inserts, or shapes an implant. An implant may be a biodegradable, longitudinal implant that may be oriented for implantation by an implant delivery device.

Abstract: Nasal implants are provided that have a planar type profile with open spaces through portions of the planar type profile. The nasal implant can be compressible along one or more dimensions of the nasal implant, such as the width and length of the planar type profile. Delivery tools for deploying the nasal implants within the nasal tissue are also provided. Methods for deploying the nasal implants within the nasal tissue of the patient are also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods of optical coherence tomography. The systems may include a source of optical radiation, an elongate catheter body, an optical fiber, a handle, a detector and a processor. The optical fiber may extend from a proximal end to a distal end of the elongate catheter body, and be fixed to the distal end of the elongate catheter body. The optical fiber may provide a common path for radiation reflected from a reference and a target. The handle may be attached to the proximal end of the elongate catheter body and be configured to allow rotation of the elongate catheter body and the optical fiber relative to the handle about a longitudinal axis. The detector may be configured to receive the radiation reflected from the reference and the target. The processor may be configured to generate an image of the target based upon the radiation received by the detector.

Abstract: Described are implants for placing in a body, tools for delivering the implants, and systems and methods for using implants and tools for placing in a body and more particularly to nasal implants, tools for delivering nasal implants, and systems and methods for using such implants and tools.

Abstract: A nasal implant delivery tool includes an inner handle, an outer handle, a needle, and a push rod. The inner handle includes a loading chamber configured to receive a nasal implant. The outer handle is configured to move axially relative to the inner handle. The needle extends distally from the inner handle and has a central lumen and a distal opening. The push rod is configured to move the nasal implant from the loading chamber, through the central lumen, and out the distal opening of the needle. The push rod is coupled to the outer handle such that the push rod moves axially relative to the inner handle when the outer handle is moved axially relative to the inner handle. Also described herein are nasal implant guides and methods of using nasal implant delivery tools and nasal implant guides.

Abstract: Nasal implants are provided that have a planar type profile with open spaces through portions of the planar type profile. The nasal implant can be compressible along one or more dimensions of the nasal implant, such as the width and length of the planar type profile. Delivery tools for deploying the nasal implants within the nasal tissue are also provided. Methods for deploying the nasal implants within the nasal tissue of the patient are also provided.

Abstract: Methods of performing an atherectomy using an atherectomy catheter. The atherectomy catheter may include a catheter body, a driveshaft, and a distal tip assembly. The driveshaft may include an annular cutting ring with a distal cutting edge. A long axis of the annular cutting ring can be configured to be parallel to a longitudinal axis of the distal tip assembly when the distal tip assembly is deflected with respect to the catheter body. The methods may include advancing the atherectomy catheter within a vessel lumen; axially moving the driveshaft relative to the catheter body to deflect the distal tip assembly with respect to the catheter body and radially extend the distal cutting edge of the annular cutting ring relative to the distal end of the catheter body; driving the distal cutting edge against a wall of the vessel lumen to remove tissue.

Abstract: A system for imaging a body lumen includes a controller and a display. The controller is configured to connect to a proximal end of a catheter having an optical fiber extending along the length of an elongate catheter body. The controller is further configured to rotate a distal end of the optical fiber from a location near a proximal end of the elongate catheter body, acquire optical coherence tomography (OCT) images using the optical fiber as the distal end of the optical fiber rotates, and determine a rotational lag of the distal end of the optical fiber. The display is configured to display one or more OCT images corrected for the rotational lag.

Abstract: A nasal implant delivery tool includes an inner handle, an outer handle, a needle, and a push rod. The inner handle includes a loading chamber configured to receive a nasal implant. The outer handle is configured to move axially relative to the inner handle. The needle extends distally from the inner handle and has a central lumen and a distal opening. The push rod is configured to move the nasal implant from the loading chamber, through the central lumen, and out the distal opening of the needle. The push rod is coupled to the outer handle such that the push rod moves axially relative to the inner handle when the outer handle is moved axially relative to the inner handle. Also described herein are nasal implant guides and methods of using nasal implant delivery tools and nasal implant guides.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool and methods of using the tool are provided to quantify an amount of nasal collapse in a patient. The diagnostic tool includes a mask with an endoscope port and an opening to allow air flow, an endoscope with a camera adapted to take an image of the nasal valve, and an air flow sensor adapted to measure an inhalation rate of the patient. The diagnostic tool can quantify a size difference between the nasal valve during inhalation and zero flow by calculating a percentage difference in an area or one or more dimensions of the nasal valve during inhalation and zero flow.

Abstract: Described are implants for placing in a body, tools for delivering the implants, and systems and methods for using implants and tools for placing in a body and more particularly to nasal implants, tools for delivering nasal implants, and systems and methods for using such implants and tools. A tool may include a hand-held implant delivery device that cuts, holds, moves, orients, inserts, or shapes an implant. An implant may be a biodegradable, longitudinal implant that may be oriented for implantation by an implant delivery device.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool and methods of using the tool are provided to quantify an amount of nasal collapse in a patient. The diagnostic tool includes a mask with an endoscope port and an opening to allow air flow, an endoscope with a camera adapted to take an image of the nasal valve, and an air flow sensor adapted to measure an inhalation rate of the patient. The diagnostic tool can quantify a size difference between the nasal valve during inhalation and zero flow by calculating a percentage difference in an area or one or more dimensions of the nasal valve during inhalation and zero flow.

Abstract: Described herein are catheters for use with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) that include an optical fiber core having a first refractive index and an interface medium having a second refractive index, where the first and second refractive indexes are mismatched such that receiving electronics configured to receive optical radiation reflected from the reference interface and the target operate in a total noise range that is within 5 dB of the shot noise limit. These OCT catheters may include a silicon die mirror having a reflective coating that is embedded in the interface medium. The optical fiber can be fixed at just the distal end of the catheter, and may be managed within a handle that is attached to the proximal end of the catheter body, and is configured to allow rotation of the both catheter body and the optical fiber relative to the handle.

Abstract: Described are implants for placing in a body, tools for delivering the implants, and systems and methods for using implants and tools for placing in a body and more particularly to nasal implants, tools for delivering nasal implants, and systems and methods for using such implants and tools. A tool may include a hand-held implant delivery device that cuts, holds, moves, orients, inserts, or shapes an implant. An implant may be a biodegradable, longitudinal implant that may be oriented for implantation by an implant delivery device.

Abstract: A nasal implant delivery tool includes an inner handle, an outer handle, a needle, and a push rod. The inner handle includes a loading chamber configured to receive a nasal implant. The outer handle is configured to move axially relative to the inner handle. The needle extends distally from the inner handle and has a central lumen and a distal opening. The push rod is configured to move the nasal implant from the loading chamber, through the central lumen, and out the distal opening of the needle. The push rod is coupled to the outer handle such that the push rod moves axially relative to the inner handle when the outer handle is moved axially relative to the inner handle. Also described herein are nasal implant guides and methods of using nasal implant delivery tools and nasal implant guides.

Abstract: Described herein are catheters for use with Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) that include an optical fiber core having a first refractive index and an interface medium having a second refractive index, where the first and second refractive indexes are mismatched such that receiving electronics configured to receive optical radiation reflected from the reference interface and the target operate in a total noise range that is within 5 dB of the shot noise limit. These OCT catheters may include a silicon die mirror having a reflective coating that is embedded in the interface medium. The optical fiber can be fixed at just the distal end of the catheter, and may be managed within a handle that is attached to the proximal end of the catheter body, and is configured to allow rotation of the both catheter body and the optical fiber relative to the handle.

Abstract: Described are implants for placing in a body, tools for delivering the implants, and systems and methods for using implants and tools for placing in a body and more particularly to nasal implants, tools for delivering nasal implants, and systems and methods for using such implants and tools. A tool may include a hand-held implant delivery device that holds, moves, orients, inserts, or shapes an implant. An implant may be a biodegradable, longitudinal implant that may be oriented for implantation by an implant delivery device.

Abstract: Described herein are atherectomy catheters, systems and methods that include a distal tip region that may be moved laterally so that its long axis is parallel with the long axis of the main catheter body axis. Displacing the distal tip region laterally out of the main catheter body axis exposes an annular blade and opens a passageway for cut tissue to enter a storage region within the catheter. The annular blade may be internally coupled to a drive shaft that rotates the blade, and thus the exposed blade edge may have the same crossing profile (OD) as the rest of the distal end region of the catheter. Also described herein are gear-driven atherectomy devices that may use a cable drive shaft to actuate the annular blade. Both push-to-cut and pull-to-cut variations are described, as are methods for cutting tissue and systems including these atherectomy catheters.

Abstract: Described are implants for placing in a body, tools for delivering the implants, and systems and methods for using implants and tools for placing in a body and more particularly to nasal implants, tools for delivering nasal implants, and systems and methods for using such implants and tools. A tool may include a hand-held implant delivery device that holds, moves, orients, inserts, or shapes an implant. An implant may be a biodegradable, longitudinal implant that may be oriented for implantation by an implant delivery device.