Abstract: A catheter for scoring or slicing a lesion. The catheter has a first receiver at a distal end of an expandable portion of the catheter shaft. A first carrier at least partially within the first receiver is moveable axially along the catheter shaft to deploy a first cutter along the expandable portion for cutting or scoring the lesion. In an alternative embodiment, the first carrier may be a wire having a loop, and thus forming a first length including the first cutter and a second length including a second cutter. Actuation of the wire thus causes simultaneous, reciprocal movement of the first and second cutters. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A catheter for scoring or slicing a lesion. The catheter has a first receiver at a distal end of an expandable portion of the catheter shaft. A first carrier at least partially within the first receiver is moveable axially along the catheter shaft to deploy a first cutter along the expandable portion for cutting or scoring the lesion. In an alternative embodiment, the first carrier may be a wire having a loop, and thus forming a first length including the first cutter and a second length including a second cutter. Actuation of the wire thus causes simultaneous, reciprocal movement of the first and second cutters. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes an interventional medical device having a first tracking element that generates tip location data based on an EM locator field. An ultrasound probe has an ultrasound transducer mechanism and a second tracking element. The ultrasound transducer mechanism has an active ultrasound transducer array that generates two-dimensional ultrasound slice data at any of a plurality of discrete imaging locations within a three-dimensional imaging volume. The second tracking element generates probe location data based on the EM locator field. A processor circuit is configured to execute program instructions to generate an ultrasound image for display, and is configured to generate a positioning signal based on the tip location data and the probe location data to dynamically position the active ultrasound transducer array so that the two-dimensional ultrasound slice data includes the distal tip of the interventional medical device.

Abstract: Drug-loaded microbead compositions include microbeads of a water-swellable polymer material and a complex of a carrier and a therapeutic agent chemically bonded to the carrier. The complex is embedded in the polymer material. Methods for preparing the drug-loaded microbead compositions and embolization compositions include loading a therapeutic agent into a water-swellable polymer material to form microbeads, then removing water from the microbeads. Additional drug-loaded microbead compositions include microbeads of a biodegradable material, vesicular agents, a first therapeutic agent associated with the vesicular agents, and a second therapeutic agent different from the first therapeutic agent. The vesicular agents include a lipid bilayer surrounding a vesicular core. The second therapeutic agent is contained within the microbeads or associated with the microbeads through ionic or non-covalent interaction and may or may not be associated with the vesicular agents.

Abstract: Dual-access site catheter systems with a blade or scoring functionality entering through a first access site and a balloon functionality for manipulating or driving the blade or scoring functionality through a different site. The blade or scoring functionality also sometimes provides needle or fluid delivery functionality to an atherosclerotic lesion.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes an interventional medical device having a first tracking element that generates tip location data based on an EM locator field. An ultrasound probe has an ultrasound transducer mechanism and a second tracking element. The ultrasound transducer mechanism has an active ultrasound transducer array that generates two-dimensional ultrasound slice data at any of a plurality of discrete imaging locations within a three-dimensional imaging volume. The second tracking element generates probe location data based on the EM locator field. A processor circuit is configured to execute program instructions to generate an ultrasound image for display, and is configured to generate a positioning signal based on the tip location data and the probe location data to dynamically position the active ultrasound transducer array so that the two-dimensional ultrasound slice data includes the distal tip of the interventional medical device.

Abstract: Drug-loaded microbead compositions include microbeads of a water-swellable polymer material and a complex of a carrier and a therapeutic agent chemically bonded to the carrier. The complex is embedded in the polymer material. The therapeutic agent is not chemically bonded to the water-swellable polymer material. The drug-loaded microbead composition has a water content of less than 1% by weight, based on the total weight of the drug-loaded microbead composition. The drug-loaded microbead composition may be rehydrated to form an embolization composition for use in in embolization therapy. Methods for preparing the drug-loaded microbead compositions and the embolization compositions include loading a therapeutic agent into a water-swellable polymer material to form microbeads, then removing water from the microbeads.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for measuring anatomical dimensions from a single two-dimensional (2D) digital image. The digital image is taken from the front/anterior view using a mobile, handheld communication device. The linear measurements are used to estimate the body volume of the individual. Total body density is calculated from estimated body volume and body weight. Body composition (fat mass and fat-free mass) of the individual is derived from density using known mathematical conversion formulas. A method for estimating body composition analysis is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing an endovascular procedure. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic catheter supporting a first inflatable balloon. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic wave guide associated with the ultrasonic catheter. The ultrasonic wave guide includes a fluid lumen. The ultrasonic wave guide has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer having a transducer horn. The proximal portion of the ultrasonic wave guide is crimped directly onto the transducer horn. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to vibrate the ultrasonic wave guide at an ultrasonic frequency, and the ultrasonic wave guide is configured to transmit the ultrasonic frequency from the ultrasonic transducer to the distal portion.

Abstract: Dual-access site catheter systems with a blade or scoring functionality entering through a first access site and a balloon functionality for manipulating or driving the blade or scoring functionality through a different site. The blade or scoring functionality also sometimes provides needle or fluid delivery functionality to an atherosclerotic lesion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for receiving a first message associated with a first sponsor and a second message associated with a second sponsor for inclusion in a message collection. The systems and methods determine a first priority parameter associated with the first message based on sponsored content, and a second priority parameter associated with the second message based on sponsored content. Based on a determination that there is insufficient message inventory to include both the first message and the second message in the message collection, the systems and methods prioritize the first message associated with the first sponsor in the message collection and excluding the second message associated with the second sponsor in the message collection, based on an amount of consideration associated with the first priority parameter received from the first sponsor and an amount of consideration associated with the second priority parameter received from the second sponsor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for receiving a first message associated with a first sponsor and a second message associated with a second sponsor for inclusion in a message collection. The systems and methods determine a first priority parameter associated with the first message based on sponsored content, and a second priority parameter associated with the second message based on sponsored content. Based on a determination that there is insufficient message inventory to include both the first message and the second message in the message collection, the systems and methods prioritize the first message associated with the first sponsor in the message collection and excluding the second message associated with the second sponsor in the message collection, based on an amount of consideration associated with the first priority parameter received from the first sponsor and an amount of consideration associated with the second priority parameter received from the second sponsor.

Abstract: A catheter includes a wave guide for transmitting ultrasonic energy from a transducer, and which is also rotated to facilitate enhanced disruption of the concerned obstruction in a transverse direction. Embodiments of waveguide include distal anchors that help focus the energy transmitted to a treatment site, and may also include a deployable filter that may open distal of the obstruction to capture any dislodged debris. Selectively inflatable balloons may cordon off a treatment site, and the wave guide may comprise a tube that may serve the dual purposes of inflating the balloon(s), as well as to transmit ultrasonic energy to an obstruction. A portion of an ultrasonic catheter may include plural curved portions to space an exposed portion of the wave guide away from the catheter body to enhance the vibratory action provided.

Abstract: Provided herein is a system including, in some embodiments, a streamlined port and a port tunneler. The port includes a septum and a stabilizing element. The septum is disposed over a cavity in a body of the port, and the septum is configured to accept a needle therethrough. The stabilizing element is configured to stabilize the port in vivo and maintain needle access to the septum. The port tunneler includes an adapter and a release mechanism. The adapter is in a distal end portion of the port tunneler, and the adapter is configured to securely hold the port while subcutaneously tunneling the port from an incision site to an implantation site for the port. The release mechanism is configured to release the port from the adapter at the implantation site for the port.

Abstract: A method of generating a 3D ultrasound image includes acquiring a 3D volumetric data set corresponding to a 3D imaging volume of an ultrasound probe in a 3D detection volume; acquiring a position of the ultrasound probe with respect to the 3D detection volume; acquiring a position of an interventional medical device with respect to the 3D detection volume; determining a position of the interventional medical device relative to the 3D imaging volume of the ultrasound probe; determining an interventional medical device-aligned plane that intersects with a longitudinal axis of the interventional medical device; extracting a texture slice from the 3D imaging volume for a corresponding interventional medical device-aligned plane positional and rotational orientation; mapping the texture slice onto the interventional medical device-aligned plane; and rendering the interventional medical device-aligned plane as a 3D ultrasound image and displaying the rendered 3D ultrasound image on a display screen.

Abstract: An air purifier system characterized by a housing, a fan, and a motor, as well as a docking ring located at the outer edge of the inlet side of the air purifier system, a seat below the housing, a prefilter or barrier upstream of the fan, and a filter downstream of the fan. An air purifier system characterized by an upstream-to-downstream airflow path that includes an axial fan, a diffuser, and a filter, in that relative order, with an electric motor held along the centerline of the housing by one or more supports and/or guide vanes. A docking ring that facilitates attachment of a screen-like, mesh-like, cloth-like, or paper-like filter to a machine capable of air purification, characterized by having a large hole through which air passes and by attachment to the machine utilizing any tongue and groove system, for which installation and removal of the docking ring is achieved, in whole or in part, by rotation of said docking ring relative to the machine.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for receiving a first message associated with a first sponsor and a second message associated with a second sponsor for inclusion in a message collection. The systems and methods determine a first priority parameter associated with the first message based on sponsored content, and a second priority parameter associated with the second message based on sponsored content. Based on a determination that there is insufficient message inventory to include both the first message and the second message in the message collection, the systems and methods prioritize the first message associated with the first sponsor in the message collection and excluding the second message associated with the second sponsor in the message collection, based on an amount of consideration associated with the first priority parameter received from the first sponsor and an amount of consideration associated with the second priority parameter received from the second sponsor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of generating a 3D ultrasound image includes acquiring a 3D volumetric data set corresponding to a 3D imaging volume of an ultrasound probe in a 3D detection volume; acquiring a position of the ultrasound probe with respect to the 3D detection volume; acquiring a position of an interventional medical device with respect to the 3D detection volume; determining a position of the interventional medical device relative to the 3D imaging volume of the ultrasound probe; determining an interventional medical device-aligned plane that intersects with a longitudinal axis of the interventional medical device; extracting a texture slice from the 3D imaging volume for a corresponding interventional medical device-aligned plane positional and rotational orientation; mapping the texture slice onto the interventional medical device-aligned plane; and rendering the interventional medical device-aligned plane as a 3D ultrasound image and displaying the rendered 3D ultrasound image on a display screen.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer implemented method of processing messages may include receiving priority information from at least one sponsor, the priority information to be used in determining a priority of one or more messages received from a plurality user devices, creating a message collection using a plurality of messages received from the plurality of user devices, and prioritizing at least one message in the message collection according to the received priority information.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer implemented method of processing messages may include receiving priority information from at least one sponsor, the priority information to be used in determining a priority of one or more messages received from a plurality user devices, creating a message collection using a plurality of messages received from the plurality of user devices, and prioritizing at least one message in the message collection according to the received priority information.