Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling a medical device in a patient's body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional rendering of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation or location of the distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to approximately assume the selected orientation or location.

Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling a medical device in a patient's body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional rendering of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation or location of the distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to approximately assume the selected orientation or location.

Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling a medical device in a patient's body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional rendering of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation or location of the distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to approximately assume the selected orientation or location.

Abstract: This invention describes an energy delivery apparatus for delivering electrical energy at a target location, said energy delivery apparatus being usable in combination with a magnetic field and comprising an electrical conductor having a substantially elongated configuration; an electrode for delivering electrical energy at the target location, with the electrode being electrically coupled to the electrical conductor and having an exposed surface with at least a portion of the exposed surface having one of its principal radii of curvature smaller than 0.35 mm; an insulating dielectric coating along a substantial portion of the length of the electrical conductor, with the dielectric coating having a dielectric constant smaller than about 3; at least one guiding element mounted to the electrical conductor, with at least one of the guiding elements including a magnetically responsive material.

Abstract: This invention describes an occlusion crossing apparatus for creating an opening in occluded tissue at a target location in interventional and surgical applications with simultaneous or nearly simultaneous intravascular imaging.

Abstract: Devices for the generation and detection of an ablative plasma discharge in a subject are presented. Methods of use, including navigation and operation of the devices to facilitate minimally invasive therapeutic procedures are disclosed.

Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling a medical device in a patient's body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional rendering of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation or location of the distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to approximately assume the selected orientation or location.

Abstract: A method of screening subjects for medical procedures involving the remote navigation of a medical device through the vasculature in an operating region. The method includes processing the image data of the operating region to determine a measure of the complexity of at least a portion of the vasculature in the operating region; and generating a recommendation about at least one parameter of the procedure based at least in part upon a comparison between the determined measure of complexity and a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of operating a remote medical navigation system using ultrasound, employs ultrasound imaging from a medical device to supplement or to replace conventional x-ray imaging of the operating region during navigation.

Abstract: A method of navigating a medical device in an operating region in a subject. The method includes applying a magnetic field to the operating region and changing the magnetic moment of the medical device by selectively changing a physical condition of at least one magnet element in the medical device to change the orientation of the device with respect to the applied magnetic field.

Abstract: A method of treating vessel occlusions including chronic total occlusions (CTO) of the coronary arteries is presented that relies on remote navigation of a remotely steered medical device to the occlusion and controlled application of ablative energy or mechanical push together with real-time local imaging of the vasculature or real-time vessel wall sensing. The combinative use of remote navigation methods and real-time imaging or real-time sensing enables crossing of elongated lesions and CTOs, calcified lesions and CTOs and lesions and CTOs located at vessel branches.

Abstract: Systems and methods of delivering magnetically loaded cells to target areas within a patient are described. Cells rendered magnetically attractable by being loaded with magnetic microparticles are delivered from a hollow interventional device distal tip and attracted towards a previously placed implant. Implants, such as stents, are magnetized by application of a magnetic field sequence; magnetized cells are attracted by the local magnetic domains and associated field gradients within the implant, and adhere to and are retained by the local tissues, such as tissue protrusions through a stent struts. Application of a magnetic field or field gradient sequence concurrently with the magnetic cell delivery facilitates pulling the cells away from the lumen axis and towards the implant surface and vessel or organ walls.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that enables intra-chamber needle injection treatment using a navigable interventional device. The method includes navigation steps to systematically inject cells, drugs, or other agents in diagnostically identified target tissues, such as ischemic heart wall tissues. Magnetic navigation of a specifically designed needle catheter permits safe access to remote structures of the heart and depth-adaptable needle injections.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for obtaining registration of a localization system's three-dimensional coordinates for a plurality of markers having known locations to the two-dimensional coordinates for the plurality of reference markers obtained from a single X-ray image. The method for registering a navigational system with a localization system having a plurality of reference markers includes determining the three-dimensional coordinates of the locations of a plurality of reference markers within the localization coordinate system, and providing a single two-dimensional X-ray image that includes a two dimensional location of the plurality of markers. The method further includes determining a coordinate transformation for obtaining a best fit registration of the localization system's three-dimensional coordinates to the two-dimensional coordinates obtained from the single X-ray image, for at least one reference marker location.

Abstract: A method for navigating a medical device to an anatomical surface within a subject to perform electro-anatomical mapping using a magnetic navigation system is provided that includes importing a pre-operative image data set of an anatomical surface in the subject's body into a localization system. One or more control parameters are applied to the magnetic navigation system to drive the medical device to one or more points of tissue contact, from the locations of which a geometric anatomical map can be created and registered with the pre-operative anatomical image. The pre-operative anatomical surface image and a representation of the geometric anatomical map are displayed relative to one another, such that a user may select a location on the displayed pre-operative anatomical image to navigate the medical device towards.

Abstract: A method of conducting a therapeutic ablation of cardiac tissue based upon local electrical signals in the tissue.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for Magnetic Resonance Imaging with specialized imaging coils possessing high Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR). Imaging and/or Radio Frequency receiving coils include a ballistic electrical conductor such as carbon nanotubes, the ballistic electrical conductor having a resistance that does not increase significantly with length. Due to their enhanced SNR properties, system designs with smaller static magnetic field strength can be constructed for the same quality of imaging, leading to substantial reductions in system size and cost, as well as to enhanced imaging with existing MRI systems.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for Magnetic Resonance Imaging with specialized imaging coils possessing high Signal-to-Noise-Ratios (SNR). Radio Frequency transmitting and/or Radio Frequency receiving elements include carbon nanotube material, a ballistic electrical conductor having a resistance that does not increase significantly with length. The shapes of the receiving and transmitting elements can be linear, curvilinear, or coiled. The carbon nanotube material can be layered. Due to their enhanced SNR properties, preferred embodiments have smaller static magnetic field strengths with imaging quality comparable to known field systems, leading to substantial reductions in system size and cost. Other preferred embodiments provide enhanced imaging with known MRI static magnetic field strengths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for Magnetic Resonance Imaging using specialized signal acquisition and processing techniques for image reconstruction with a generally inhomogeneous static magnetic field. New signal processing methods for image reconstruction and for minimizing dephasing effects are disclosed. Imaging systems with smaller static magnetic field strengths and smaller hardware demands than those with homogeneous static magnetic fields are provided, leading to significant reductions in system size and cost as compared to standard MRI systems. Such systems can also exploit imaging coils having high Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR), including those made from Carbon nanotube conductors, leading to further imaging system efficiencies.

Abstract: A method of navigating a medical device in an operating region in a subject. The method includes applying a magnetic field to the operating region and changing the magnetic moment of the medical device by selectively changing a physical condition of at least one magnet element in the medical device to change the orientation of the device with respect to the applied magnetic field.