Abstract: An intracardiac imaging system has an MRI compatible intracardiac echography catheter having transmitters, receivers, a multiplexer, and a beamformer. The catheter can include an atraumatic tip disposed on the distal end of the catheter, a pair of inductively coupled coils proximal the atraumatic tip, at least one CMUT-on-CMOS volumetric imaging chip disposed between the pair of coils, and a cable lumen disposed within the volume sized to house a small number of electrical connections due to significant multiplexing in the CMUT-on-CMOS chip. The catheter can be made of MRI compatible materials and can include active cooling channels.

Abstract: Technology disclosed herein provides a reduced transition between the edge of a rigid vascular dilator and the distal edge of the accompanying introducer sheath. Disclosed dilators can be segmented into two or more primarily longitudinally extending parts, can have rigid circumferential or semi-circumferential leading shoulders to minimize the transition between the dilator and the sheath edge, and can contain internal recesses to allow sequential retraction of segments once the introducer sheath is delivered to a target chamber. With this technology, vascular introducer sheaths can be introduced percutaneously into a broad range of diseased target vessels and chambers with reduced damage to the wall of the vessel or chamber, and with reduced damage to the distal end of the introducer sheath.

Abstract: An intracardiac imaging system has an MRI compatible intracardiac echography catheter having transmitters, receivers, a multiplexer, and a beamformer. The catheter can include an atraumatic tip disposed on the distal end of the catheter, a pair of inductively coupled coils proximal the atraumatic tip, at least one CMUT-on-CMOS volumetric imaging chip disposed between the pair of coils, and a cable lumen disposed within the volume sized to house a small number of electrical connections due to significant multiplexing in the CMUT-on-CMOS chip. The catheter can be made of MRI compatible materials and can include active cooling channels.

Abstract: An intracardiac imaging system has an intracardiac echography catheter with an internal volume, a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter includes an atraumatic tip disposed on the distal end of the catheter, a pair of inductively coupled coils proximal the atraumatic tip, at least one CMUT on CMOS volumetric imaging chip disposed between the pair of coils, and a cable lumen disposed within the volume and configured to small number of electrical connections due to significant multiplexing in the CMUT on CMOS chip. The catheter can be made of MRI compatible materials and can include active cooling channels. The CMUT on CMOS chip has a plurality of Tx elements transmitting imaging pulses, a plurality of Rx elements, disposed on the chip to have a large aperture and a plurality of electronics interfacing with the Tx elements for beamforming and the Rx elements to produce radio frequency output signals.

Abstract: An intracardiac imaging system has an intracardiac echography catheter with an internal volume, a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter includes an atraumatic tip disposed on the distal end of the catheter, a pair of inductively coupled coils proximal the atraumatic tip, at least one CMUT on CMOS volumetric imaging chip disposed between the pair of coils, and a cable lumen disposed within the volume and configured to small number of electrical connections due to significant multiplexing in the CMUT on CMOS chip. The catheter can be made of MRI compatible materials and can include active cooling channels. The CMUT on CMOS chip has a plurality of Tx elements transmitting imaging pulses, a plurality of Rx elements, disposed on the chip to have a large aperture and a plurality of electronics interfacing with the Tx elements for beamforming and the Rx elements to produce radio frequency output signals.

Abstract: Technology disclosed herein provides a reduced transition between the edge of a rigid vascular dilator and the distal edge of the accompanying introducer sheath. Disclosed dilators can be segmented into two or more primarily longitudinally extending parts, can have rigid circumferential or semi-circumferential leading shoulders to minimize the transition between the dilator and the sheath edge, and can contain internal recesses to allow sequential retraction of segments once the introducer sheath is delivered to a target chamber. With this technology, vascular introducer sheaths can be introduced percutaneously into a broad range of diseased target vessels and chambers with reduced damage to the wall of the vessel or chamber, and with reduced damage to the distal end of the introducer sheath.