Abstract: A method comprises acquiring a set of measurements of impedance of an implantable medical lead, determining a metric of variability of the set of impedance measurements, determining that the metric of variability satisfies a criterion, and generating a lead integrity alert in response to the metric of variability satisfying the criterion.

Abstract: A low profile inflation valve located inside a balloon catheter that enables a user to inflate the balloon and exchange other medical apparatus over the catheter while the balloon remains inflated. The low profile inflation valve of the present invention includes a first tube having a lumen and at least one region of decreased inner diameter, and a structure movably located inside the lumen of said first tube, wherein said region of decreased inner diameter of said first tube forms a seal with a portion of said structure.

Abstract: A low profile inflation valve includes a first tube having a lumen and at least one region of decreased inner diameter, and a structure, which may be a tube, movably located inside the lumen. The region of decreased inner diameter of the first tube forms a seal with a portion of the structure. A method of making a low profile inflation valve using a first tube and second tube comprises the steps of creating an aperture in at least one side of the second tube; placing the second tube inside the first tube, the first tube being made of thermoplastic material; applying heat to a localized area of the first tube; and compressing the first tube to form a region of reduced internal diameter, the reduced diameter forming a seal with the outside diameter of the second tube.

Abstract: A novel intravascular occlusion material removal device for removing vascular occlusion material in a vascular lumen comprises a prime mover and an expandable material removal element insertable intravascularly into the vascular lumen. A hollow drive shaft operatively connects the prime mover to the expandable material removal element for rotating the expandable material removal element intravascularly. A guidewire is insertable through the distal end of the expandable material removal element and the hollow drive shaft, and is shiftable within the drive shaft and the expandable material removal element. The expandable material removal element is expandable responsive to shifting of the guidewire.