Abstract: A medical ultrasound system that includes an ultrasound probe and one of number of optional accessories attached to the ultrasound probe. The accessory exchanges data with the probe and receives power from the probe. The accessory includes processors and logic that governs it operation thereby adding functionality to the probe. The accessory receives input and provides output via any of a number of communication mechanisms, i.e., wireless, electrical, optical, RFID, IR, and the like. The accessory adds functionality to the probe, such as fiber optic shape sensing, obtaining electrical signals, obtaining bio-impedance measurements, tracking a needle, and determining the orientation of the probe. The accessory may include a needle guide, a triphalangeal support structure, or an acoustically transparent cap.

Abstract: A medical device guide system that includes an ultrasound probe is configured for imaging portions of a patient's body. The system is configured to automatically position and/or orient a needle guide with respect to the probe in accordance with a desired needle trajectory with respect to the target blood vessel. The system includes one or more of a blood vessel detection system, a probe orientation system and/or a needle tracking system to facilitate automatically positioning of the needle guide. Some needle guides include multiple channels that define different angles of needle insertion. The needle guide is selectively coupled with a needle guide connector that is operatively coupled with the probe via an electro-mechanical mechanism.

Abstract: Systems, medical devices, and methods for controlling stiffness of the medical devices are disclosed. For example, a system can include an elongate medical device such as a stylet and a pneumatic or hydraulic pump station. The medical device can include a tubular body with a lumen. The lumen, which terminates proximal of a distal end of the medical device, can be configured to contain a fluid. The pump station can be configured to pressurize the fluid and, thereby, stiffen at least a distal portion of the medical device. Being as the tubular body of the medical device is configured to be disposed in another lumen of another elongate medical device such as an intravenous catheter, any stiffness in the medical device (e.g., the stylet) can be imparted to the other medical device (e.g., the catheter) when disposed therein.

Abstract: Systems, medical devices, and methods for steering the medical devices are disclosed. For example, a system can include an elongate medical device and a pump station. The medical device can include a tubular body with a lumen. The lumen, which terminates proximal of a distal end of the medical device, can be configured to contain a fluid. The pump station can be configured to pressurize the fluid and, thereby, induce a curve in at least a distal portion of the medical device for steering the medical device through one or more anatomical lumens. Being as the tubular body of the medical device (e.g., a stylet) is configured to be disposed in another lumen of another elongate medical device (e.g., a catheter), any curvature in the medical device can be imparted to the other medical device when disposed therein for steering the other medical device through the one-or-more anatomical lumens.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to steerable devices configured to negotiate tortuous vascular pathways. The system can include a stylet having a shapeable portion formed of a shape-memory, super-elastic material such as Nitinol. The stylet can be placed within a catheter and can include a fiber-optic strain sensor (FOSS) system configured to determine a shape of the stylet. Passing a fluid of a predetermined temperature through a lumen of the catheter can modify temperature of the shapeable portion which in turn can modify a shape and/or flexibility state of the shapeable portion. Modifying the shape of the shapeable portion can modify an angle at which a distal tip of the stylet extends relative to the central longitudinal axis. A user can then rotate and advance the distal tip to negotiate tortuous vascular pathways. Similarly, modifying a flexibility of the shapeable portion can facilitate negotiating tortuous vascular pathways.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a fiber-optically enabled medical device system including an optical fiber and one or more conductive elements. The optical fiber is configured to determine a shape of the medical device as the device negotiates tortuous vascular pathways. The one or more conductive elements can be configured to transmit electrical signals there along between the distal tip and a console coupled to a proximal end of the medical device. The electrical signals can determine a location of a tip of the medical device, detect an electrophysiological signal at a distal tip, and/or provide electro-stimulation or ablation energy to the distal tip of the medical device. The one or more conductive elements can be a wire extending linearly or helically about the optical fiber, or can be a tube, or tube section, extending annularly about the optical fiber, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are medical systems and devices that include an elongate probe configured for insertion into a patient and/or a catheter. The elongate probe includes an optical fiber and a number of electrical conductors extending along the elongate probe. The probe further includes a tip electrode and a number of band electrodes for obtaining an ECG signal and a bioimpedance, respectively. The optical fiber is configured for shape sensing and to detect strain and fluctuations of the probe. A system includes the probe, and a logic of the system is configured to determine a location of the probe along a vasculature and further determine a location of a catheter with respect to the probe via optical signals and/or electrical signals.

Abstract: Strain-sensing systems, indwelling medical devices, and methods for determining one or more physical attributes are disclosed. A strain-sensing system can include, for example, an indwelling medical device, an optical interrogator, and a console. The medical device can include an optical-fiber probe having fiber Bragg grating (“FBG”) sensors. The optical interrogator can be configured to send input optical signals into the optical-fiber probe and receive FBG sensor-reflected optical signals therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ultrasound imaging system used to place a catheter within a target vessel. The ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound array configured to capture one or more ultrasound images of the target vessel and other anatomical targets within a target area. The ultrasound array is in communication with a console configured to automatically detect the target vessel within the one or more ultrasound images and determine a catheter purchase. The ultrasound imaging system further includes one or more sensors in communication with the console, the one or more sensors configured to detect and track one or more magnetic signatures of an elongate medical device within the target area.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ultrasound imaging system having an ultrasound probe, one or more sensors and a feedback system all in communication with a console. The ultrasound probe includes an ultrasound transducer array configured to capture one or more ultrasound images of a target area. The one or more sensors are coupled to the ultrasound probe and to detect and track a magnetic signature of a needle in three-dimensional space within the target area. The feedback system is configured to provide two or more types of feedback to a user, including feedback related to each of identifying and distinguishing the target vessel from the other anatomical targets, tracking the needle along an optimal needle trajectory, or confirming the needle has accessed the target vessel. The console is configured to activate the feedback system, determine the target vessel, and determine an optimal needle trajectory to access the target vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are medical systems and devices that include an elongate probe configured for insertion into a patient, where the elongate probe includes an electrically conductive (EC) medium extending along probe. The EC medium may take several forms, including a conductive cannula, an ionic solution, a flex circuit, wires, or platings. The probe includes a conductive tip for exchanging electrical signals with a patient. The probe includes optical fiber having shape sensing core fibers, illuminating core fibers and imaging core fibers. A console of the system includes logic executed by one or more processors to perform operations that include providing and/or receiving electrical signals to and from the patient. Operations further include shape sensing of the probe, projecting illuminating light, and receiving imaging light.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are medical systems and devices that include an elongate probe configured for insertion into a patient, where the elongate probe includes an atraumatic tip and where the atraumatic tip includes one or more of a loop, a curl, coil, a flexible distal tip section, a steerable distal tip section, a distal tip section configured to transition away from a first shape toward a second shape upon insertion of the elongate probe within the patient. The optical fiber includes sensing core fibers configured to facilitate a determination of a physical state of the elongate probe. The elongate probe is also configured to project illuminating light away from a distal end and receive imaging light at the distal end.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system configured to capture a plurality of ultrasound images and determine one or more optimal ultrasound images from the plurality of ultrasound images. The ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound array configured to capture a plurality of ultrasound images of a target vessel and other anatomical targets within a target area. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a console in communication with the ultrasound array, the console configured to detect one or more vessel characteristics of the target vessel, determine one or more vessel characteristic values from the one or more vessel characteristics, and compare each vessel characteristic value with one or more vessel characteristic thresholds to determine one or more optimal ultrasound images from the plurality of ultrasound images.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are medical systems and devices that include an elongate probe configured for insertion into a patient, where a multi-core optical fiber extends along the elongate probe. The optical fiber can include sensing core fibers that extend distally along the probe. The optical fiber can further include illumining core fibers to facilitate projection of light away from the distal end in various illumination patterns. The system includes a console having processors and logic stored in memory. The logic can facilitate singly projecting the illumination light in the various pattens. The logic can also extract an image from returning light and compare wavelengths between the illuminating light and the returning light to determine a motion of body elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for navigation and positioning a central venous catheter within a patient. The system may include a first pole and a second pole designed to generate an electric field sufficient to obtain a plurality of field measurements. The system may include a stylet inserted into a medical device. The stylet may include a magnetic assembly configured to produce a magnetic field positioned along a distal portion of the stylet, and a stylet electrode positioned distal of the magnetic assembly. The stylet electrode may be designed to function as both an interior excitation electrode and an interior detection electrode. Advancement of the medical device in the patient may include using a conductance curve generated from the plurality of field measurements to identify an obstruction or malposition in the patient.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are medical systems and devices that include an elongate probe configured for insertion into a patient, where a multi-core optical fiber extends along the elongate probe. The optical fiber includes sensing core fibers that extend distally along a flexible distal tip section having a bending flexibility that exceeds a flexibility of a main probe section. The optical fiber may further include illumining core fibers, imaging core fibers, and an electrical conductor. An electrode at the distal end provides for detection of an ECG signal. The distal tip section may also be steerable. The system includes a console having processors and logic stored in memory. The logic facilitates portraying of a shape of the elongate probe, an ECG waveform and/or an image of an interior of the patient. The elongate probe further includes a shape memory material defining a transition temperature.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system configured to assess a blood flow rate through a target vessel. The ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound array configured to capture ultrasound image of the target vessel and a doppler array configured to detect the fluid flow through a region of interest of the target vessel. Logic operations of a console of the system and methods include determining a region of interest of the ultrasound image, calculating a percentage of the blood vessel occupied by the vascular access device, utilizing a data training set to predict a blood flow rate after placement of the vascular access device based on a blood flow rate prior to placement of the vascular device, and utilizing a data training set to predict a blood flow rate downstream of the vascular access device based on a blood flow rate upstream of the vascular device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ultrasound imaging system configured to assess the impact of placement of a vascular access device on fluid flow through a target vessel. The ultrasound imaging system includes an ultrasound probe having an ultrasound array configured to capture one or more ultrasound images of the target vessel and a Doppler array configured to detect the fluid flow through a region of interest of the target vessel. The ultrasound imaging system further includes a console in communication with each of the ultrasound array and the Doppler array, the console configured to determine the region of interest of the target vessel.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method directed to detecting damage to an optical fiber. The optical fiber includes core fibers including a plurality of sensors configured to (i) reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and (ii) change a characteristic of the reflected light signal based on experienced strain. The system can include a console having memory storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the broadband incident light by one or more of the plurality of sensors, processing the reflected light signals to detect fluctuations of a portion of the optical fiber, and determining a location of the portion of the optical fiber or a defect affecting a vessel in which the portion is disposed based on the detected fluctuations. The portion may be a distal tip of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method directed to detecting malposition of a medical device within a vessel of a patient, such as an Azygos vein. The medical device can include a multi-core optical fiber including a plurality of core fibers, where each of the plurality of core fibers includes a plurality of sensors is configured to reflect a light signal based on received incident light, and change a characteristic of the reflected light signal for use in determining a physical state of the multi-core optical fiber. The system can include a console having non-transitory computer-readable medium storing logic that, when executed, causes operations of providing a broadband incident light signal to the multi-core optical fiber, receiving reflected light signals, processing the reflected light signals, and determining whether the medical device has entered the Azygos vein of the patient based on the reflected light signals.