Abstract: An example system for creating a lumen according to the present disclosure includes, among other possible things a balloon wound in a generally helical shape having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a support attached to at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the generally helical shape and constraining the tubular balloon in the generally helical shape. The balloon has a first diameter in a low-profile operating mode and the generally helical shape has a second diameter in a high-profile operating mode, and the second diameter is larger than the first diameter. Other example systems for creating a lumen and methods for creating a lumen in an artery are also disclosed.

Abstract: An example system for creating a lumen according to the present disclosure includes, among other possible things a balloon wound in a generally helical shape having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a support attached to at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the generally helical shape and constraining the tubular balloon in the generally helical shape. The balloon has a first diameter in a low-profile operating mode and the generally helical shape has a second diameter in a high-profile operating mode, and the second diameter is larger than the first diameter. Other example systems for creating a lumen and methods for creating a lumen in an artery are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed delivery catheters have a three-dimensional curvature that facilitates reaching the RAA from the inferior vena cava, positioning the distal end of the catheter generally parallel to the plane of the pericardial space at the puncture location within the RAA, orienting the puncturing device in a direction that avoids the right coronary artery, aorta, pulmonary artery, and other structures to prevent bystander injury to such structures, and provides sufficient rigidity to puncture through a wall of the RAA into the pericardial space.

Abstract: A method of performing angioplasty includes accessing an artery, inserting a tubular balloon into to the artery in a low-profile operating mode, the tubular balloon constrained in a generally helical shape, and forming a lumen within the generally helical shape by expanding the tubular balloon into a high-profile operating mode. A system for creating a lumen is also disclosed.

Abstract: Non-invasive sensor apparatus and method for assessing cardiac performance. A wide variety of different sensor components can capture sensor readings relating to patient attributes. Those sensor readings can then be compared by a processor component to derive a cardiac performance indicator relating to the patient.

Abstract: A method of performing angioplasty includes accessing an artery, inserting a tubular balloon into to the artery in a low-profile operating mode, the tubular balloon constrained in a generally helical shape, and forming a lumen within the generally helical shape by expanding the tubular balloon into a high-profile operating mode. A system for creating a lumen is also disclosed.

Abstract: Non-invasive sensor apparatus and method for assessing cardiac performance. A wide variety of different sensor components can capture sensor readings relating to patient attributes. Those sensor readings can then be compared by a processor component to derive a cardiac performance indicator relating to the patient.

Abstract: Disclosed delivery catheters have a three-dimensional curvature that facilitates reaching the RAA from the inferior vena cava, positioning the distal end of the catheter generally parallel to the plane of the pericardial space at the puncture location within the RAA, orienting the puncturing device in a direction that avoids the right coronary artery, aorta, pulmonary artery, and other structures to prevent bystander injury to such structures, and provides sufficient rigidity to puncture through a wall of the RAA into the pericardial space.

Abstract: A method of performing angioplasty includes accessing an artery, inserting a tubular balloon into to the artery in a low-profile operating mode, the tubular balloon constrained in a generally helical shape, and forming a lumen within the generally helical shape by expanding the tubular balloon into a high-profile operating mode. A system for creating a lumen is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of performing angioplasty includes accessing an artery, inserting a tubular balloon into to the artery in a low-profile operating mode, the tubular balloon constrained in a generally helical shape, and forming a lumen within the generally helical shape by expanding the tubular balloon into a high-profile operating mode. A system for creating a lumen is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with providing efficient management of records of information associated with a computer application are described. In one embodiment, a record management tool is disclosed that dynamically generates workgroups of related records and allows easy and efficient navigation between the records in a workgroup via secondary navigation buttons provided as part of a graphical user interface. In response to user navigation between the records of a workgroup, a displayed editor is switched in a common editor space provided by the graphical user interface. The displayed editor corresponds to a presently selected secondary navigation button and associated record. Navigating between records and switching between editors may be accomplished without having to close any records of the workgroup.

Abstract: Non-invasive sensor apparatus and method for assessing cardiac performance. A wide variety of different sensor components can capture sensor readings relating to patient attributes. Those sensor readings can then be compared by a processor component to derive a cardiac performance indicator relating to the patient.

Abstract: A catheter assembly for sensing the temperature of an arterial wall or other body lumen includes a blood-flow-occluding feature to increase the accuracy the temperature measurements. In addition to the flow-occluding feature, the catheter includes a distal end with a temperature sensing structure and a proximal end including a manually operated expansion control. The temperature sensing structure includes one or more presentation elements in the form of a basket or braided structure having at least one temperature sensor supported thereon, each sensor being operative to generate an electrical signal indicative of temperature. In the preferred embodiment, the feature to occlude blood flow is an inflatable balloon disposed near the expandable basket or braid structure. The temperature sensors are preferably thermistors, and an elastic sleeve covering the expandable basket or braid structure is also preferably provided to further insulate the temperature sensors from the cooling effects of blood flow.

Abstract: A catheter assembly for sensing the temperature of an arterial wall or other body lumen includes a blood-flow-occluding feature to increase the accuracy of the temperature measurements. In addition to the flow-occluding feature, the catheter includes a distal end with a temperature sensing structure and a proximal end including a manually operated expansion control. The temperature sensing structure including one or more presentation elements in the form of a basket or braided structure having at least one temperature sensor supported thereon, each sensor being operative to generate an electrical signal indicative of temperature.

Abstract: A thermal sensing catheter finds particular utility in detecting and isolating unstable arterial plaque. Miniaturized temperature sensors, preferably in the form of microthermistors, are embedded into expandable presentation elements disposed at the distal end of a catheter. The sensors may then be deployed to measure the surface temperature of the inner wall of coronary arteries or other vessels at multiple sites to identify sites of elevated temperature indicative of unstable plaque. The presentation elements may assume a “hand” type design or an alternate basket-type structure. A plurality of thermal sensors are embedded into the sides of polymeric or metallic sensing elements which expand out from the centerline of a catheter toward the inner vessel walls.

Abstract: A hand/wrist positioning splint to keep the hand positioned for radial artery access and to permit application of a hemostasis band to apply pressure to the radical artery puncture site to permit closing of said puncture site, is provided. The splint includes a rigid structure (12A) for positioning a patient's hand, and wrist in a fixed hyper-extended state, the structure (12A) having a distal end surface to support a patient's hand, and palm up, the end surface extends downwardly from the wrist position to make a first fixed angle with a horizontal plane. The rigid structure also has a wrist/forearm support surface also extending downwardly from the wrist position to make a second fixed angle with a horizontal plane. Straps (16A) are provided for securing the hand, and the wrist/forearm in fixed position on the rigid structure. An opening (20A) in the wrist/forearm surface of the rigid support below the point of arterial access permits application of a hemostasis band to the arterial puncture site.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring length in a blood vessel includes an inner barrel slideably fitting within an outer barrel. The apparatus also preferably includes a zero ring for initializing a position of the inner barrel relative to the outer barrel, wherein the zero ring is rotatably positioned on the outer barrel. The apparatus further includes a small-diameter clamp extending outwardly from the inner barrel for holding a catherization mechanism for visualizing a blood vessel, wherein the catherization mechanism includes a marker and a scale is positioned on the inner barrel for indicating a displacement of the inner barrel relative to the outer barrel in response to the catherization mechanism marker.

Abstract: A thermal sensing catheter finds particular utility in detecting and isolating unstable arterial plaque. Miniaturized temperature sensors, preferably in the form of microthermistors, are embedded into expandable presentation elements disposed at the distal end of a catheter. The sensors may then be deployed to measure the surface temperature of the inner wall of coronary arteries or other vessels at multiple sites to identify sites of elevated temperature indicative of unstable plaque. The presentation elements may assume a “hand” type design or an alternate basket-type structure. A plurality of thermal sensors are embedded into the sides of polymeric or metallic sensing elements which expand out from the centerline of a catheter toward the inner vessel walls.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring length in a blood vessel includes an inner barrel slideably fitting within an outer barrel. The apparatus also preferably includes a zero ring for initializing a position of the inner barrel relative to the outer barrel, wherein the zero ring is rotatably positioned on the outer barrel. The apparatus further includes a small-diameter clamp extending outwardly from the inner barrel for holding a catherization mechanism for visualizing a blood vessel, wherein the catherization mechanism includes a marker and a scale is positioned on the inner barrel for indicating a displacement of the inner barrel relative to the outer barrel in response to the catherization mechanism marker. A device for measuring the inside diameter of a vessel according to the invention includes a tube, measuring wires, and a knob. A central lumen that runs the entire length of the tube is surrounded by a plurality of other lumens which stop a short distance from the tip of the tube.

Abstract: In a mobile repeater system there can be two priority repeaters at two adjacent locations which are out of range of each other, but not out of range of each other's portable units. Reception of a tone coded signal from a portable raises the squelch threshold in both repeaters, thus decreasing the portable-to-repeater range without decreasing the repeater-to-repeater range. Interferences caused by simultaneous transmission is eliminated since only the appropriate repeater is activated.