Shape-Sensing Systems and Methods for Medical Devices

Shape-sensing systems and methods for catheters. The shape-sensing system can include a catheter, an optical interrogator, a console, and a display screen. The catheter can include an integrated optical-fiber stylet having fiber Bragg grating ("FBG") sensors along at least a distal-end portion thereof. The optical interrogator can be configured to send input optical signals into the optical-fiber stylet and receive FBG sensor-reflected optical signals therefrom. The console can be configured to convert the reflected optical signals into plottable data for displaying plots thereof on the display screen. The plots can include a plot of curvature vs. time for each FBG sensor of a selection of the FBG sensors in the distal-end portion of the optical-fiber stylet for identifying a distinctive change in strain of the optical-fiber stylet as a tip of the catheter is advanced into a superior vena cava of a patient.