Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of medical treatment of diseases and disorders, as well as the field of biomedical engineering. Embodiments of the invention relate to the delivery of Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) through the vasculature of organs to treat tumors embedded deep within the tissue or organ, or to decellularize organs to produce a scaffold from existing animal tissue with the existing vasculature intact. In particular, methods of administering non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE) in vivo are provided for the treatment of tumors located in vascularized tissues and organs. Embodiments of the invention further provide scaffolds and tissues from natural sources created using IRE ex vivo to remove cellular debris, maximize recellularization potential, and minimize foreign body immune response. The engineered tissues can be used in methods of treating subjects, such as those in need of tissue replacement or augmentation.

Abstract: Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to a medical device. The device can include an elongate core member having a distal portion configured to be intravascularly positioned at a treatment site within a blood vessel lumen, and an interventional element connected to the distal portion of the elongate core member. The interventional element includes a body that is expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration and an electrically conductive radiopaque marker coupled to the body. An electrically conductive lead has a distal portion electrically coupled to the radiopaque marker and a proximal portion configured to be electrically coupled to a current source.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a catheter apparatus is configured to be inserted into a body part of a living subject, and including an elongated deflectable element including a distal end, an expandable basket assembly disposed at the distal end and comprising a plurality of splines and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the splines, an irrigation channel disposed in the elongated deflectable element, and an inflatable balloon disposed in the expandable basket assembly and including a plurality of irrigation holes in fluid connection with the irrigation channel.

Abstract: Described embodiments include a system that includes a radiofrequency-current (RF-current) generator and a processor. The processor is configured to cause the RF-current generator to generate a plurality of pulses of RF current for application to tissue of a subject, each of the pulses having a power whose maximum value is greater than 80 W and a duration that is less than 10 s, and an intermission between successive ones of the pulses being less than 10 s. The processor is further configured to, while each one of the pulses is applied to the tissue, receive at least one signal that indicates a measured temperature of the tissue, and, in response to the measured temperature, control the power of the pulse. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument comprising a housing, a shaft extending from the housing, an end effector extending from the shaft, an articulation joint rotatably connecting the end effector to the shaft, and a wiring circuit is disclosed. The housing comprises a printed control board. The wiring circuit extends from the printed control board through the shaft and into the end effector. The wiring circuit is configured to monitor a function of the end effector and communicate the monitored function to the printed control board. The wiring circuit comprises a proximal rigid portion fixed to the shaft, a distal rigid portion fixed to the end effector, and an intermediate portion extending from the proximal rigid portion to the distal rigid portion. The intermediate portion comprises a resilient portion and a stretchable portion.

Abstract: An energy delivery system includes an RF synthesizer circuit configured to generate an RF electric signal and a preamplification stage operably coupled to the RF synthesizer circuit. The preamplification stage has at least one attenuator. A board controller is operably coupled to the attenuator of the preamplification stage that is configured to modify a gain setting of the attenuator. An output connection is configured to provide a low-power signal or a high-power signal based on at least the RF electric signal and the gain setting. The low-power signal or high-power signal is provided to an RF applicator configured to couple an alternating RF electric field to animal tissue.

Abstract: A cryogenic device with a cartridge holder for a cryogen cartridge, cryogen cartridge is coupleable to a cryogen pathway; a probe receptacle for receiving a needle probe, wherein the probe receptacle is configured to couple the needle probe to the cryogen cartridge via the cryogen pathway, and wherein the needle probe comprises: one or more needles having needle lumens disposed therein; a probe extension extending proximally, the probe extension having a probe lumen disposed therein, the probe lumen including an elongate element that extends from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the probe lumen is coupled to the needle lumens at the distal end, and the cryogen pathway at a first location in between the proximal end and the distal end. Various connection mechanisms for securing needle probes to a handpiece portion are disclosed.

Abstract: A catheter includes a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient, and an expandable distal-end assembly, which is coupled to the shaft and to an apex of the catheter, and includes multiple splines. In at least a given spline among the multiple splines, at least sixty percent of a length of the given spline is non-insulated and is configured to make contact with tissue of the organ and to apply radiofrequency (RF) pulses to the tissue.

Abstract: A catheter includes a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient, an expandable distal-end assembly, and one or more electrodes. The expandable distal-end assembly is coupled to the shaft and to an apex of the catheter, and includes multiple splines. In at least a given spline among the multiple splines, at least sixty percent of a length of the given spline is non-insulated and is configured to make contact with tissue of the organ and to apply radiofrequency (RF) pulses to the tissue. The one or more electrodes are coupled to at least one of (i) an insulated section of one or more of the splines, and (ii) the apex, and, when placed in contact with the tissue, the one or more electrodes are configured to sense electrical signals in the tissue.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system comprises a return electrode that includes a conductive element disposed between two pads. The conductive element comprises a flexible, conductive fabric material and an electrical bus bar disposed along an edge of the fabric. The return electrode, including the conductive element, is transparent to RF waves and other wavelengths used in medical imaging systems.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of medical devices for accessing body lumens. In particular, the present disclosure relates to medical devices, systems and methods for enlarging an opening of a body lumen. In an embodiment, a device may include a flexible elongate tube. A distal end of the tube may be configured to access an opening of a body lumen. A plurality of wire lumens may extend from the distal end of the tube toward a proximal end of the tube that are radially offset from and substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis. At least a portion of the plurality of wire lumens may be exposed to an outer surface of the tube along a distal portion. A plurality of wires may each extend along a respective wire lumen. A portion of each wire may extend externally to the wire lumens exposed to the outer surface.

Abstract: An aspect of various embodiments of the present invention system and method provide, but not limited thereto, a novel means for epicardial ablation using a double-curve steerable sheath and a double-curve deflectable open irrigated-tip/suction catheter that can be guided around the apex of the heart and adjusted so as to position the distal tip optimally. The catheter can also both deliver fluid to and withdraw fluid from the pericardial space. Access to the epicardial surface of the heart is via a subxiphoid entry. The method and means presented include, but are not limited to, steering, energy delivery, bipolar mapping, placement and use of electrodes, irrigation, suction of irrigation fluid, and other details of the subject invention.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft and a folding fan catheter. The shaft is configured for insertion through a sheath into a cavity of an organ of a patient. The folding fan catheter is fixed to a distal end of the shaft and includes (a) a resilient foldable frame, which is fixed to the distal end of the shaft and is configured to be unfolded so as to assume a fan shape, (b) one or more flexible surfaces, coupled to the frame to form a fan-shaped surface when the frame is unfolded, and (c) a plurality of electrodes that are disposed over the one or more flexible surfaces and are configured to contact tissue.

Abstract: A uni-directional, plunger-type electrophysiology catheter handle is designed to reduce the input force a user must apply to deflect the distal end of the catheter. A force amplifier is operatively coupled to a deflection actuator of the handle. The force amplifier can be a pulley or a system of gears. The force amplifier can increase the output force of deflection actuator by the same factor as that by which the user input force is reduced. A variable-friction autolocking system can also be used to reduce the input force a user must apply during initial deflection as compared to later deflection of the catheter.

Abstract: A neutral electrode (12) is formed on the patient (11) in that an electrically conductible mass that can solidify is applied on the skin of the patient (11). An electrically conductible inlay (17) can be arranged on or embedded in the forming electrode body (16) prior, during or after the application of the mass, the inlay (17) is or can be connected with the neutral electrode connection cable (13). The inlay (17) serves to electrically contact the electrode body (16) in a large area that in turn establishes a reliable electrical contact to the patient (11).

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are presented for systems and methods for identifying characteristics of a return pad in a monopolar electrosurgical system using contact quality monitoring (CQM) and near field communication (NFC) signals. In some aspects, resistance or impedance materials are sensed that may help identify what kind of return pad is being used, including what is the structure of the pad. In some aspects, NFC signals are used to identify characteristics of the return pad. In some aspects, the grounding or return pad may include two separate materials that form an interconnecting or interwoven mesh and both act as non-active electrodes when both contact the patient. A non-zero impedance may separate conductive lines connecting the two separate materials that may be analyzed to obtain a defining signature about that is linked to structural characteristics about the return pad.

Abstract: A lung tumor ablation planning system includes a processor operable to compute a target ablation zone and a set of optimum ablation parameters to create the target lesion with the ablation catheter. A predictive algorithm is employed to model the ablation zone based on training data. Various ablation plans are displayed to the physician corresponding to various metrics including without limitation maximizing tumor ablation coverage, shortest travel, obstacle avoidance, and shortest ablation time. Related methods are described.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, apparatuses and methods that identify end expirium data based on catheter movement data.

Abstract: An end effector is disclosed comprising an ultrasonic blade and a clamp arm pivotable relative to the ultrasonic blade to capture tissue therebetween. The clamp arm defines an arcuate surface configured to at least partially surround the ultrasonic blade. The clamp arm comprises a circuit positioned on the arcuate surface. The circuit comprises an electrode layer configured to transmit RF energy to the tissue positioned between the clamp arm and the ultrasonic blade, a compressible layer positioned between the electrode layer and the arcuate surface, first pressure sensor layer positioned beneath the compressible layer between the compressible layer and the arcuate surface, and a second pressure sensor layer positioned above the compressible layer. The compressible layer is compressible to allow the electrode layer to deflect away from the ultrasonic blade. The compressible layer is compressible to allow the second pressure sensor layer to deflect away from the ultrasonic blade.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device comprising: a) two or more functional states; b) a selector assembly that moves between at least a first position and a second position, the selector assembly including: i) one or more shuttles; ii) one or more buttons; iii) one or more circuit boards with one or more switches; and iv) one or more indicators; wherein the selector assembly in the first position is configured to provide a first one of the two or more functional states, and in the second position is configured to provide a second one of the two or more functional states; and wherein the one or more indicators communicates a first color, corresponding to the first functional state, and communicates a second color corresponding to the second functional state.