Abstract: Various catheters are provided herein for recording, mapping, and/or ablating target tissue to reduce or eliminate unwanted electrical impulses. In one embodiment, a catheter can have a handle, an elongate body, and an end effector. The end effector has expanded and contracted configurations and can rotate about the elongate body. A plurality of electrodes can also be disposed on the end effector for recording, mapping, and/or ablating target tissue surrounding the catheter. The handle can guide the end effector through transitioning between the configurations and rotating about the elongate body.

Abstract: Improved mapping and ablation procedures and corresponding devices are provided. A variety of methods and apparatuses can be used for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias by identifying the location of an arrhythmia source and ablating that source. The methods and apparatuses can provide an improved means of electrical mapping of the heart to identify the location of the arrhythmia source and advancing an ablation electrode to that location so that it may be ablated.

Abstract: Improved mapping and ablation procedures and corresponding devices are provided. A variety of methods and apparatuses can be used for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias by identifying the location of an arrhythmia source and ablating that source. The methods and apparatuses can provide an improved means of electrical mapping of the heart to identify the location of the arrhythmia source and advancing an ablation electrode to that location so that it may be ablated.

Abstract: Various catheters are provided herein for recording, mapping, and/or ablating target tissue to reduce or eliminate unwanted electrical impulses. In one embodiment, a catheter can have a handle, an elongate body, and an end effector. The end effector has expanded and contracted configurations and can rotate about the elongate body. A plurality of electrodes can also be disposed on the end effector for recording, mapping, and/or ablating target tissue surrounding the catheter. The handle can guide the end effector through transitioning between the configurations and rotating about the elongate body.

Abstract: Various catheters are provided herein for recording, mapping, and/or ablating target tissue to reduce or eliminate unwanted electrical impulses. In one embodiment, a catheter can have a handle, an elongate body, and an end effector. The end effector has expanded and contracted configurations and can rotate about the elongate body. A plurality of electrodes can also be disposed on the end effector for recording, mapping, and/or ablating target tissue surrounding the catheter. The handle can guide the end effector through transitioning between the configurations and rotating about the elongate body.

Abstract: Various catheters are provided herein for recording, mapping, and/or ablating target tissue to reduce or eliminate unwanted electrical impulses. In one embodiment, a catheter can have a handle, an elongate body, and an end effector. The end effector has expanded and contracted configurations and can rotate about the elongate body. A plurality of electrodes can also be disposed on the end effector for recording, mapping, and/or ablating target tissue surrounding the catheter. The handle can guide the end effector through transitioning between the configurations and rotating about the elongate body.

Abstract: Various catheters with expandable and contractible fluid pathways extending therethrough, and methods of use, are provided herein. In an exemplary embodiment, a catheter is provided with an elongate body having an electrode at the distal end thereof. One or more expandable members or wings can extend between the electrode and the distal end of the elongate body. The catheter can also include an actuator extending therethrough and coupled to the electrode such that movement of the actuator is effective to advance and retract the electrode, thereby moving the one or more expandable members between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The catheter can also include a fluid sealed lumen formed therein and configured to receive fluid and to deliver fluid to one or more pathways formed in the electrode. The actuator can extend through the fluid sealed lumen, however it can be fluidly separated from the lumen.

Abstract: Various catheters with expandable and contractible fluid pathways extending therethrough, and methods of use, are provided herein. In an exemplary embodiment, a catheter is provided with an elongate body having an electrode at the distal end thereof. One or more expandable members or wings can extend between the electrode and the distal end of the elongate body. The catheter can also include an actuator extending therethrough and coupled to the electrode such that movement of the actuator is effective to advance and retract the electrode, thereby moving the one or more expandable members between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The catheter can also include a fluid sealed lumen formed therein and configured to receive fluid and to deliver fluid to one or more pathways formed in the electrode. The actuator can extend through the fluid sealed lumen, however it can be fluidly separated from the lumen.

Abstract: Various catheters are provided herein for recording, mapping, and/or ablating target tissue to reduce or eliminate unwanted electrical impulses. In one embodiment, a catheter can have a handle, an elongate body, and an end effector. The end effector has expanded and contracted configurations and can rotate about the elongate body. A plurality of electrodes can also be disposed on the end effector for recording, mapping, and/or ablating target tissue surrounding the catheter. The handle can guide the end effector through transitioning between the configurations and rotating about the elongate body.

Abstract: Improved ablation procedures and exemplary catheters for use with such procedures are provided. In one example, high quality homogenous lesions with well-defined borders can be created by introducing into a patient body a catheter that includes an electrode that is mounted on a distal end of the catheter, positioning the electrode to be in contact with tissue to be ablated such that at least 65 percent of an exposed distal surface area of the electrode is in contact with the tissue to be ablated, and applying electrical energy to the electrode sufficient to create an ablation lesion in the tissue.

Abstract: Improved mapping and ablation procedures and corresponding devices are provided. A variety of methods and apparatuses can be used for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias by identifying the location of an arrhythmia source and ablating that source. The methods and apparatuses can provide an improved means of electrical mapping of the heart to identify the location of the arrhythmia source and advancing an ablation electrode to that location so that it may be ablated.

Abstract: Various catheters with expandable and contractible fluid pathways extending therethrough, and methods of use, are provided herein. In an exemplary embodiment, a catheter is provided with an elongate body having an electrode at the distal end thereof. One or more expandable members or wings can extend between the electrode and the distal end of the elongate body. The catheter can also include an actuator extending therethrough and coupled to the electrode such that movement of the actuator is effective to advance and retract the electrode, thereby moving the one or more expandable members between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The catheter can also include a fluid sealed lumen formed therein and configured to receive fluid and to deliver fluid to one or more pathways formed in the electrode. The actuator can extend through the fluid sealed lumen, however it can be fluidly separated from the lumen.

Abstract: Various catheters with expandable and contractible fluid pathways extending therethrough, and methods of use, are provided herein. In an exemplary embodiment, a catheter is provided with an elongate body having an electrode at the distal end thereof. One or more expandable members or wings can extend between the electrode and the distal end of the elongate body. The catheter can also include an actuator extending therethrough and coupled to the electrode such that movement of the actuator is effective to advance and retract the electrode, thereby moving the one or more expandable members between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The catheter can also include a fluid sealed lumen formed therein and configured to receive fluid and to deliver fluid to one or more pathways formed in the electrode. The actuator can extend through the fluid sealed lumen, however it can be fluidly separated from the lumen.

Abstract: Various catheters with expandable and contractible fluid pathways extending therethrough, and methods of use, are provided herein. In an exemplary embodiment, a catheter is provided with an elongate body having an electrode at the distal end thereof. One or more expandable members or wings can extend between the electrode and the distal end of the elongate body. The catheter can also include an actuator extending therethrough and coupled to the electrode such that movement of the actuator is effective to advance and retract the electrode, thereby moving the one or more expandable members between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The catheter can also include a fluid sealed lumen formed therein and configured to receive fluid and to deliver fluid to one or more pathways formed in the electrode. The actuator can extend through the fluid sealed lumen, however it can be fluidly separated from the lumen.

Abstract: First cardiac signal data generated from measured heart beats of a subject is received. Characteristics of alternans occurring in the received first cardiac signal data are determined. Second cardiac signal data generated from measured heart beats of the subject after a change relating to an administration of a pharmacological agent is received. Characteristics of alternans occurring in the received second cardiac signal data are determined. The characteristics of alternans occurring in the received first cardiac signal data are compared with the characteristics of alternans occurring in the received second cardiac signal data.

Abstract: Cardiac signal data of heart beats measured with an ambulatory electrocardiography device is accessed. The cardiac signal data is segmented into cardiac signal data segments such that each cardiac signal data segment includes cardiac signal data of sequential heart beats. Whether alternans is present in the cardiac signal data segment is determined for each of multiple cardiac signal data segments. Characteristics of the alternans is determined by analyzing cardiac signal data segments for which alternans is determined to be present or by analyzing characteristics of cardiac signal data segments for which alternans is determined to be present.

Abstract: One or more electrocardiographic signals are detected from a subject. The occurrence of alternans in the electrocardiographic signals are detected using one or more processors. One or more characteristics of detected alternans are determined. The determined characteristics of the detected alternans are analyzed to determine whether cardiac ischemia is present.

Abstract: First cardiac signal data generated from measured heart beats of a subject is received. Characteristics of alternans occurring in the received first cardiac signal data are determined. Second cardiac signal data generated from measured heart beats of the subject after a change relating to an administration of a pharmacological agent is received. Characteristics of alternans occurring in the received second cardiac signal data are determined. The characteristics of alternans occurring in the received first cardiac signal data are compared with the characteristics of alternans occurring in the received second cardiac signal data.

Abstract: A method for identifying infants at risk for SIDS includes applying electrodes to an infant, receiving electrical signals from the electrodes, analyzing the received electrical signals to measure alternans of a heart of the infant, and identifying whether the infant is at risk for SIDS. A system for identifying infants at risk for SIDS includes an input unit configured to receive electrical signals from electrodes applied to an infant, a processor connected to the input unit and configured to process the received electrical signals to measure alternans of a heart of the infant, and a comparator configured to compare the measured alternans with alternans in a population of infants.

Abstract: A method for identifying infants at risk for SIDS includes applying electrodes to an infant, receiving electrical signals from the electrodes, analyzing the received electrical signals to measure alternans of a heart of the infant, and identifying whether the infant is at risk for SIDS. A system for identifying infants at risk for SIDS includes an input unit configured to receive electrical signals from electrodes applied to an infant, a processor connected to the input unit and configured to process the received electrical signals to measure alternans of a heart of the infant, and a comparator configured to compare the measured alternans with alternans in a population of infants.