Abstract: A wrist-mounted fluid dispenser includes a wristband and a dispenser pouch. The dispenser pouch includes a reservoir chamber and a dispensing nozzle. The dispenser pouch is preferably formed by bonding two sheets of material to each other. An orifice is formed between the dispensing nozzle and the reservoir chamber. A nozzle slit is formed at an end edge of the wristband. The reservoir chamber is either rolled up and inserted through the nozzle slit or sown into the wristband. The reservoir chamber is filled with a fluid solution with a syringe or hand pump equipped with hypodermic blunt needle or the like. One's hand is inserted through the wrist-mounted liquid dispenser. An end of the dispensing nozzle is folded when not used, such that the nozzle is located between the wrist and an inside surface of the wristband. A second embodiment of the wrist-mounted liquid dispenser includes a double chamber dispenser pouch.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for treating an area of tissue and evaluating lesion formation and quality. The system may include a medical device having a plurality of mapping electrodes on a treatment element, the plurality of mapping electrodes being configured to record from the area of tissue at least one of unipolar impedance measurements, bipolar impedance measurements, local electrical activity, and pace threshold measurements before, during, and after circulation of the cryogenic fluid within the treatment element. These measurements may be transmitted to a control unit having processing circuitry configured to compare pre-treatment measurements, in-treatment measurements, and/or post-treatment measurements to each other and/or to threshold values to determine occlusion and/or lesion quality, such as lesion transmurality.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for treating an area of tissue and evaluating lesion formation and quality. The system may include a medical device having a plurality of mapping electrodes on a treatment element, the plurality of mapping electrodes being configured to record from the area of tissue at least one of unipolar impedance measurements, bipolar impedance measurements, local electrical activity, and pace threshold measurements before, during, and after circulation of the cryogenic fluid within the treatment element. These measurements may be transmitted to a control unit having processing circuitry configured to compare pre-treatment measurements, in-treatment measurements, and/or post-treatment measurements to each other and/or to threshold values to determine occlusion and/or lesion quality, such as lesion transmurality.

Abstract: A plurality of catheter-based ablation apparatus embodiments are provided that address several areas of atrial target tissue and which feature firm and consistent ablation element to tissue contact enabling the creation of effective continuous lesions.

Abstract: A plurality of catheter-based ablation apparatus embodiments are provided that address several areas of atrial target tissue and which feature firm and consistent ablation element to tissue contact enabling the creation of effective continuous lesions.

Abstract: A wrist-mounted fluid dispenser includes a wristband and a dispenser pouch. The dispenser pouch includes a reservoir chamber and a dispensing nozzle. The dispenser pouch is preferably formed by bonding two sheets of material to each other. An orifice is formed between the dispensing nozzle and the reservoir chamber. A nozzle slit is formed at an end edge of the wristband. The reservoir chamber is either rolled up and inserted through the nozzle slit or sown into the wristband. The reservoir chamber is filled with a fluid solution with a syringe or hand pump equipped with hypodermic blunt needle or the like. One's hand is inserted through the wrist-mounted liquid dispenser. An end of the dispensing nozzle is folded when not used, such that the nozzle is located between the wrist and an inside surface of the wristband. A second embodiment of the wrist-mounted liquid dispenser includes a double chamber dispenser pouch.

Abstract: A cryoablation method, system, and device that allows for real-time and accurate assessment and monitoring of PV occlusion and lesion formation without the need for expensive imaging systems and without patient exposure to radiation. The system includes a cryoballoon catheter with a cryoballoon, a distal electrode, a proximal electrode, and a temperature sensor. Impedance measurements recorded by the electrodes may be used to predict ice formation, quality of pulmonary vein occlusion, and lesion formation.

Abstract: A cryoablation method, system, and device that allows for real-time and accurate assessment and monitoring of PV occlusion and lesion formation without the need for expensive imaging systems and without patient exposure to radiation. The system includes a cryoballoon catheter with a cryoballoon, a distal electrode, a proximal electrode, and a temperature sensor. Impedance measurements recorded by the electrodes may be used to predict ice formation, quality of pulmonary vein occlusion, and lesion formation.

Abstract: A catheter system for creating lesions for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias is disclosed that includes a catheter having a distal ablation segment that has an electrode array comprising a plurality of spaced ablation and recording electrode devices arranged in a tight loop configuration that is used to create a series of overlapping loop-shaped ablation footprints to produce a continuous lesion resembling a chain-link configuration.

Abstract: A cryoablation method, system, and device that allows for real-time and accurate assessment and monitoring of PV occlusion and lesion formation without the need for expensive imaging systems and without patient exposure to radiation. The system includes a cryoballoon catheter with a cryoballoon, a distal electrode, a proximal electrode, and a temperature sensor. Impedance measurements recorded by the electrodes may be used to predict ice formation, quality of pulmonary vein occlusion, and lesion formation.

Abstract: A device and method for determining ablation electrode to tissue contact to assess the effectiveness of an ablation procedure by determining the effect of saline irrigation on catheter tip temperature.

Abstract: A cryoablation method, system, and device that allows for real-time and accurate assessment and monitoring of PV occlusion and lesion formation without the need for expensive imaging systems and without patient exposure to radiation. The system includes a cryoballoon catheter with a cryoballoon, a distal electrode, a proximal electrode, and a temperature sensor. Impedance measurements recorded by the electrodes may be used to predict ice formation, quality of pulmonary vein occlusion, and lesion formation.

Abstract: A method, system, and device for predicting lesion quality. Specifically, lesion quality may be predicted based on an assessment of pulmonary vein occlusion using saline injection and evaluation of temperature measurements recorded by a thermocouple located distal to the cryoballoon of the treatment device. The quality of the occlusion may be rated based on the time it takes the temperature recorded by the thermocouple to increase from approximately 2° C. to approximately 38° C., the rate of temperature change over a predetermined time period, and/or the rate of dissipation within the pulmonary vein of the saline with a volume of contrast medium. For example, the quality of the occlusion may be rated as being good, fair, or poor. This assessment may be quickly and easily communicated to an operator.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for treating an area of tissue and evaluating lesion formation and quality. The system may include a medical device having a plurality of mapping electrodes on a treatment element, the plurality of mapping electrodes being configured to record from the area of tissue at least one of unipolar impedance measurements, bipolar impedance measurements, local electrical activity, and pace threshold measurements before, during, and after circulation of the cryogenic fluid within the treatment element. These measurements may be transmitted to a control unit having processing circuitry configured to compare pre-treatment measurements, in-treatment measurements, and/or post-treatment measurements to each other and/or to threshold values to determine occlusion and/or lesion quality, such as lesion transmurality.

Abstract: A cryoablation method, system, and device that allows for real-time and accurate assessment and monitoring of PV occlusion and lesion formation without the need for expensive imaging systems and without patient exposure to radiation. The system includes a cryoballoon catheter with a cryoballoon, a distal electrode, a proximal electrode, and a temperature sensor. Impedance measurements recorded by the electrodes may be used to predict ice formation, quality of pulmonary vein occlusion, and lesion formation.

Abstract: A cryoablation method, system, and device that allows for real-time and accurate assessment and monitoring of PV occlusion and lesion formation without the need for expensive imaging systems and without patient exposure to radiation. The system includes a cryoballoon catheter with a cryoballoon, a distal electrode, a proximal electrode, and a temperature sensor. Impedance measurements recorded by the electrodes may be used to predict ice formation, quality of pulmonary vein occlusion, and lesion formation.

Abstract: An electrophysiology system comprises an ablation catheter, a radiofrequency generator, and a mapping processor. The ablation catheter has a tissue ablation electrode and a plurality of microelectrodes distributed about the circumference of the tissue ablation electrode and electrically isolated therefrom. The plurality of microelectrodes define a plurality of bipolar microelectrode pairs. The mapping processor is configured to acquire output signals from the bipolar microelectrode pairs, compare the output signals, and generate an output to a display providing a visual indication of a characteristic of the microelectrodes and the tissue ablation electrode relative to myocardial tissue to be mapped and/or ablated.

Abstract: A device and method for determining ablation electrode to tissue contact to assess the effectiveness of an ablation procedure by determining the effect of saline irrigation on catheter tip temperature.

Abstract: A catheter system for creating lesions for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias is disclosed that includes a catheter having a distal ablation segment that has an electrode array comprising a plurality of spaced ablation and recording electrode devices arranged in a tight loop configuration that is used to create a series of overlapping loop-shaped ablation footprints to produce a continuous lesion resembling a chain-link configuration.

Abstract: A method, system, and device for predicting lesion quality. Specifically, lesion quality may be predicted based on an assessment of pulmonary vein occlusion using saline injection and evaluation of temperature measurements recorded by a thermocouple located distal to the cryoballoon of the treatment device. The quality of the occlusion may be rated based on the time it takes the temperature recorded by the thermocouple to increase from approximately 2° C. to approximately 38° C., the rate of temperature change over a predetermined time period, and/or the rate of dissipation within the pulmonary vein of the saline with a volume of contrast medium. For example, the quality of the occlusion may be rated as being good, fair, or poor. This assessment may be quickly and easily communicated to an operator.