Abstract: An apparatus for mapping and/or ablating tissue includes a braided conductive member that may be inverted to provide a ring-shaped surface. When a distal tip of the braided conductive member is retracted within the braided conductive member, the lack of protrusion allows the ring-shaped surface to contact a tissue wall such as a cardiac wall. In an undeployed configuration, the braided conductive member is longitudinally extended, and in a deployed configuration, the distal end of the braided conductive member is retracted to invert the braided conductive member.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manipulating an elongated flexible shaft of a catheter provide case and reliability of positioning electrodes against or near tissue. Dual-bend flexible distal tips (30) may be used in combination with flat wires. In some embodiments, flat wires which are free to rotate upon initial bending of shaft segments are employed. In some embodiments, one or more transition segments (48) are used to relocate the satellite lumen-to-main lumen transition of pull wires (42, 40) away from a change in shaft stiffness.

Abstract: A handle for use with a catheter, the handle including a housing, a cable, and a guide. The housing has a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis that extends from the proximal end of the housing to the distal end of the housing. The cable is disposed in the housing and extends through the proximal end of the housing. A portion of the cable that is disposed in the housing is movable, under compression, in a first direction that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing. The guide is disposed in the housing and is adapted to prevent the portion of the cable from moving in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction when the portion of the cable is moved in the first direction. The handle is suitable for use with an electrophysiology catheter having an elongated shaft.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter and method of use for mapping and ablation procedures. The catheter includes a braided conductive member at its distal end that can be radially expanded. The catheter can be used in endocardial and epicardial mapping and ablation procedures.

Abstract: Catheters for mapping and/or ablation are disclosed. In one embodiment, the catheter comprises a handle, a flexible shaft, a tip assembly, and a cable. The handle includes an actuator and is attached, at its distal end, to the proximal end of the flexible shaft. The flexible shaft has a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of the shaft. The proximal end of the tip assembly is attached to the distal end of the shaft and includes a fixed bend of approximatley ninety degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The distal end of the tip assembly includes an arcuate curve having a diameter. The arcuate curve is oriented in a plane that is approximatley perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The cable is attached to the actuator and the distal end of the tip assembly, and extends through the shaft. The cable is adapted to change the diameter of the arcuate curve in response to movement of the actuator.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter and method of use for mapping and ablation procedures. The catheter includes a braided conductive member at its distal end that can be radially expanded.

Abstract: A method of treating cardiac arrhythmia, including guiding a distal end portion of a catheter, the distal end portion having a distal tip and accommodating an elongated configuration of ablation electrodes, from the inferior vena cava into the right atrium of a human heart, guiding the distal end portion from the right atrium into the right ventricle of the heart, deflecting the distal tip into a hook configuration, pulling the catheter towards the inferior vena cava until the hook configuration engages the tricuspid annulus of the heart and the configuration of electrodes engages the isthmus of tissue between the tricuspid annulus and the inferior vena cava of the heart, and activating the configuration of electrodes to produce a substantially continuous lesion on the isthmus of tissue.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter and method of use for mapping and ablation procedures. The catheter includes a braided conductive member at its distal end that can be radially expanded. The catheter can be used in endocardial and epicardial mapping and ablation procedures.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses apparatus and methods for mapping electrical activity within the heart. The present invention also encompasses methods and apparatus for creating lesions in the heart tissue (ablating) to create a region of necrotic tissue which serves to disable the propagation of errant electrical impulses caused by an arrhythmia.

Abstract: A handle for use with a catheter, the handle including a housing, a cable, and a guide. The housing has a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis that extends from the proximal end of the housing to the distal end of the housing. The cable is disposed in the housing and extends through the proximal end of the housing. A portion of the cable that is disposed in the housing is movable, under compression, in a first direction that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing. The guide is disposed in the housing and is adapted to prevent the portion of the cable from moving in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction when the portion of the cable is moved in the first direction. The handle is suitable for use with an electrophysiology catheter having an elongated shaft.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter and method of use for mapping and ablation procedures. The catheter includes a braided conductive member at its distal end that can be radially expanded.

Abstract: A method of treating cardiac arrhythmia, including guiding a distal end portion of a catheter, the distal end portion having a distal tip and accommodating at least one elongated ablation electrode into a desired intracardiac region, for example, from the inferior vena cava into the right atrium of a human heart, and then from the right atrium into the right ventricle of the heart, pulling the catheter backwards, for example, towards the inferior vena cava, until the distal tip engages a edge of an intracardiac orifice, for example, the tricuspid annulus whereby the at least one ablation electrode engages a target tissue, for example, the isthmus of tissue between the tricuspid annulus and the inferior vena cava, deflecting the distal tip into a hook-shaped configuration, and activating the at least one ablation electrode to produce a substantially continuous lesion on the target tissue.

Abstract: A novel device and method for performing cardiac ablations includes a therapeutic instrument, for example, an ablation catheter, to which is mounted a flexible, braided electrode. The electrode configuration is selected so that it has a desired surface area for proper heat convection properties. RF energy is delivered to the electrode to heat and thereby ablate local heart tissue, with the electrode having good convection abilities to protect against coagulation, embolisms, and other undesirable effects of ablation procedures.

Abstract: A method of treating cardiac arrhythmia, including guiding a distal end portion of a catheter, the distal end portion having a distal tip and accommodating an elongated configuration of ablation electrodes into a desired intracardiac region, for example, from the inferior vena cava into the right atrium of a human heart, and then from the right atrium into the right ventricle of the heart, pulling the catheter backwards, for example, towards the inferior vena cava, until the distal tip engages a edge of an intracardiac orifice, for example, the tricuspid annulus whereby the configuration of electrodes engages a target tissue, for example, the isthmus of tissue between the tricuspid annulus and the inferior vena cava, deflecting the distal tip into a hook-shaped configuration, and activating the configuration of electrodes to produce a substantially continuous lesion on the target tissue.

Abstract: A method of treating cardiac arrhythmia, including guiding a distal end portion of a catheter, the distal end portion having a distal tip and accommodating an elongated configuration of ablation electrodes, from the inferior vena cava into the right atrium of a human heart, guiding the distal end portion from the right atrium into the right ventricle of the heart, deflecting the distal tip into a hook configuration, pulling the catheter towards the inferior vena cava until the hook configuration engages the tricuspid annulus of the heart and the configuration of electrodes engages the isthmus of tissue between the tricuspid annulus and the inferior vena cava of the heart, and activating the configuration of electrodes to produce a substantially continuous lesion on the isthmus of tissue.

Abstract: A medical device in one embodiment includes an electrode which is connected to a flexible, tubular, movable member, such as a catheter shaft or an outer sheath, which is slidably extended over a guide wire, flexible shaft, or other tubular member. A displacement mechanism is connected to the movable member, and may be actuated one or more times to displace the movable member in successive, predetermined increments, for creating a linear lesion or for performing diagnostic functions.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter and method of use for mapping and ablation procedures. The catheter includes a braided conductive member at its distal end that can be radially expanded. The catheter can be used in endocardial and epicardial mapping and ablation procedures.

Abstract: A method of treating cardiac arrhythmia, including guiding a distal end portion of a catheter, the distal end portion having a distal tip and accommodating at least one elongated ablation electrode into a desired intracardiac region, for example, from the inferior vena cava into the right atrium of a human heart, and then from the right atrium into the right ventricle of the heart, pulling the catheter backwards, for example, towards the inferior vena cava, until the distal tip engages a edge of an intracardiac orifice, for example, the tricuspid annulus whereby the at least one ablation electrode engages a target tissue, for example, the isthmus of tissue between the tricuspid annulus and the inferior vena cava, deflecting the distal tip into a hook-shaped configuration, and activating the at least one ablation electrode to produce a substantially continuous lesion on the target tissue.

Abstract: A method of treating cardiac arrhythmia, including guiding a distal end portion of a catheter, the distal end portion having a distal tip and accommodating an elongated configuration of ablation electrodes, from the inferior vena cava into the right atrium of a human heart, guiding the distal end portion from the right atrium into the right ventricle of the heart, deflecting the distal tip into a hook configuration, pulling the catheter towards the inferior vena cava until the hook configuration engages the tricuspid annulus of the heart and the configuration of electrodes engages the isthmus of tissue between the tricuspid annulus and the inferior vena cava of the heart, and activating the configuration of electrodes to produce a substantially continuous lesion on the isthmus of tissue.

Abstract: A method of treating cardiac arrhythmia, including guiding a distal end portion of a catheter, the distal end portion having a distal tip and accommodating an elongated configuration of ablation electrodes, from the inferior vena cava into the right atrium of a human heart, guiding the distal end portion from the right atrium into the right ventricle of the heart, deflecting the distal tip into a hook configuration, pulling the catheter towards the inferior vena cava until the hook configuration engages the tricuspid annulus of the heart and the configuration of electrodes engages the isthmus of tissue between the tricuspid annulus and the inferior vena cava of the heart, and activating the configuration of electrodes to produce a substantially continuous lesion on the isthmus of tissue.