Abstract: A catheter tip for mapping and/or ablation is provided. The medical probe tip includes a first ring electrode and a second ring electrode that is electrically insulated from the first ring electrode. The second ring electrode is located substantially concentric to the first ring electrode, and is coaxially surrounding the first ring electrode.

Abstract: Electrophysiological probes having tissue insulation and/or tissue heating device cooling apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: Electrophysiological methods and apparatus are disclosed. An exemplary myocardial treatment method includes the steps of positioning an electrode on the epicardial surface of a ventricle and transmitting energy from the electrode, through the epicardial surface and into the ventricular wall to create a lesion within the ventricular wall. An exemplary apparatus includes a shaft and one or more electrodes that have a main portion and a needle portion.

Abstract: Electrophysiological methods and apparatus are disclosed. An exemplary myocardial treatment method includes the steps of positioning an electrode on the epicardial surface of a ventricle and transmitting energy from the electrode, through the epicardial surface and into the ventricular wall to create a lesion within the ventricular wall. An exemplary apparatus includes a shaft and one or more electrodes that have a main portion and a needle portion.

Abstract: An apparatus having a support structure, a plurality of longitudinally spaced conductive regions, and an actuation device including at least one electrical contact located within the support structure and movable between respective positions where the one electrical contact is in electrical connection with one of the spaced conductive regions.

Abstract: A medical device for use by an operator to perform a medical procedure in a body includes a handle to be held by the operator, a shaft attached to the handle and an actuating assembly to control functions associated with the medical procedure. The shaft includes an operative distal portion to perform a medical procedure in the body. The medical device may be part of an ablation catheter system that is programmed to correlate one or more functions with the actuation of the actuating assembly. Multiple actuating assemblies may be provided. Each actuating assembly may be a button. Other types of actuating assemblies may also be used, such as switches or a trackball. The actuating assembly may also be provided on a sleeve that may be selectively attached to the handle of the catheter or the physician operating the catheter, for example.

Abstract: An apparatus having a support structure, a plurality of longitudinally spaced conductive regions, and an actuation device including at least one electrical contact located within the support structure and movable between respective positions where the one electrical contact is in electrical connection with one of the spaced conductive regions.

Abstract: A medical system for performing a tissue ablation procedure comprises a guide sheath and an ablation catheter disposed within an internal lumen of the catheter. The guide sheath has a distal end that includes irrigation exit ports that are configured to perfuse irrigation fluid in a distal direction over the ablation electrode of the catheter when the distal end of the catheter protrudes from the guide sheath. In this manner, the ablation electrode can be advantageously cooled during the tissue ablation process, thereby maximizing the size and depth of the ablation lesion and reducing the duration of the ablation process.

Abstract: An electromagnetic sensor capable of maintaining its accuracy through temperature cycling is provided. The sensor element material of an electromagnetic sensor is covered by an encapsulant having substantially similar thermal expansion values as the sensor element material. By matching the thermal expansion values of the components, changes in component orientation may be minimized during temperature cycling thus reducing the need for recalibration of the sensor assembly. In one embodiment the encapsulant is doped with a ceramic material or glass microspheres to achieve a thermal expansion coefficient similar to the thermal expansion coefficient of the copper sensor element material.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an intracorporeal device for myocardial revascularization of a patient's heart tissue by at least one burst of RF energy over an interval of about 1 to about 500 msec, preferably about 30 to about 130 msec. The intracorporeal device has an elongated insulated, electrical conducting shaft with an uninsulated distal tip which is configured to emit RF energy. The uninsulated distal tip has a diameter of about 0.025 to about 0.2 inch, preferably about 0.04 to about 0.08 inch and a length of about 0.1 to about 5 mm, preferably about 1.5 to about 3.5 mm.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a tissue ablation device comprising an elongate probe, with a tissue ablation member located at the deflectable distal end of the probe, which is configured to access a patient's heart. The elongate probe is attached at its proximal end to a handpiece which is ergonomically designed to fit within the hand of the operator. The handpiece houses an advancement mechanism which is mechanically coupled to the tissue ablation member and can be used to axially translate the tissue ablation member in relation to the elongate probe. An activation mechanism is housed within the advancement mechanism and is coupled to the advancement mechanism in such a manner that the operator can simultaneously activate and advance the tissue removal member with one finger or thumb. The handpiece also houses a deflection actuator which applies tension to a tensile member which deflects the distal end of the probe.

Abstract: A catheter adapted to perform electrophysiological procedures comprises a body member, a manipulation handle attached to the proximal end of the body member for applying torque to the body member, the handle having a control knob adapted for control movements in a first plane and in a second plane simultaneously. A deflection control line is attached at its distal end to the distal portion of the catheter and its proximal end attached to the control device of the handle so that tension applied to the control line by sliding the control knob causes deflection of the distal portion of the catheter. A stiffening member is disposed within the body member of the catheter and is slidable, said stiffening member providing increased rigidity to the portion of the body member in which the stiffening member is located. Rotation of the control knob controls the position of the stiffening member in the body member.

Abstract: A catheter with several independent lumens extending longitudinally through the catheter for accepting probes and for introducing fluid through the catheter and into a body cavity is disclosed. The catheter outer body has a cross-sectional maximum outer dimension. The first lumen is circular in cross-section, and has a cross-sectional dimension of approximately half the maximum outer dimension of the catheter body. The first lumen is capable of accepting various probes, as well as allowing simultaneous fluid flow through the lumen. The second lumen is crescent-shaped in cross-section and occupies at least a quarter of an arc around the cross-section of the catheter body. The large cross-section of the second lumen allows for a high fluid flow rate through the lumen. The third lumen allows for inflation of an inflation balloon (when present), and the fourth lumen allows for the passing of a portion of an instrument along the length of the lumen.

Abstract: A steerable catheter comprising a resilient body member, a manipulation handle attached to the proximal end of the body member, a control wire extending from the handle to the distal end of the catheter for deflection control, and a pulley mechanism for controlling the movement of the control wire. Longitudinal movement of a slide element in the handle causes movement of the control wire and control over the deflection of the distal end of the catheter. The pulley mechanism is connected between the slide element and the control wire to provide greater mechanical advantage to effect deflection of the body member while enhancing deflection control resolution. A stiffening member is also disposed in the catheter body member and its position is controlled by the rotational motion of the slide element. The position of the pulley mechanism is not affected by rotational motion of the slide element.

Abstract: A catheter with several independent lumens extending longitudinally through the catheter for accepting probes and for introducing fluid through the catheter and into a body cavity is disclosed. The cathater outer body has a cross-sectional maximum outer dimension. The first lumen is circular in cross-section, and has a cross-sectional dimension of approximately half the maximum outer dimension of the catheter body. The first lumen is capable of accepting various probes, as well as allowing simultaneous fluid flow through the lumen. The second lumen is crescent-shaped in cross-section and occupies at least a quarter of an arc around the cross-section of the catheter body. The large cross-section of the second lumen allows for a high fluid flow rate through the lumen. The third lumen allows for inflation of an inflation balloon (when present), and the fourth lumen allows for the passing of a portion of an instrument along the length of the lumen.

Abstract: A catheter adapted to perform electrophysiological procedures comprises a body member, a manipulation handle attached to the proximal end of the body member for applying torque to the body member, the handle having a control knob adapted for control movements in a first plane and in a second plane simultaneously. A deflection control line is attached at its distal end to the distal portion of the catheter and its proximal end attached to the control device of the handle so that tension applied to the control line by sliding the control knob causes deflection of the distal portion of the catheter. A stiffening member is disposed within the body member of the catheter and is slidable, said stiffening member providing increased rigidity to the portion of the body member in which the stiffening member is located. Rotation of the control knob controls the position of the stiffening member in the body member.

Abstract: A catheter with several independent lumens extending longitudinally through the catheter for accepting probes and for introducing fluid through the catheter and into a body cavity is disclosed. The catheter outer body has a cross-sectional maximum outer dimension. The first lumen is circular in cross-section, and has a cross-sectional dimension of approximately half the maximum outer dimension of the catheter body. The first lumen is capable of accepting various probes, as well as allowing simultaneous fluid flow through the lumen. The second lumen is crescent-shaped in cross-section and occupies at least a quarter of an arc around the cross-section of the catheter body. The large cross-section of the second lumen allows for a high fluid flow rate through the lumen. The third lumen allows for inflation of an inflation balloon (when present), and the fourth lumen allows for the passing of a portion of an instrument along the length of the lumen.

Abstract: A catheter adapted to perform electrophysiological procedures comprises a body member, a manipulation handle attached to the proximal end of the body member for applying torque to the body member, the handle having a control knob adapted for control movements in a first plane and in a second plane simultaneously. A deflection control line is attached at its distal end to the distal portion of the catheter and its proximal end attached to the control device of the handle so that tension applied to the control line by sliding the control knob causes deflection of the distal portion of the catheter. A stiffening member is disposed within the body member of the catheter and is slidable, said stiffening member providing increased rigidity to the portion of the body member in which the stiffening member is located. Rotation of the control knob controls the position of the stiffening member in the body member.

Abstract: A probe for use within a catheter is disclosed. The probe transducer portion is constructed of a crystal hollow cylinder with an inside lead attached to the inner surface of the crystal cylinder. One end of the outside lead is positioned close to the outer surface, in a plane tangential to the outer surface, and is coupled to the outer surface of the crystal cylinder by a thin sputtered layer of conductive material. The probe transducer also includes a layer of acoustically absorbing material on the proximal end of the crystal, and layer of acoustically coupling material on the distal end of the crystal cylinder. The transducer element simultaneously generates an axially oriented signal beam at one frequency and a radially oriented signal beam at 2 different frequency. The signal beams are analyzed to calculate the blood flow area and the blood flow velocity, the product of which is the blood flow rate.