Abstract: A device, method, and system for thermally affecting tissue. The device may generally include an elongate body, an actuation element slidably disposed within the elongate body, a balloon defining an interior chamber, a proximal neck, and a distal neck, the first neck being coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body and the second neck being coupled to the distal portion of the actuation element, retraction of the actuation element within the elongate body causing the treatment element to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration. The distal neck may be located external to the interior chamber in the first configuration and within the interior chamber in the second configuration. The device may also include a fluid injection element that is transitionable to an expanded configuration when the balloon is inflated, thereby enhancing the cooling capacity of the balloon.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for thermally affecting tissue. The device may generally include an elongate body, an actuation element slidably disposed within the elongate body, a balloon defining an interior chamber, a proximal neck, and a distal neck, the first neck being coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body and the second neck being coupled to the distal portion of the actuation element, retraction of the actuation element within the elongate body causing the treatment element to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration. The distal neck may be located external to the interior chamber in the first configuration and within the interior chamber in the second configuration. The device may also include a fluid injection element that is transitionable to an expanded configuration when the balloon is inflated, thereby enhancing the cooling capacity of the balloon.

Abstract: A method of mapping electrophysiological information, including receiving imaging information for a tissue region; receiving a monophasic action potential signal from the tissue region; assigning a value corresponding to a depolarization segment of the monophasic action potential signal; receiving location information associated with the monophasic action potential signal; and generating an image based on the imaging information, the assigned value, and the location information.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for thermally affecting tissue. The device may generally include an elongate body, an actuation element slidably disposed within the elongate body, a balloon defining an interior chamber, a proximal neck, and a distal neck, the first neck being coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body and the second neck being coupled to the distal portion of the actuation element, retraction of the actuation element within the elongate body causing the treatment element to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration. The distal neck may be located external to the interior chamber in the first configuration and within the interior chamber in the second configuration. The device may also include a fluid injection element that is transitionable to an expanded configuration when the balloon is inflated, thereby enhancing the cooling capacity of the balloon.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for enhancing cooling uniformity and efficiency of cryogenic fluids and providing a treatment element the shape of which can be adjusted for multiple purposes. The device may include a balloon catheter and fluid dispersion element, the fluid dispersion element directing the flow of coolant from a fluid injection element the interior wall of the balloon. The method of changing the shape of the treatment element may include retracting and extending a shaft to which the distal neck of a balloon is coupled, so that the balloon goes from a first shape to a second shape.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for thermally affecting tissue. The device may generally include an elongate body, an actuation element slidably disposed within the elongate body, a balloon defining an interior chamber, a proximal neck, and a distal neck, the first neck being coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body and the second neck being coupled to the distal portion of the actuation element, retraction of the actuation element within the elongate body causing the treatment element to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration. The distal neck may be located external to the interior chamber in the first configuration and within the interior chamber in the second configuration. The device may also include a fluid injection element that is transitionable to an expanded configuration when the balloon is inflated, thereby enhancing the cooling capacity of the balloon.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for enhancing cooling uniformity and efficiency of cryogenic fluids and providing a treatment element the shape of which can be adjusted for multiple purposes. The device may include a balloon catheter and fluid dispersion element, the fluid dispersion element directing the flow of coolant from a fluid injection element the interior wall of the balloon. The method of changing the shape of the treatment element may include retracting and extending a shaft to which the distal neck of a balloon is coupled, so that the balloon goes from a first shape to a second shape.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for enhancing cooling uniformity and efficiency of cryogenic fluids and providing a treatment element the shape of which can be adjusted for multiple purposes. The device may include a balloon catheter and fluid dispersion element, the fluid dispersion element directing the flow of coolant from a fluid injection element the interior wall of the balloon. The method of changing the shape of the treatment element may include retracting and extending a shaft to which the distal neck of a balloon is coupled, so that the balloon goes from a first shape to a second shape.

Abstract: A device, method, and system for thermally affecting tissue. The device may generally include an elongate body, an actuation element slidably disposed within the elongate body, a balloon defining an interior chamber, a proximal neck, and a distal neck, the first neck being coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body and the second neck being coupled to the distal portion of the actuation element, retraction of the actuation element within the elongate body causing the treatment element to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration. The distal neck may be located external to the interior chamber in the first configuration and within the interior chamber in the second configuration. The device may also include a fluid injection element that is transitionable to an expanded configuration when the balloon is inflated, thereby enhancing the cooling capacity of the balloon.

Abstract: A method and system for treating ventricular tachycardia (VT) by ablating scarred myocardial tissue containing a reentrant VT circuit. The method generally includes measuring electrical activity at a plurality of sites within a heart, identifying an area of scarred myocardial tissue based at least in part on the electrical activity measurements, and ablating substantially all of the scarred area. The system generally includes a medical device having a distal end, a plurality of electrical conduction sensors coupled to the distal end, and a console in communication with the distal end of the device, the console including a computer with display. The computer may be programmed to identify optimal ablation sites within a target tissue and the location of an isthmus associated with a reentrant VT circuit within a target tissue, the identifications being based at least in part on the measurements of the electrical conduction sensors.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for enhancing cooling uniformity and efficiency of cryogenic fluids and providing a treatment element the shape of which can be adjusted for multiple purposes. The device may include a balloon catheter and fluid dispersion element, the fluid dispersion element directing the flow of coolant from a fluid injection element the interior wall of the balloon. The method of changing the shape of the treatment element may include retracting and extending a shaft to which the distal neck of a balloon is coupled, so that the balloon goes from a first shape to a second shape.

Abstract: An implantable medical device system including a physiological sensor detects signal artifact in a signal waveform acquired by the sensor. Features of individual waveforms in the sensor signal are extracted. Sample waveforms are classified by expert observation into at least two classes including an artifact class. A distribution range for each of the extracted features from the sample waveforms is determined for each of the classes. Waveform classification criteria are established in response to the determined distribution ranges.

Abstract: A method of mapping electrophysiological information, including receiving imaging information for a tissue region; receiving a monophasic action potential signal from the tissue region; assigning a value corresponding to a depolarization segment of the monophasic action potential signal; receiving location information associated with the monophasic action potential signal; and generating an image based on the imaging information, the assigned value, and the location information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing improvement using pressure data. The method and apparatus may be used in an implantable medical device to confirm that an EGM event signifies a true mechanical cardiac activity and not just electrical oversensing. The mechanical activity may be used to create a mechanical marker channel in the implantable medical device.

Abstract: An implantable medical device system including a physiological sensor detects signal artifact in a signal waveform acquired by the sensor. Features of individual waveforms in the sensor signal are extracted. Sample waveforms are classified by expert observation into at least two classes including an artifact class. A distribution range for each of the extracted features from the sample waveforms is determined for each of the classes. Waveform classification criteria are established in response to the determined distribution ranges.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sensing improvement using pressure data. The method and apparatus may be used in an implantable medical device to confirm that an EGM event signifies a true mechanical cardiac activity and not just electrical oversensing. The mechanical activity may be used to create a mechanical marker channel in the implantable medical device.

Abstract: A system for displaying trended data retrieved from a medical device comprising a medical device which monitors and stores trended patient data, a data center, and an intermediate data relay device. The intermediate device receives stored trended patient data from the medical device and uploads the data to the data center. The data center merges the uploaded data with patient data obtained during previous data uploads. Clinicians can access the uploaded and merged patient using an interactive web page which allows the clinicians to seamlessly view the data.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring respiration including sensing a signal that varies with respiration, deriving a respiration parameter, applying criteria for detecting a respiration disturbance and determining one or more respiratory disturbance metrics. The system preferably includes an implantable sensor with an associated implantable medical device such that chronic respiration monitoring is possible. The implantable medical device may execute methods for detecting and measuring respiratory disturbances or may store data to be transferred to an external device for detecting and measuring respiratory disturbances. Respiratory disturbance detection may trigger a responsive action such as physiological data storage, a change in therapy delivery, or a clinician warning. Assessment of cardiac function may be made based on metrics of respiratory disturbances or a measure of circulatory delay time following detection of a respiratory disturbance.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for sensing improvement using pressure data. The method and apparatus may be used in an implantable medical device to confirm that an EGM event signifies a true mechanical cardiac activity and not just electrical oversensing. The mechanical activity may be used to create a mechanical marker channel in the implantable medical device.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring respiration including sensing a signal that varies with respiration, deriving a respiration parameter, applying criteria for detecting a respiration disturbance and determining one or more respiratory disturbance metrics. The system preferably includes an implantable sensor with an associated implantable medical device such that chronic respiration monitoring is possible. The implantable medical device may execute methods for detecting and measuring respiratory disturbances or may store data to be transferred to an external device for detecting and measuring respiratory disturbances. Respiratory disturbance detection may trigger a responsive action such as physiological data storage, a change in therapy delivery, or a clinician warning. Assessment of cardiac function may be made based on metrics of respiratory disturbances or a measure of circulatory delay time following detection of a respiratory disturbance.