Abstract: A catheter for mapping and/or ablating continuous linear or circumferential lesions at the intersection of a generally flat structure, such as the left atrium, and the ostium of generally cavernous regions of the heart, including pulmonary vein and the pulmonary venous antrum, comprises a catheter body with an intermediate section that is connected to a tip assembly by a highly flexible section. The intermediate section has at its distal end a preformed section, e.g., a curve, the intermediate section being deflectable in a direction opposite to the curve. The highly flexible section presets the tip assembly at an off-axis and/or off-plane angles from the preformed section. Accordingly, the preformed section is adapted to sit in the region and the preset angles of the ablation assembly enable contact with surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A catheter with temperature sensing has a catheter body and a tip section with integrated thermoresistive temperature sensors on its outer surface. The temperature sensor includes a microfabricated thin film assembly of which one layer is a sensor layer of thermoresistive material. In one embodiment, the tip section has a flexible tubing on whose outer surface circumferential temperature sensors are integrated. In another embodiment, the tip section has a tip electrode on whose outer surface a tip temperature sensor is integrated. In yet another embodiment, the tip section has a tip temperature sensor integrated on its tip electrode and multiple circumferential temperature sensors distal of the tip temperature sensor.

Abstract: An optical method and apparatus is utilized to evaluate the presence of tissue modification, in particular, to evaluate tissue ablation using light scattering spectroscopy realized via optical fiber(s). Such a technique allows for detection of the presence of tissue modification and provides depth information, such as, for example, depth of an ablated lesion. The method and apparatus as described herein can be used for in-vivo, real-time monitoring during predetermined procedures, such as, cardiac tissue ablation for therapeutic reasons.

Abstract: A catheter with temperature sensing has a catheter body and a tip section with an integrated thermosistive temperature sensor on its outer surface. The temperature sensor includes a microfabricated thin film assembly of which one layer is a sensor layer of thermoresistive material. In one embodiment, the tip section has a flexible tubing with a temperature sensor on its outer surface. In another embodiment, the tip section has an extended tip electrode with a temperature sensor on its outer surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for the evaluation of tissue ablation is provided. The apparatus comprises a broadband (white; multiple wavelengths) light and/or laser light (single wavelength) illumination source that delivers light to the site where a lesion is being formed. Scattered light is collected from the ablated tissue and evaluated to obtain qualitative information regarding the newly formed lesion. The apparatus allows assessment of such parameters as, for example, catheter- tissue proximity, lesion formation, depth of penetration of the lesion, cross-sectional area of the lesion in the tissue, formation of char during the ablation, recognition of char from non-charred tissue, formation of coagulum around the ablation site, differentiation of coagulated from non-coagulated blood, differentiation of ablated from healthy tissue, and recognition of steam formation in the tissue for prevention of steam pop.

Abstract: A deflectable unilateral or bidirectional catheter for mapping and/or ablation, has a catheter body and a catheter tip section carrying a reference sensor and a scaffolding structure that is deployed for stabilizing and anchoring the catheter in or near the coronary sinus of the heart. In one embodiment, a control handle 16 at the proximal end of the catheter body 12 moves a sheath proximally to deploy the scaffolding structure. In a sheathless embodiment, the control handle moves a puller wire distally to deploy the scaffolding structure, which can be a generally spheroid shape, ovoid shape, basket shape, peanut shape and synaptic shape. The arrangement of the scaffolding structure, the reference sensor and a plurality of electrodes on the tip section can be varied as appropriate or needed.