Abstract: An embodiment of an elongate medical device may comprise a shaft body having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and three or more deflection wire assemblies, each deflection wire assembly comprising a flat wire coupled to the distal end portion and configured to deflect the distal end portion. Each flat wire may have a respective length defining a respective deflection radius, wherein each deflection radius is different.

Abstract: An introducer may comprise a shaft and a proximal electrode. The shaft may have a proximal end portion and an interior lumen, the interior lumen configured to receive a catheter therethrough. The proximal electrode may be coupled with the proximal end portion and may be configured to act as an electrical source or sink so as to create an electrical field within the interior lumen. A position of an electrode coupled with the catheter may be determined according to the electrical field.

Abstract: Catheter actuators providing a mechanical advantage are disclosed. The actuators include a pull wire arm guide plate and a drive wheel attached around the pull wire arm guide plate and pivotable relative to the guide plate, the drive wheel comprising at least one thumb boss for pivoting the drive wheel about a drive wheel axis of rotation. The drive wheel mechanically engages at least one pull wire arm slidably mounted in a pull wire arm channel in the pull wire arm guide plate. A mechanism transfers drive wheel input into longitudinal motion of the at least one pull wire arm. The mechanism may include, for example, a pin pushing against a bendable pushing member riding in an arcuate pin groove in a top surface of the guide plate, or a pin pushing against a surface of a cam arm pivotably mounted on the top surface of the guide plate.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter is provided. In one embodiment, the catheter includes an elongate, deformable shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a basket electrode assembly coupled to the distal end of the shaft. The basket electrode assembly has a proximal end and a distal end and is configured to assume a compressed state and an expanded state. The electrode assembly further includes one or more tubular splines having a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon and a plurality of conductors. Each of the plurality of conductors extends through the tubular spline from a corresponding one of the plurality of electrodes to the proximal end of the basket electrode assembly. The tubular splines are configured to assume a non-planar (e.g., a twisted or helical) shape in the expanded state.

Abstract: A medical device positioner for use with a remote catheter guidance system (RCGS) is provided, which can address angular, lateral and/or translational misalignment of an elongate medical device between the RCGS and an access point on a patient's body. Such a medical device positioner can comprise a base configured to attach to a remote catheter guidance system and a first support member extending from the base and having a receiving portion for receiving at least a portion of the elongate medical device. The medical device positioner can further include a second support member movably coupled to the first support member and including a second receiving area sized and configured to receive at least a portion of the elongate medical device. The medical device positioner can also include first and second tube sections with at least a portion of the first tube section being adapted to be inserted into a vascular system of a patient at an access point.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting electrical signals is disclosed. The apparatus includes a substrate and a twisted pair of conductors located on the substrate. The twisted pair of conductors has a first layer comprising conductive material, a second layer comprising nonconductive material, and a third player comprising conductive material. The first layer has a plurality of segments separated by a plurality of gaps. The second layer is positioned in said gaps and electrically insulates a portion of the segments positioned within the gaps. The third layer is positioned over the second layer. The third layer is configured to electrically connects an end of one segment to an end of another segment. The twisted pair of conductors formed by the three dimensional structure comprises two electrically isolated conductors twisted about each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting deformation of an elongate body may comprise a light source configured to sequentially provide light of multiple frequencies, an optical receiver configured to receive light from the light source, and a filter disposed between the light source and the optical detector. The filter may comprise multiple segments, each of the segments configured to filter light at one of the frequencies so as to alter the amount of light incident on said optical receiver. A total amount of light detected by the optical receiver may change during the sequence so as to be indicative of deformation of the elongate body.

Abstract: A hemostasis valve has a housing having proximal and distal ends defining proximal and distal openings configured for passage of a medical device therethrough. The housing further defines a cavity between the proximal and distal ends. One or more rollers are received within the cavity and define end sections and a central section having a smaller diameter than the end sections. Sleeves are disposed about the rollers and are elastically deformable to form a fluid seal around the device. The sleeves each assume a first form when the device is absent from the cavity wherein a radially inner surface of the sleeve is located at a first distance from the central section of a roller and a second form when the device is present in the cavity wherein the surface is located at a second distance, less than the first distance, from the central section of the roller.

Abstract: A catheter configured for use with a magnetic field-based localization system includes a distributed location sensor that includes a plurality of individual location sensing coils electrically connected in series. The distributed location sensor has an effective magnetic center based on the individual characteristics of each location sensing coil. The effective magnetic center can be located in a space occupied by another structure such as an irrigation fluid delivery tube. The plurality of individual location sensing coils are generally smaller, thereby easing placement, and collectively, when connected in series, output a relatively strong and noise-free signal.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a position of a medical device within a body are provided. The system includes an electronic control unit that receives position signals from position sensors of a first type and a second type disposed on the device and applies a filter to each of the position signals to obtain filtered estimated positions for each sensor. The unit computes a spline connecting the position sensors of the first type responsive to the filtered estimated positions for the sensors and estimates a spline position for the sensor of the second type along the spline. The unit generates maps between the spline position and filtered and unfiltered estimated positions for the sensor of the second type and determines actual positions for the sensors of the first type responsive to the filtered estimated position for the sensors and a composite map of the two maps.

Abstract: An elongate medical device handle may comprise a body defining an interior, an exterior, and a connector port extending between the interior and the exterior and defining an axis. The connector port comprises a portion having a polygonal cross-section taken transverse to the axis. In an embodiment, the polygonal cross-section may comprise a star shape. In an embodiment, a connector, such as a fluid connector, may be secured in the connector port using an adhesive.

Abstract: A system for controlling delivery of ablation energy by an ablation catheter to tissue in a body is provided. The system includes an electronic control unit configured to determine, responsive to a measurement signal from the ablation catheter, a value for a characteristic associated with the delivery of ablation energy to the tissue. In one embodiment, the characteristic is the degree of contact between the ablation catheter and the tissue. The unit is further configured to generate a control signal, responsive to the determined value of the characteristic, to control an amount of energy delivered from an ablation delivery element on the ablation catheter to the tissue. The amount of energy varies in response to the determined value of the characteristic when the determined value of the characteristic meets a predetermined condition relative to a threshold value for the characteristic.

Abstract: A deflectable catheter shaft section is disclosed comprising an elongated body extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising a distal end and a proximal end; and a plurality of lumens extending along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body, wherein at least one of the lumens is abutting at least another one of the lumens. A catheter comprising the deflectable catheter shaft section and a method of manufacturing the deflectable catheter shaft section are also disclosed. A catheter incorporating a deflectable catheter shaft section can further comprise first and second compression coils disposed over pull wires located within the catheter, wherein the compression coils are unattached to the catheter or components thereof, but can be constrained by a shaft coupler at a distal end of each of the compression coils and by at least a portion of a handle assembly at a proximal end of each of the compression coils.

Abstract: A method and system for assessing lesion formation in tissue is provided. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU is configured to acquire values for first and second components of a complex impedance between the electrode and the tissue, and to calculate an index responsive to the first and second values. The ECU is further configured to process the ECI to assess lesion formation in the tissue.

Abstract: An elongate medical device may overcome be configured both for manual manipulation by a physician and for automatic manipulation by a remote catheter guidance system. Such an elongate medical device comprises a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, a pull wire disposed in the shaft and affixed to the distal portion of the shaft, and a handle coupled with the proximal portion of the catheter shaft. The handle comprises a first mechanism configured for manual actuation of the pull wire so as to deflect the distal portion of the shaft, a second mechanism configured for remote actuation of the pull wire so as to deflect the distal portion of the shaft, and a mechanical interface configured to provide a remote catheter guidance system with a functional connection to the second mechanism.

Abstract: An electrode coupling output system associated with an electrode catheter that provides indication to the physician via the navigation system, concerning the electrical coupling of an electrode, such as an ablative or mapping electrode, with a patient. The indication may be provided by changing the color or other display characteristics of the electrode on the navigation system display or by way of providing a waveform indicating the electrode coupling. In this manner, electrode coupling information is provided to a physician in a manner that minimizes physician distraction.

Abstract: A flexible guidewire comprising a hollow tube, having a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section having a distal tip, the outer diameter of the distal section gradually decreasing toward the distal tip, the outer diameter of the distal tip being larger than the smallest outer diameter of the distal section, the flexible guidewire further comprising a plug coupled with the distal tip of the hollow tube for creating a non-traumatic tip, and the flexible guidewire further comprising a tubular spring, being place around the distal section of the hollow tube for maintaining the outer diameter of the hollow tube over the length thereof and for supporting compressive loads.