Abstract: An ablation catheter having a catheter shaft and a virtual electrode, the virtual electrode comprising portholes through an outer peripheral wall of the catheter shaft and a metal electrode, the catheter being used for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, for example, atrial fibrillation, by electrically isolating a vessel, such as a pulmonary vein, from a chamber, such as the left atrium. The catheter shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion includes an active region, which is either a looped structure transverse to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft, or a linear structure that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft. During use, the active region is directed into contact with, for example, the wall of a pulmonary vein. Upon energization, the virtual electrode creates a continuous lesion on an inner wall of the pulmonary vein, thereby electrically isolating the pulmonary vein from the left atrium.

Abstract: An ablation catheter used for treatment of, for example, atrial fibrillation by electrically isolating a vessel, such as a pulmonary vein, from a chamber, such as the left atrium. The ablation catheter has a virtual electrode and a catheter shaft. The virtual electrode comprises a porous conductor. The catheter shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion includes an active region, which is either a looped structure transverse to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft, or a linear structure that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft. During use, the active region is directed into contact with, for example, the wall of a pulmonary vein and, upon energization, the virtual electrode creates a continuous lesion at or near the ostium of the pulmonary vein, thereby electrically isolating the pulmonary vein from the left atrium.

Abstract: A suture device and method according to the present invention involves positioning a body of the suture device inside a sheath and extending the body through a vessel wall. The sheath, in one embodiment, is a sheath through which a medical procedure has been performed and which has remained positioned within an opening in the vessel. First and second cannulae, in the form of sharpened needles, are inserted through the vessel wall and through adjacent subcutaneous tissue on opposite sides of the vessel wall opening. A snare or loop is carried by the first needle on a first side of the vessel opening. A suture is carried by the second needle on a second side of the vessel opening. The snare is deployed inside the vessel so that it assumes an opened, pre-oriented, three-dimensional configuration. The suture is then extended into the vessel and positioned inside of the open area formed by the snare or loop.

Abstract: A device for the mapping of cardiac arrhythmia foci including a catheter body having a distal end, first and second point electrodes, which are secured in the surface of the catheter body and which form a first bipolar pair of electrodes, and third and fourth point electrodes, which are secured in the surface of the catheter body and which form a second bipolar pair of electrodes, wherein a line passing between the third and fourth point electrodes is within about 45 degrees of being perpendicular to a line passing through the first and second point electrodes and wherein all four point electrodes are secured to that portion of the surface of the catheter body forming no more than half of the circumference of the surface of the catheter body when viewed from the distal tip of the catheter so that all four electrodes can be in contact with the cardiac tissue at the same time during a cardiac procedure.

Abstract: A linear lesion ablation catheter includes a conductive ablating portion having a predetermined resistivity profile for ablating tissue in a generally even temperature profile. In one embodiment, the conductive ablating portion is disposed on a distal portion of an elongate flexible member and has a resistance that increases exponentially along its length from a center of the ablating portion to a non-infinite value at opposite ends of the ablating portion. The ablating portion is adapted to produce a generally even temperature profile along a length of its surface when the ablating portion is in contact with a target tissue within a patient's body. In one example, the conductive ablating portion comprises a plurality of electrically connected conductive regions which extend from the center to the opposite ends of the ablating portion.

Abstract: A splittable occlusion balloon sheath includes a splittable sheath onto which an occlusion balloon has been secured near the distal end of the splittable sheath. A splittable hemostasis valve or a partitioned hemostasis valve system may also be secured within or to the splittable occlusion balloon sheath. This splittable occlusion balloon sheath is utilized to introduce a medical device, such as electrode leads, into the coronary sinus of the human heart. A dilator may also be used with the splittable occlusion balloon sheath for introduction of the medical devices. The splittable occlusion balloon sheath and/or the dilator may be precurved with a particular shape to assist in the introduction of the splittable occlusion balloon sheath and/or dilator into the coronary sinus. Also disclosed is a process of use of the splittable occlusion balloon system within the coronary sinus.

Abstract: A remotely bi-directional deflectable electrophysiology/ablation catheter of the type intended for placing into an interior passage of the heart is disclosed. The distal end of this elongated tubular catheter has a pair of tension/compression members each with a flattened end portion connected to the distal electrode and extending through the catheter casing and attached to a user moveable actuator for effecting the tension/compression thereon for remotely curling the distal end of the catheter. Spaced ring electrodes are provided adjacent the distal electrode. A permanent bend is pre-formed in the casing and tension/compression members adjacent the ring electrodes about an axis perpendicular to the elongated tension/compression members.

Abstract: A linear lesion ablation catheter includes a conductive ablating portion having a predetermined resistivity profile for ablating tissue in a generally even temperature profile. In one embodiment, the conductive ablating portion is disposed on a distal portion of an elongate flexible member and has a resistance that increases exponentially along its length from a center of the ablating portion to a non-infinite value at opposite ends of the ablating portion. The ablating portion is adapted to produce a generally even temperature profile along a length of its surface when the ablating portion is in contact with a target tissue within a patient's body. In one example, the conductive ablating portion comprises a plurality of electrically connected conductive regions which extend from the center to the opposite ends of the ablating portion.

Abstract: A remotely deflectable electrophysiology/ablation catheter of the type intended for placing into an interior passage of the heart is disclosed. The distal end of this elongated tubular catheter has a pair of tension/compression members each with a flattened end portion connected to the distal electrode and extending through the catheter casing and attached to a user moveable actuator for effecting the tension/compression thereon for remotely curling the distal end of the catheter. Spaced ring electrodes are provided adjacent the distal electrode. A permanent bend is pre-formed in the casing and tension/compression members adjacent the ring electrodes about an axis perpendicular to the elongated tension/compression members.

Abstract: A hemostasis cannula unit including a valve housing, a cap, and a hemostasis valve, wherein the hemostasis valve includes a proximal valve gasket and a distal valve gasket compressed against the valve gasket by the valve housing, wherein the proximal valve gasket is the same shape as the distal valve gasket.

Abstract: A partitioned hemostasis valve system for use with a splittable sheath, including a partitioned hemostasis valve housing which holds a partitioned hemostasis valve formed in at least two separate and distinct sections. Pivotable wing portions are secured to the partitioned valve housing such that upon pressure being placed on these wing portions, the separate sides of the partitioned hemostasis valve housing and the partitioned hemostasis valve are separated. The partitioned hemostasis valve system may also include a splittable adaptor system for securing to a splittable sheath.

Abstract: An ablation catheter is disclosed having proximal and distal ends and an external surface, a lumen contained within the catheter body, a plurality of openings in the surface of the catheter, wherein the openings are in communication with the lumen, one or more electrodes secured within the catheter within the lumen and a source for conductive media to be introduced into the lumen to contact the electrode. The ablation catheter also may contain a conductive media flow control system which controls the flow of the conductive media through the openings in the surface of the catheter.

Abstract: A hemostasis cannula unit including a valve housing, a cap, and a hemostasis valve, wherein the hemostasis valve includes a valve gasket and a valve membrane compressed against the valve gasket by the valve housing, wherein the valve gasket is thicker than the valve membrane.

Abstract: A process for the mapping and/or ablation of accessory pathways around the mitral valve using a retrograde approach by use of ablation and/or mapping catheters guided by precurved guiding introducers. Also disclosed are shapes for the guiding introducers to be used for the ablation and/or mapping of the accessory pathways around the mitral valve using a retrograde approach.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of atrial arrhythmia by use of ablation procedures comprising circumferential ablation of vessels, particularly pulmonary veins, associated with the left atrium of the heart. Also medical devices for such process including a pair of balloons secured to a catheter with one balloon located within the other balloon and an ablation catheter located within one of the balloons, which devices are used for the formation of a circumferential ablation lesion in the pulmonary vein.

Abstract: A guiding introducer system for use in the treatment of arrhythmia associated with the left ventricle from the ventricular side comprising an inner guiding introducer and an outer guiding introducer wherein the inner guiding introducer is comprised of a first and second section and the outer guiding introducer is comprised of a first and second sections. The guiding introducer system is for use in sensing, pacing, and ablating procedures in the left ventricle.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of atrial arrhythmia by use of ablation procedures comprising circumferential ablation of vessels, particularly pulmonary veins associated with the left atrium of the heart. Also disclosed are medical devices used for formation of the circumferential ablation lesions in vessels associated with the heart.

Abstract: A device for the mapping of cardiac arrhythmia foci including a catheter body having a distal tip, first and second point electrodes, which are secured to the catheter body and which form a first bipolar pair of electrodes, and third and fourth point electrodes, which are secured to the catheter body and which form a second bipolar pair of electrodes, wherein a line passing between the third and fourth point electrodes is within about 45 degrees of being perpendicular to a line passing through the first and second point electrodes.

Abstract: A steerable catheter for insertion into the ostium of the coronary sinus in the right atria including a flexible catheter body, and a steerable catheter handle wherein the catheter body includes a generally straight proximal section, a deflectable distal section and a precurved tip portion located at a distal end of the deflectable distal section. Preferably, the precurved tip portion curves outside of a plane formed by the deflectable distal section from about 20 degrees to about 50 degrees.

Abstract: An ablation system for ablating cardiac tissue within a chamber of the human heart including a guiding introducer system, a rail, one end of which is contained within the guiding introducer system, and an ablation catheter system which is supported by the guiding introducer system. The guiding introducer system may be a single or multiple guiding introducers. The ablation system may include a slotted sheath which passes over the rail which supports the ablation catheter. A process is disclosed for ablation of cardiac tissue to form a linear lesion utilizing a rail catheter ablation and mapping system which includes a guiding introducer, a rail and an ablation catheter system advanced over the rail.