Abstract: Systems and methods well suited for use in catheter-based tissue ablation systems employ thermocouples for temperature sensing. The systems and methods combine accuracy with compact, low profile construction.

Abstract: A surgical device including a relatively short shaft, a bendable spline assembly associated with the distal end of the shaft and having a predetermined configuration, the spline assembly being adapted to collapse in response to an application of an external force and to expand to the predetermined configuration in response to a withdrawal of the external force, and an operative element associated with the bendable spline assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods ablate tissue within the body using a flexible guide element having an axis. A mechanism flexes the element along its axis. The flexible element carries a region for emitting energy. The region creates a lesion having a contour that follows the flexure of the element. The region creates a single continuous lesion that is curvilinear, long and thin. Manipulating such systems and methods creates diverse, specially shaped lesions in body tissue.

Abstract: A collapsible electrode catheter assembly (10) having a delivery system (12) for controlling a catheter guide tube (16) having a catheter distal end assembly (22) thereon. The catheter distal end assembly (22) has an electrode structure (28) on an expanding assembly (34) for enlarging the electrode structure (28) in an expanded condition. A balloon structure (48) is used to expand and contract the expanding assembly (34) when an inflation medium (64) is alternately introduced into and withdrawn from the balloon structure (48).

Abstract: A surgical method and apparatus for positioning a diagnostic or therapeutic element within the body. The apparatus may be catheter-based or a probe including a relatively short shaft.

Abstract: Devices for insertion into an atrial appendage of stasis reducing components such as mesh members, chemical bonding agents or expandable anchors are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods position arrays of multiple emitters of ablating energy in straight or curvilinear positions in contact with tissue to form elongated lesion patterns. The elongated lesion patterns can continuous or interrupted, depending upon the orientation of the energy emitters.

Abstract: A distal tip for securing a plurality of spline elements to form a catheter basket assembly is formed from a flexible, resilient material, such as silicone. The distal tip includes a plurality of passages extending radially therethrough for receiving individual spline elements, the passages intersecting an axis and spaced apart circumferentially and axially from one another with respect to the axis. The distal tip may be formed by wrapping the spline elements around a tool, such that their midpoints intersect within a cavity in the tool. An uncured material is introduced into the cavity, and then cured to form the plurality of spline passages directly around the spline elements. During use, the spline elements may be directed between contracted and expanded conditions, with the distal tip resiliently yielding and thereby minimizing stress in the spline elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods supply ablation energy to an electrode in contact with tissue to form a tissue-electrode interface. The system and methods sense, simultaneously with ablation, at least two tissue temperature conditions using at least two tissue temperature sensing elements which are held within a carrier that is substantially isolated from thermal conductive contact with the electrode. The carrier holds the tissue temperature sensing elements in a spaced apart relationship in thermal conductive contact with tissue at different depths beneath the tissue-electrode interface. The systems and methods control the supply of ablation energy to the electrode based, at least in part, upon temperatures sensed by the tissue temperature sensing elements.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods position arrays of multiple emitters of ablating energy in straight or curvilinear positions in contact with tissue to form elongated lesion patterns. The elongated lesion patterns can continuous or interrupted, depending upon the orientation of the energy emitters.

Abstract: Systems and methods analyze biopotential morphologies in body tissue. The systems and methods use a template of a biopotential event of known cause in body tissue. The systems and methods compare this template to a sample of a biopotential event externally triggered in body tissue. The systems and methods generate an output based upon the comparison. The systems and methods can be used to compare an event-specific template of a cardiac event of known diagnosis to a sample of a paced cardiac event. The comparison yields a matching coefficient indicating how alike the input sample is to the input template. The matching coefficient can be used by the physician, for example, to aid in the location of sites that are potentially appropriate for ablation.

Abstract: Electrode structures are formed from flexible, porous, or woven materials. One such structure is made by forming first and second body sections, each including a peripheral edge. The first and second body sections are joined together about their peripheral edges with a seam, thereby forming a composite structure. Another one of such structures is made by forming a body having a three dimensional shape and opposite open ends, and at least partially closing at least one of the opposite ends by forming a seam. Another one of such structures is formed from a sheet of material having peripheral edges. The sheet is placed on the distal end of a fixture, while the peripheral edges of the sheet are gathered about the proximal end of a fixture, thereby imparting to the sheet a desired shape. At least one pleat is formed to secure the gathered peripheral edges together. The seams or pleats are formed by thermal bonding, or ultrasonic welding, or laser welding, or adhesive bonding, or sewing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating an operative element within an interior body space use a locating probe, which includes at least one transmitting element to transmit an electric waveform output within at least a portion of the space. The systems and methods also use a sensing element, which is adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense a local electric waveform within the space. A processing element coupled to the sensing element generates a processed output that locates the sensing element relative to the locating probe based, at least in part, upon a differential comparison of the waveform output and the sensed local waveform.

Abstract: Invasive medical catheters with distal end assemblies having a protective surface coating bonded thereto are constructed by applying a hydrophilic primer to at least a portion of a tubular polymer body. The primer coating chemically bonds to the polymer substrate by developing covalent bonding or cross linking with the substrate. A plurality of printed electrode elements are then formed on the polymer body, e.g., by a pad printing process. Once the primer coating is bonded to the polymer body, the assembly is coated with a regenerated cellulose layer, e.g., by a viscose process well known in the art. The primer coating, already bonded to the catheter body, is then bonded with the regenerated cellulose at an elevated temperature. After curing, the polymer body, primer coating and regenerated cellulose layer become a single composite material, thereby preventing the regenerated cellulose coating from any movement relative to the polymer body, and providing a secure protective layer over the electrodes.

Abstract: A cardiac ablation catheter has an energy emitting surface for thermally destroying tissue. The surface normally presents a compact, low profile for introduction into the heart. Once introduced, the energy emitting surface can be significantly enlarged. The enlarged surface emits ablation energy sufficient to create a lesion that is significantly larger in terms of volume and geometry than the surface's initial low profile would provide.

Abstract: A system records use of a structure deployed in operative association with heart tissue in a patient. An image controller generates an image of the structure while in use in the patient. An input receives data including information identifying the patient. An output processes the image in association with the data as a patient-specific, data base record for storage, retrieval, or manipulation.

Abstract: The present invention includes a catheter having a molded distal end assembly that includes at least one component molded therewithin. In a preferred embodiment, the catheter end assembly includes a plurality of electrodes and lead wires that are all molded into the walls of the assembly. Each such electrode has at least one thermocouple associated with it, and the thermocouple is also molded into the walls of the assembly. In manufacturing the multi-electrode end assembly, lead wires from the coils and thermocouples are preferably spiral wound within the molded walls of the assembly to reduce the possibility that lead wires may become disconnected during manufacturing and use of the catheter. Particular core pin designs with mold blocking techniques are utilized to mold the coils and lead wires into the wall of the end assembly. The molding method is generally applicable to the manufacturing of a variety of catheter distal end components and assemblies.

Abstract: An electrode tip assembly attachable to the end of a catheter for supporting a tip electrode for percutaneous insertion into a living body having a steering mechanism includes an elongated body bendable in response to external forces to steer the tip electrode. The body is connected at its distal end to the tip electrode. At least one steering wire is attached to the elongated body for transmitting bending force to the body from a remote control mechanism. An movable stiffening member, preferably in the form of a sleeve or rod provides a variable fulcrum for bending of the body in response to an applied bending force. A control stylet or sleeve extends through the catheter and is attached to the stiffening member for moving the stiffening member in a distal/proximal direction or for rotating it relative to the body.

Abstract: A catheter assembly comprising a elongated, flexible support structure having an axis. The assembly also includes an elongated porous electrode assembly carried by the support structure along the axis for contact with tissue. The elongated porous electrode assembly comprises a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, a lumen to convey a medium containing ions into the interior area, and an element coupling the medium within the interior area to a source of electrical energy. At least a portion of the wall comprising a porous material is sized to allow passage of ions contained in the medium to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy through the porous material to the exterior of the wall to form a continuous elongated lesion pattern in tissue contacted by the wall. The support structure can have a curvilinear geometry, e.g., a loop shape, and the elongated porous electrode assembly conforms to the curvilinear geometry.

Abstract: A catheter assembly comprises a first branch body having a first axis, a second branch body extending in a non-parallel relationship with respect to the first axis, and at least one electrode carried by the second branch body. In use, the first branch body can be located within a pulmonary vein within the left atrium, while the electrode carried by the second branch body is located in contact with endocardial tissue outside the pulmonary vein. Ablation energy can be transmitted from the electrode to contacted endocardial tissue while the first branch body is located within the pulmonary vein.