Abstract: A monitoring, managing and protecting system is provided that includes a monitoring probe working in conjunction with an ablating device. The probe is configured to be positioned in close proximity to a region of non-targeted tissue proximate an ablation site of targeted tissue and to be operatively connected to an electrical response assessment system or component. The probe includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle disposed at the proximal end thereof and a tissue monitoring and protecting apparatus disposed at the distal end thereof. The ablating device includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle mounted at the proximal end thereof and an ablation element mounted at the distal end thereof. The monitoring probe measures electrical characteristics of the non-targeted tissue and/or of the tissue between the monitoring electrode and the ablation electrode.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for predicting, diagnosing, and preventing adverse events during an ablation procedure are described. A method for providing ablation energy includes receiving a first signal based on biological activity of a tissue of a patient. The method further includes analyzing the first signal to yield a first data set, establishing a threshold parameter according to the first data set, and providing ablation energy for the ablation of a biological site.

Abstract: Embodiments of a guide and flexible sleeve for use with catheters for ablation or other medical procedures are disclosed. An exemplary catheter comprises a guide element having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end configurable in a desired shape. A flexible sleeve is conformable to the guide element so that the flexible sleeve slides over the guide element, the flexible sleeve has a proximal end and a distal end. A controller couples to the flexible sleeve. The controller operates to move the flexible sleeve at least part way between the distal end of the guide element and the proximal end of the guide element. At least one ablation element disposed at the distal end of the flexible sleeve operates to form a substantially continuous ablative lesion when the flexible sleeve is in contact with a contiguous volume of target tissue.

Abstract: A directable acoustic transducer assembly is presented for use in a medical insertion device (MID). In an embodiment, the assembly aims an acoustic signal in response to a sensed or detected force or load imposed on the MID. The directable acoustic transducer assembly includes a switch array and a plurality of directional acoustic transducer elements. The switch array responds to the force or load and activates the directional acoustic transducer elements closest to the source of the force or load. The switch array may include a plurality of switches, at least one of which responses to a force or load and may activate directional acoustic transducer elements having a target tissue in the field of view. The assembly includes embodiments that are responsive to various loads. A directable acoustic transducer assembly may be part of a diagnostic and/or therapeutic system, such as an RF ablation system.

Abstract: An irrigated ablation electrode assembly comprises a distal member, a first manifold, and a second manifold. The distal member includes an outer surface; an inner surface; and at least one radially extending passageway that extends from the inner surface of the distal member to the outer surface of the distal member. The first manifold includes an outer surface, an inner cavity, and at least one radially extending passageway that extends from the inner cavity to the outer surface of the first manifold. The second manifold includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and at least one radially extending passageway that extends from the inner surface of the second manifold to the outer surface of the second manifold. Other irrigated ablation electrode assemblies are also presented.

Abstract: A method of registering two or more localization systems utilizing unique coordinate frames A and B to a common coordinate frames includes measuring position information for one or more reference locations r in each coordinate frame (e.g., Ar and Br). For each reference location, a fiducial grouping is created from the respective position measurements (e.g., (Ar, Br)). The fiducial groupings are used to generate a mapping function ƒ that transforms position measurements expressed relative to the second coordinate frame B to the first coordinate frame A. The mapping function ƒ is defined such that a distance between ƒ(Br) and Ar is about zero for each reference location r. Each localization system may also measure position information for a respective fixed reference localization element. Divergence between these fixed reference localization elements in the common coordinate system may be used to monitor, signal, and correct for anomalies such as dislodgement and drift.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a control system for user-guided robotic control of a medical device and includes an electronic control unit, a computer-readable memory coupled to the ECU, and a visualization system configured to provide a view of an anatomical model. The memory contains user interface logic configured to be executed by the ECU, and configured to obtain input from a touch screen display with respect to the view of an anatomical model. Control logic stored in the memory is also configured to be executed by said ECU and is configured to produce an actuation control signal responsive to the input to control actuation of a manipulator assembly so as to move the medical device.

Abstract: An electrode catheter device with indifferent electrode for direct current tissue therapies is disclosed. An example of the catheter device has a flexible tubing with at least one ablation electrode. The catheter device also may also be used with a sheath for introducing the flexible tubing inside a patient's body. An indifferent electrode on the sheath can provide a ground for a direct current (DC) pulse to deliver electrical energy and create an electrical field adjacent a tissue. Various other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Catheter shaft handles and deflection actuators are disclosed. The actuators include at least one pull wire guide wall and a means for anchoring the proximal portion of a pull wire or of a fiber attached to a pull wire. Each actuator is pivotable relative to the catheter handle housing, and may comprise at least one boss for pivoting the actuator relative to the catheter handle housing. The actuators transfer rotational motion based upon user input on a boss into longitudinal motion of a pull wire. The actuators may include a tensioning mechanism comprising a tension adjustment pin and a pin block, wherein the tension adjustment pin is rotatably attached to the pin block to enable adjustment of tension in a pull wire (e.g., during assembly of the catheter handle).

Abstract: An elongate medical device with independently-deflectable segments and a handle for manually deflecting those segments can include a shaft having a distal segment and proximal segment, at least one proximal segment deflection wire adapted to deflect the proximal segment, at least one distal segment deflection wire adapted to deflect the distal segment independent of the proximal segment, and a handle portion. The handle portion may comprise a first manual actuation mechanism coupled to the at least one distal segment deflection wire and a second manual actuation mechanism coupled to the at least one proximal segment deflection wire. Actuation of the first manual actuation mechanism may impart a tensile force on the distal segment deflection wire to cause the distal segment to deflect, and actuation of the second manual actuation mechanism may impart a tensile force on the proximal segment to cause the proximal segment to deflect.

Abstract: A catheter includes a braid assembly having a dual-laminate coating. The braid assembly includes a plurality of braid members interwoven to provide for interstices between the braid members, each braid member having an electrically conductive element, a flexible non-electrically-conductive polymer coating that insulates the electrically conductive element and a thermoplastic bonding adhesive coating. The braid assembly is formed between an inner polymer layer and an outer polymer layer. One or more of the braid members may be coupled to an energy delivery element.

Abstract: A system for providing irrigation fluid during ablation of tissue includes a catheter, an electrode assembly, at least one thermal sensor adapted to be connected to the catheter, and a control system. The electrode assembly is adapted to be connected to an ablation generator. The thermal sensor is adapted to be operatively connected to an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU receives as an input temperature measurement data from the thermal sensor; determines a power delivery rate value for the ablation generator responsive to the temperature measurement data; and outputs the power delivery rate value. The control system also delivers irrigation fluid to the irrigated catheter at a first flow rate in a first time period and at a second flow rate in a second time period that is temporally after the first time period. The second flow rate is at least half of the first flow rate.

Abstract: A contact sensing assembly including a catheter and an electrode including a tip portion and a base portion, and a generally central axis, with the electrode being connected to a distal end of the catheter. Optical sensor(s) may be provided for emitting and/or receiving an optical signal, with a part of the optical signal being transverse to the central axis. Optical interference member(s) may be provided for interfering with the optical signal. A method for sensing contact force exerted by an electrode on a tissue includes directing an optical signal along a portion of a catheter, emitting and/or receiving an optical signal, with a part of the optical signal being at a predetermined angle relative to the central axis, and sensing changes in intensity of the optical signal based on displacement associated with the electrode tip portion based on the contact force exerted by the electrode on the tissue.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aligning directionally operable medical devices with and upon target tissue. Systems and methods for aligning medical devices such as directional ablation catheters to and upon target tissue by monitoring irrigant backpressure. The current disclosure provides solutions to the problem of rotationally or angularly aligning a directional medical device toward tissue.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking catheter electrode locations with the body of a patient during an MRI scan sequence includes mitigation logic configured to identify one or more impedance measurements that were taken during potentially noise-inducing conditions (i.e., magnet gradients, RF pulses), and were thus subject to corruption by noise. The mitigation logic is configured to replace the potentially corrupt impedance measurements with previously-obtained impedance measurements taken from an immediately preceding acquisition cycle (e.g., from a previous time-slice).

Abstract: An ablation catheter includes a tubular catheter body having a lumen, a tip portion, a liquid inlet, at least one liquid outlet, a liquid flow path defined between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, and an ablation element mounted on the tip portion of the catheter body. A rotationally-scanning ultrasound assembly is disposed within the lumen of the catheter body adjacent the tip portion. The ultrasound assembly includes an ultrasound transducer having an active face, an acoustic mirror acoustically coupled to the active face of the ultrasound transducer, and an impeller positioned in the liquid flow path and operably coupled to at least one of the ultrasound transducer and the acoustic mirror to impart rotational motion thereto when a liquid flows through the impeller.

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: A robotic catheter control system includes a plurality of electric motors. Diagnostic logic automatically detects motor runaway fault conditions based on the current motor position, the target motor position and a predetermined tolerance parameter. Fault conditions include overshoot, movement in the a non-prescribed direction, exceeding a prescribed maximum motor speed and exceeding a prescribed maximum motor acceleration. The diagnostic logic terminates operating power to the electric motor when a fault condition is detected for any one of the motor. An error message is generated to notify the operator of the fault.

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: A catheter system including an accelerometer-based sensing assembly is provided. In particular the present teachings relate to an accelerometer based assembly used to determine contact between a catheter and surrounding proximate tissue, such as cardiac tissue. An embodiment of such a system may, for example, be used for visualization, mapping, ablation, or other methods of diagnosis and treatment of tissue and/or surrounding areas.