Abstract: A catheter includes an elongate shaft, an electrode assembly, a connective stem, a coupler, a first magnetic position sensor, and a second magnetic position sensor. The electrode assembly includes microelectrodes. The connective stem includes a first connective stem member and a second connective stem member. The connective stem defines a first sensor receptacle and a second sensor receptacle in an exterior surface of the connective stem. The coupler is configured for coupling with the connective stem. The first magnetic position sensor is disposed in the first sensor receptacle and elongated along a first sensor longitudinal axis. The second magnetic position sensor disposed in the second sensor receptacle and elongated along a second sensor longitudinal axis that is not parallel to the first sensor longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Medical devices and systems including electrical traces are provided. The medical device includes a sheath body including an inner wall, an outer wall, and a central major lumen extending through the sheath body along a longitudinal axis. The central major lumen is defined by the inner wall. The medical device further includes at least one outer lumen extending through said sheath body, wherein the at least one outer lumen is disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall, at least one electrode coupled to a distal portion of said sheath body, and at least one electrical trace. Each of the at least one electrodes is coupled to at least one electrical trace, and the electrical trace is disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides electroporation systems and methods of preconditioning tissue for electroporation therapy. An electroporation generator includes an electroporation circuit, a preconditioning circuit, and a controller. The electroporation circuit is configured to be coupled to a catheter for delivering the electroporation therapy to target tissue of the patient. The electroporation circuit is further configured to transmit an electroporation signal through the catheter. The preconditioning circuit is configured to be coupled to a preconditioning electrode for stimulating skeletal muscle tissue of the patient. The preconditioning circuit is further configured to transmit a preconditioning signal to the preconditioning electrode.

Abstract: The present invention resides in one aspect in a device for monitoring luminal esophageal temperatures in a patient. The device includes a probe adapted to be inserted into an esophagus of the patient. The probe extends between a proximal end and a distal end. A first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor are coupled to the probe. An electrode is also coupled to the probe. The second temperature sensor is displaced from the first temperature sensor along a longitudinal axis of the probe. A controller processes information received by the electrodes and the temperature sensors. The controller generates a live and continuously updating three dimensional anatomic map and three dimensional thermal map of the esophagus based at least in part on the information received from the temperature sensors and the electrodes. The thermal map and the anatomic map are displayed on a video monitor.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting relative positioning of medical devices located within a human body, the apparatus comprising an inner elongate member comprising a plurality of electrodes and a first sensor member, where the first sensor member is located a known distance from each of the plurality of electrodes, and an outer elongate member comprising a first sensor, and an outer sensor member located between the first sensor and an inner wall of the outer elongate member, where the inner elongate member is configured to move within the outer elongate member and the first sensor is configured to sense a signal generated by movement of the inner elongate member relative to the outer elongate member, and a position detection module including an electronic control unit configured to detect a position of the first sensor member relative to the first sensor based on the signal.

Abstract: An electroanatomical mapping system can map electrical activation of tissue, and in particular create a slow conduction map, using a plurality of electrophysiology data points, each including local activation timing information, by computing a slow conduction metric for each point using the local activation timing information. The slow conduction metric can be used to classify points as no conduction points, slow conduction points, and normal conduction points, and the results can be graphically expressed, including as an animated representation of an activation wavefront propagating along a three-dimensional anatomical surface model.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of an occlusive medical device including a frame and at least one closure coupled to the frame. The frame includes a distal annular flange having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, a proximal annular flange having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, and a waist portion extending between and connecting the distal annular flange to the proximal annular flange. The radially inner surface of the distal annular flange, the waist member, and the radially inner surface of the proximal annular flange define an unobstructed passageway through the frame. The at least one closure is configured to close the passageway to: (i) provide an occlusive effect, and (ii) enable subsequent access through the passageway.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of an occlusive medical device including a frame and at least one closure coupled to the frame. The frame includes a distal annular flange having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, a proximal annular flange having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, and a waist portion extending between and connecting the distal annular flange to the proximal annular flange. The radially inner surface of the distal annular flange, the waist member, and the radially inner surface of the proximal annular flange define an unobstructed passageway through the frame. The at least one closure is configured to close the passageway to: (i) provide an occlusive effect, and (ii) enable subsequent access through the passageway.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent having a proximal end, a distal end, an annulus section adjacent the proximal end and an aortic section adjacent the distal end. The heart valve further includes a plurality of commissure features disposed on the stent, and a collapsible and expandable valve assembly, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets connected to the plurality of commissure features, each of the plurality of leaflets having a free edge and being configured to have a tension line aligned near the free edge to prevent backflow.

Abstract: A method of assembling a prosthetic heart valve includes providing a collapsible and expandable stent having an annulus section and an aortic section. The annulus section has a first diameter in a relaxed condition and a second diameter less than the first diameter in a collapsed condition. A constraint is applied to the stent to constrain the annulus section to a predetermined diameter between the first and second diameters. Applying a cuff and/or a plurality of leaflets to the stent in the constrained condition enables less material to be used. The resultant prosthetic valve is therefore able to be collapsed to a smaller diameter for introduction into a patient.

Abstract: Described herein is a medical device including a medical device including a device body and a plurality of extensions. The device body includes a first side, a second side, and a plurality of expandable cells. The plurality of expandable cells have a proximal edge and a distal edge. The plurality of expandable cells extends laterally between and connects the first and second sides. The plurality of extensions extend longitudinally from each of the first and second sides. A first plurality of extensions extend proximally from a proximal end of each side to beyond the proximal edge and a second plurality of extensions extend distally from a distal end of each side to beyond the distal edge. The first and second pluralities of extensions have coiled ends.

Abstract: Multi-electrode ablation systems, methods, and controllers are described. In one example, a method of beginning an ablation procedure using a multi-electrode ablation system is described. The method includes selectively coupling the output of a power supply to a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes to increase a temperature at the first electrode to a first temperature set-point and limit a rate of increase of the temperature at the first electrode to a predetermined first rate.

Abstract: Flexible high-density mapping catheter tips and flexible ablation catheter tips with onboard high-density mapping electrodes are disclosed. These tips can be used for diagnosing and treating cardiac arrhythmias. The flexible, distal tips are adapted to conform to tissue and comprise a plurality of microelectrodes mounted to permit relative movement among at least some of the microelectrodes. The flexible tip portions may comprise a flexible framework forming a flexible array of microelectrodes (for example, a planar or cylindrical array) adapted to conform to tissue and constructed at least in part from nonconductive material in some embodiments. The flexible array of microelectrodes may be formed from a plurality of rows of longitudinally-aligned microelectrodes. The flexible array may further comprise, for example, a plurality of electrode-carrying arms or electrode-carrier bands. Multiple flexible frameworks may be present on a single device.

Abstract: A connection device for a deflectable medical device, such as a catheter, comprises an elongate planarity wire having a proximal end and a distal end, an elongate activation wire having a proximal end a distal end, a passage and an interface. The passage extends through the planarity wire near the distal end of the planarity wire. The distal end of the activation wire extends through the passage. The interface is between the passage and the activation wire, and may comprise one or more of the following: a hook and bore interface, a detent interface, a mechanical interface, or a metallurgical interface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved vascular occlusion device for occlusion of a passageway, cavity, or the like. According to one embodiment, a medical device for occluding a left atrial appendage is provided. The medical device includes a first portion having at least one plane of occlusion that is configured to be positioned outside of the left atrial appendage, and a second portion having at least one plane of occlusion that is configured to be at least partially positioned within a cavity defined by the left atrial appendage.

Abstract: A three-dimensional geometric image of an anatomical region is generated from a plurality of two-dimensional echographic image slices of the region. The image slices are filtered using a reaction-diffusion partial differential equation model before being arranged into a voxel space. Each voxel is then assigned a voxel value to create a volumetric data set from which the volumetric image can be rendered. The image is rendered from far to near, relative to a preset viewing direction, by an alpha-blending process. The alpha value at any given voxel can be determined using the magnitude of the density gradient vector at that voxel. Similarly, the direction of the density gradient vector at a given voxel can be used as a surface normal vector for shading purposes at that voxel.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a means of holding, securing, or self-locking an actuating mechanism, such as a plunger-type or slide-type actuating mechanism, on a medical device having a deflected distal region using pinch points without the need for a secondary restraining or locking mechanism within the medical device. The present disclosure also provides a means to reduce the force experienced by a user during the deflection of a medical device such that use fatigue is lessened or eliminated. Various embodiments of the present disclosure are set forth herein.

Abstract: The instant disclosure relates to electrophysiology catheters for tissue ablation within a cardiac muscle. In particular, the instant disclosure relates to an electrophysiology ablation balloon catheter with an electrode coil that is wrapped around at least a portion of the balloon and delivers ablation energy at a desired portion of tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to measuring impedance across a plurality of electrode pairs. The disclosed systems and methods may simultaneously provide drive signals between electrode pairs and then sense the voltage signals that develop at the electrodes. Digital signal processing may be used to synchronously demodulate the voltage signal at each electrode to determine impedances at the electrodes. Each electrode pair may be driven at a unique frequency to allow for significantly increasing a number of electrode pairs and/or increasing drive current magnitudes. Synchronous demodulation allows the unique frequencies to be detected independent of each other while minimizing crosstalk. Typically, the drive frequencies are made orthogonal by setting the drive frequencies at harmonics of a common base frequency and measuring a response over an integer number of cycles.

Abstract: A medical device includes a body and at least one electrode disposed thereon. The electrode includes a metallic substrate, such as a platinum group metal, an alloy of platinum group metals, or gold. The surface of the substrate is modified in a manner that increases its effective surface area without inducing bulk heating. For example, the surface of the substrate can be laser textured and/or coated, such as with titanium nitride or iridium oxide.