Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including positioning an ultrasound transducer at a blood vessel ostium, rotating the transducer about its axis and scanning tissue of the blood vessel ostium, recording one or more baseline returned signals from the tissue, and creating a baseline image of the blood vessel ostium based on at least one of the returned signals. Tissue of the blood vessel ostium is ablated in consecutive segments by rotating the transducer segmentally until full rotation is completed. The returned signals of the ablated segments are recorded in real-time and a real-time image is created based on the one or more returned signals. Ablation is terminated after changes in the real-time returned signals and/or real-time image with respect to the baseline returned signals and/or baseline image indicate an achieved predetermined level of ablation lesion formation. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A method for measuring temperature includes emitting light with an illumination spectrum into a tissue with at least one illumination, receiving the remission of light with a remission spectrum from the tissue using at least one detector, converting the remission spectrum into a detector signal, sending the detector signal to a calculating unit, calculating a first theoretical remission spectrum based on a solution for describing the propagation of light in the tissue with the calculating unit, assuming estimated volume fractions of the individual tissue components, adapting the theoretical remission spectrum to the measured remission spectrum, and calculating at least one volume fraction of a tissue component from the remissions spectrum using a minimization algorithm, which is used by the calculating unit to adapt the theoretical remission spectrum to the measured remission spectrum using variations in the volume fractions of the individual tissue components which are present in the tissue.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide an electrosurgical system for treating biological tissue. The system comprises: an electrosurgical generator configured to supply pulsed microwave energy; and an electrosurgical instrument. The electrosurgical instrument comprises a flexible coaxial cable arranged to convey the pulsed microwave energy; and a radiating tip portion connected at a distal end of the coaxial cable and configured to receive the pulsed microwave energy. The radiating tip portion has a maximum outer diameter that is 1.0 mm or less, and wherein the maximum outer diameter of the radiating tip portion is smaller than an outer diameter of the coaxial cable. Also, the radiating tip portion comprises: a proximal coaxial transmission line for conveying the pulsed microwave energy; and a distal needle tip mounted at a distal end of the proximal coaxial transmission line, the distal needle tip being arranged to deliver the pulsed microwave energy into biological tissue.

Abstract: ECG electrode assemblies are disclosed which include an adhesive-backed patch incorporating an ECG electrode and an adhesive-backed cover configured to cover and surround a lead wire clip attached to a contact of the ECG electrode. ECG electrode assemblies comprising said adhesive-backed patch and said adhesive-backed cover secure the connection between the lead and the electrode and effectively reduce the number of telemetry disruptions due to leads failure. ECG electrode assemblies can also provide water resistance to allow for patient showering while hospitalized on telemetry monitoring.

Abstract: A device for exploring the visual system, comprising portable viewing equipment having at least one viewing screen configured to be placed facing at least one eye of a person. The viewing equipment comprises sealing lips surrounding the viewing screens and having a free edge intended to be applied against the skin of the person, this free edge comprising at least one electrode for measuring the electrical potential. The device also comprises at least one free electrode for measuring the electrical potential, which free electrode is linked by a connecting wire to a connector carried by the viewing equipment, between one of the viewing screens and the free edge of the sealing lips surrounding this screen.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to systems and methods for improving sleep by treating at least one of rhinitis, congestion, and/or rhinorrhea to thereby reduce or eliminate symptoms associated therewith, including, but not limited to, nasal congestion, coughing, sneezing, and nasal or throat irritation and itching.

Abstract: A probe and method of using a probe are disclosed. The probe may comprise a first member, a tip, a second member, and a third member. The first member may have a first and second end portions. The tip may be configured to engaged to the first member at the second end portion. The second member may be configured to extend and be positioned within the first member. The third member may be configured to be disposed outward of the second member along at least a portion of the second member, engage an inner surface of the first member, and define to least one passage between the third member and the first member. The probe may be coupled to a fluid supply and return, and fluid may flow within the probe, including within the passage defined between the first and third members.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a 1- or 3-lead oral ECG device, shaped and implemented like a household digital thermometer. The 3-lead device comprises three contact electrodes: two contact electrodes on a body of the device, configured for contact with the left and right hands; and one contact electrode on a metallic tip of the device—which may comprise a thermometer—configured for contact with the mouth. The 1-lead device comprises any two of these three contact electrodes and a temperature sensor disposed in the metallic tip. A novel transformation of the three leads from the 3-lead device enables the ECG signals to be processed like a standard ECG that comprises a contact electrode in contact with the leg instead of the mouth. An oral ECG device of the invention may comprise other sensors, such as a pulse-oximetry sensor, respiratory rate sensor, skin temperature sensor, body impedance sensor, galvanic skin response sensor, and/or blood-flow sensor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a medical device configured to provide cooling to a tissue region are provided. The medical device may be configured to noninvasively cool the tissue region to a predetermined operating temperature via a two-phase heat transfer process. In some aspects, the medical device can be configured to be in communication with a vacuum to provide a suction to the medical device. In some aspects, the medical device can be adapted to a medical device to noninvasively cool the tissue region near a fractional treatment area.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to, for example, a high-thermal-sensitivity ablation catheter tip including a thermally-insulative ablation tip insert supporting at least one temperature sensor electrically coupled to a flexible electronic circuit and encapsulated, or essentially encapsulated, by a conductive shell.

Abstract: A medical device includes an electrode shaft and an insulation tip. The electrode shaft is configured to deliver energy to a target site and includes an electrode shaft lumen configured to deliver fluid to the target site. The insulation tip is coupled to a distal tip of the electrode shaft. The insulation tip includes an insulation tip lumen fluidly connected to the electrode shaft lumen and configured to deliver fluid to the target site. The insulation tip covers an entirety of the distal tip of the electrode shaft.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a RF ablation catheter for septal reduction therapy having a cooling effect, and more particularly, to a RF ablation catheter for septal reduction therapy that is for performing RF ablation, in which RF energy is applied to an interventricular septum, for septal reduction therapy such as therapy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is a disease in which an interventricular septum of the left ventricle of the heart of the animal or human body thickens, therapy that requires reduction of an interventricular septum, or therapy for ventricular tachycardia. Also, the present disclosure relates to a RF ablation catheter for septal reduction therapy having a cooling effect that is for preventing carbonization of a tissue of the body (interventricular septum) around an electrode.

Abstract: An ablation catheter for treating electrical rhythm disorders includes an array of sensor electrodes to detect electrical signals to determine a location of a target region for treatment. If the catheter is not optimally positioned at the target region, a controller uses the detected signals to guide movement of the catheter towards the target region. Once proper positioning is ascertained, the controller activates ablation components within the catheter to deliver energy to modify tissue at the target region.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a catheter ultrasound transducer that includes one or more piezoelectric elements configured to ablate tissue of an ostium of a blood vessel by applying ultrasound energy to tissue of the ostium. An expandable positioner is configured to envelope at least a portion of the catheter ultrasound transducer and to position the catheter ultrasound transducer in the ostium of the blood vessel by contacting a wall of the blood vessel. A system processor in communication with the one or more piezoelectric elements is configured to regulate a parameter of the ultrasound energy emitted from the one or more piezoelectric elements based on impedance measurement between one or more electrodes located on the expandable positioner and one or more electrodes located on the catheter ultrasound transducer. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A medical system includes a catheter, a light source, a detector, a circulator, and a processor. The catheter includes a distal-end assembly for performing a medical operation on tissue in a cavity of an organ of a patient, the distal-end assembly including an optical fiber configured to guide transmitted light to interact with the tissue of the cavity, and to guide returned light that interacted with the tissue. The light source is configured to produce the transmitted light. The detector is configured to measure the returned light. The circulator is configured to couple the transmitted light from the light source to the optical fiber, and to couple the returned light from the optical fiber to the detector. The processor is configured to identify a contact of the distal-end assembly with the tissue based on the returned light measured by the detector, and to indicate the identified contact to a user.

Abstract: A headpiece, acquisition device, system and method for making electroencephalography (EEG) measurements. The EEG headpiece fits, or adjusts to fit, on a person's scalp, each of a plurality of electrodes is located in the headpiece corresponding to selected respective positions on the scalp, the electrodes are electrically connected to at least one electrical transmitter, and the headpiece is attached to the scalp after the electrodes have been located in the headpiece.

Abstract: A skin care device using an RF needle is disclosed. According to an embodiment, a skin contact part having a plurality of needles and a vacuum pressure formation unit for applying a suction force to the skin contact part are included, and thus a needle can be inserted into the skin by pulling the skin with vacuum pressure. Therefore, the skin is pulled with suction so that an equipment contact surface accurately comes into contact with the skin, and thus a needle can be correctly inserted into the inner layer of the skin.

Abstract: A system configured to detach an interventional implant from a cardiac valve includes a guide catheter and a capture mechanism routable through the guide catheter. The capture mechanism comprises a capture hypotube with a container portion/space configured to receive an interventional implant connected to cardiac valve tissue. The capture mechanism also includes a cutting arm axially moveable relative to the capture hypotube. The capture hypotube and the cutting arm each include cutting elements that are brought together upon actuation of the cutting arm to thereby cut the cardiac valve tissue surrounding the interventional implant to free the implant from the cardiac valve.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices allow intravascular or percutaneous mapping, orientation and/or ablation, in bodily cavities or lumens. A device includes elongate members, moveable between an unexpanded configuration and an expanded or fanned configuration. The elongate members form a stack in the unexpanded configuration to fit through a catheter sheath. The elongate members follow respective arcuate or curvilinear paths as advanced from the sheath into the bent or coiled stack configuration, adopting volute, scroll or rho shapes, and may be nested. The elongated members are fanned or radially spaced circumferentially with respect to one another into the expanded or fanned configuration. Transducer elements carried by elongate members sense various physiological characteristics of or proximate tissue, and/or may apply energy to or proximate tissue. The elongate members are rotatable in groups or as a group in the expanded configuration. The device is retractable.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques for detecting and mitigating inaccurate sensing in a medical system. In some examples, one or more sensors of the medical system may include at least one electrode configured to sense an impedance of a portion of a patient's body proximate to the electrode and processing circuitry of the medical system may detect an inaccuracy in the data corresponding to the one or more patient physiological parameters based upon data including at least the sensed impedance of the portion of the patient body; correct at least a portion of the inaccuracy in the data corresponding to the one or more patient physiological parameters; and generate, for display on a display device, output data indicating the inaccuracy in the data corresponding to the one or more patient physiological parameters.