Abstract: An ablation apparatus for treating tissues or atherosclerosis on a patient having a prior angioplasty procedure, the ablation apparatus comprising a rapid exchange stented balloon catheter having a reversibly collapsible stent secureed around the balloon and RF energy applied through the deployed stent to the tissue underlying the stent for therapeutic ablation purposes.

Abstract: A sensor device for monitoring bioelectric data from the thoracic region of a human body and/or for inducing stimulating signals to said region comprises a plurality of finger-like substrate portions of a flexible dielectric material. The substrate portions are releasably attachable to the thoracic region of a human body and the lateral spacing between the substrate portions is adjustable in accordance with the physiology of the body. A plurality of electrodes are provided on each substrate portion each having a respective lead connectable to an apparatus for inducing stimulating signals to, and/or receiving physiological signals from the electrodes. Indicia or other positioning elements are provided on at least one substrate portion for indicating the correct position of the assembly in use.

Abstract: A support for input and output transducers of a hearing aid is implanted in the middle ear. The support, which is attached to the mastoid bone, can be a single component or comprise two adjustable components. In one embodiment, an arm extends from the proximal end of the support towards an access hole created behind the outer ear, where the arm is attached for further stability. In another embodiment, the arm extends outside the access hole, where it is mounted subcutaneously to the mastoid bone with a mechanical fastener. The support provides positional adjustability, stability, and is invisible externally.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for sequentially cutting and coagulating tissue, including methodology for electrosurgical procedures incorporating principles of the inventive instrument. The instrument comprises a cutting electrode connectable to a first power source having a first power signal sufficient to cut tissue, and a coagulating electrode connectable to a second power source having a second power signal sufficient to coagulate tissue. The electrodes may be separated by an electrical insulator to maintain the electrodes in a spaced relationship such that the coagulating electrode can immediately follow the cutting electrode during movement of the instrument, thereby providing sequential yet substantially simultaneous cutting and coagulating of tissue. Methodology for performing an electrosurgical procedure in tissue includes providing the above described instrument with power delivery to the electrodes.

Abstract: The knife has the flexible, electrically insulating casing (24) inserted into a body cavity via an endoscope. A wire within this casing receives the HF current from a HF source and can be displaced to project relative to a suction opening (38) at the distal end of the casing to define the cutting zone (42).The operating device at the proximal end of the casing has a suction mouthpiece coupling to the suction opening (38). The casing is strengthened via an inserted support ring (56) between the suction opening (38) and the cutting zone (42) and/or via an internal strengthening wire (50).ADVANTAGE--Prevents blockage of suction path during bending. (20 pp Dwg.No.

Abstract: A cardiovascular catheter probe system suitable for electrophysiology mapping and radiofrequency ablation of cardiac tissue comprises a plurality of catheter shafts having a proximal end, a distal handle, and a lumen extending therebetween, wherein a distal portion of the shaft is deflectable and inflatable; the wavy soft distal section is inflatable to conform intimately to the irregular intracardiac tissue surface, wherein conducting electrodes are secured on the hills of said inflatable wavy soft shaft.

Abstract: A device and method for treating patent ductus arteriosus in a human. A catheter having a collapsible/expandable heating element at a distal end for entering an infant transcutaneously and being advanced to the ductus arteriosus. A method of heating the inner surface of the ductus arteriosus with the heating element to a temperature sufficient to produce a material change in the collagen of the ductus arteriosus such that the ductus arteriosus passage shrinks to closure.

Abstract: An electrosurgical handpiece comprises a handle and a nose piece for threaded engagement with the handle, together with a collet member which cooperates with the handle and nose piece for removably receiving and locking multiple-sized electrosurgical electrodes to the handle. To simplify assembly, the collet end is press-fitted into a bore in the handle. For this purpose, the collet must be constituted of an electrically conductive metal that also has sufficient elasticity that it will tend to return to its unstressed condition. Preferably, the press-fitted collet end is provided with knurls or grooves to ease the press-fitting operation and prevent collet movement with respect to the handle. Preferably, the collet front end is provided with spaced jaws surrounding a single coaxial bore that is able to accommodate two-different sized shanks of electrosurgical electrodes.

Abstract: A wire frame made of conductive material has a proximal end and a distal end. The wire frame is adapted for receiving an electrical potential from a remote power source. A loop of wire is disposed at the distal end of the wire frame, and a roller is disposed between the proximal end of the wire frame and the loop of wire. The wire frame is insulated, with the exception of the loop of wire and a portion of the wire frame contacting the roller. A source of suction adapted for removing gases from an area within the vicinity of the roller is activated when the electric potential is applied to the wire frame and the roller is placed in contact with human or animal tissue to thereby perform fulguration thereon. The source of suction is adapted to be reversed in order to provide a positive flow of fluid onto the roller, when the electrical potential is not applied to the wire frame.

Abstract: An electrical conductor and a biomedical electrode using the electrical conductor are disclosed. The electrical conductor has a flexible, non-conductive film and two different carbon-containing coatings on a major surface of the film. The electrical conductor coatings are a low porous carbon-containing coating and a high porous carbon-containing coating. The low porous carbon-containing coating contacts the film and the high porous carbon-containing coating contacts the low porous carbon-containing coating. A tab/pad style of biomedical electrode using the electrical conductor has a field of ionically conductive media containing electrolyte contacting the high porous carbon-containing coating. The electrolyte diffuses into the high porous carbon-containing coating for electrochemical advantages.

Abstract: A cutting loop (212) for an electrocautery probe (210). The cutting loop (212) includes a conductor member having a cutting portion (214) with a proximal edge (214a) and a distal edge (214b), the proximal edge (214a) being adapted for creating an incision, i.e., resecting human tissue as the cutting loop (212) is traversed in a cutting direction approximately perpendicular to the proximal face (212a). During the resection procedure, the cutting portion defines a cutting plane that is generally parallel to the surface of the tissue being resected. The proximal face (214a) of the cutting portion (214) is characterized as flat or blunt, and is oriented to be substantially perpendicular to both the cutting direction and the cutting plane. The flat or blunt shape of the proximal face (214a) enhances the current distribution characteristics of the cutting loop (212).

Abstract: A steerable electrophysiology catheter includes a shaft having a distal ablation segment with one or more electrodes coupled to a source of electrical energy by a connector extending through the shaft. The distal ablation segment of the shaft is movable between a collapsed configuration sized for percutaneous introduction into the patient and/or endoluminal delivery to the target site and an expanded configuration, in which the distal ablation segment forms a substantially continuous surface transverse to the shaft axis for engaging the heart tissue and creating a linear lesion thereon. The catheter includes one or more force element(s) positioned to apply an axial force between the distal and proximal ends of the ablation segment. The force element(s) provide a sufficiently uniform force against the distal ablation segment to establish continuous contact pressure between the electrodes and the patient's heart tissue.

Abstract: The present invention includes within its scope a low-cost temporary lead for pacing, sensing, monitoring, or defibrillating at least a portion of a human or animal organ, and methods for implanting and making same. The lead has at least two electrodes and distal and proximal ends, and a novel weakened zone disposed between the blunt end of a needle and at least two electrical connectors attached to the proximal end of the lead body. The novel weakened zone permits the needle to be separated from the connectors by application of a sufficiently large bending moment or pulling force thereto. Following separation of the connectors from the needle, the connectors may be attached directly and quickly to an external electrical apparatus.

Abstract: A variable accuracy biosignal detector includes a biosignal detector for detecting a biosignal such as a pulse wave from a living body and supplies the detected signal to a biosignal analog-to-digital converter. The analog-to-digital converter converts the biosignal to digital biosignal data values and stores the data in a memory. An input switch generates a start signal. In response to the start signal, a timing signal generating circuit generates a timing signal used as a sampling signal for driving the analog-to-digital converter and changes the sampling frequency of the analog-to-digital converter progressively on a time series basis. A biosignal calculating circuit performs frequency domain analysis when the number of stored digital biosignal data values reaches a predetermined value. By progressively reducing the sampling frequency of the analog-to-digital converter, measured results can be quickly displayed, while the accuracy of the displayed results is progressively increased.

Abstract: A flexible heat transfer device for heating or cooling a surface such as the skin has an envelope formed from two double walled sheets, Each sheet contains within the double wall a first high thermal capacity material such as a freezing gel that is flexible when frozen for good surface contact. The space between the double walls contains a second high thermal capacity material that may have different physical properties than the first material. This may be in the form of a removable pouch insert that may be heated or cooled separately. The device is more versatile in its applications and provides for more prolonged heating and cooling.

Abstract: The present invention includes within its scope a temporary lead for pacing, sensing, monitoring, or defibrillating at least a portion of a human or animal organ, and methods for implanting and making same. The lead has at least two electrodes and distal and proximal ends, and a novel weakened zone disposed between the blunt end of a needle and at least two electrical connectors attached to the proximal end of the lead body. The novel weakened zone permits the needle to be separated from the connectors by application of a sufficiently large bending moment or pulling force thereto. Following separation of the connectors from the needle, the connectors may be attached directly and quickly to an external electrical apparatus.

Abstract: A cardioversion/defibrillation lead, and method of manufacture thereof, for location in a human heart. An elongated lead body having an insulating outer sheath extends between proximal and distal ends thereof, and an elongated defibrillation conductor within the lead body extends from a connector at the proximal end to a distal end at a predetermined location along the lead body length. A spiral band defibrillation electrode extends in spiral turns around the exterior of the insulating outer sheath for a pre-determined defibrillation electrode length. The defibrillation electrode is fabricated of a single tube of body compatible, electrically conductive material having first and second tube ends and an inside diameter selected to fit over the outer sheath and the internally disposed defibrillation lead conductor.

Abstract: A stylet unit suitable for stiffening a hollow electrode cable, such as during the introduction and the anchoring of a medical electrode cable in the human body, includes a combination of a pair of flexible, coaxially arranged stylet elements, i.e., a tubular stylet sleeve and an internal stylet, which can be inserted into a channel in the sleeve and whose end section is pre-bent to one side. Both the stylet sleeve channel and moving inner stylet contained therein have sections or segments with non-circular cross-sections, the profile of the stylet's non-circular cross-section, in relation to the profile of the sleeve channel's non-circular cross-section, preventing the stylet from rotating in relation to the surrounding sleeve, at least within the parts of the sleeve in which both the stylet and the sleeve channel have interacting non-circular cross-sections.

Abstract: An absorber assembly for use in a biomedical electrode, such as an ECG electrode, comprises a contaminant absorber and a support which is combined with the contaminant absorber to form an assembly. The support has a recess for receiving an electrode member. An electrically insulating portion of the support is provided between the electrode member recess and the contaminant absorber. The contaminant absorber also has a capillary break with respect to the electrode member recess. The absorber assembly may include the electrode member.

Abstract: A biomedical vacuum electrode, such as an ECG electrode, is provided with a sealing element which improves performance. The sealing element includes a body and a sealing lip which extends around the body and terminates in a sealing edge at an application side. An inner surface of the sealing lip defines a vacuum chamber adapted in use of the electrode to communicate with a source of vacuum through a vacuum passageway. The vacuum passageway is connected with the vacuum chamber at the inner side of the sealing lip adjacent the sealing edge and opens into the vacuum chamber by way of an annular opening or gap. A contaminant absorber is placed on the side of the sealing element body facing away from the sealing edge to absorb contaminants carried away from the region of the sealing edge through the passageway.