Abstract: An induction coil vapor generator is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the vapor generator is that it can inductively generate high quality condensable vapor. The vapor generator can comprise an outer assembly that supports a coil wire, and an inner assembly disposed in the outer assembly. The inner assembly can house a plurality of microtubes configured to be inductively heated by the coil wire to convert a fluid to condensable vapor. The generator can be disposed in a medical device to treat tissue with vapor. One feature of the medical device is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, denaturate the prostate. Methods associated with use of the vapor generator are also covered.

Abstract: A system includes a pulse waveform generator and an ablation device coupled to the pulse waveform generator. The ablation device includes at least one electrode configured for ablation pulse delivery to tissue during use. The pulse waveform generator is configured to deliver voltage pulses to the ablation device in the form of a pulsed waveform. A first level of a hierarchy of the pulsed waveform includes a first set of pulses, each pulse having a pulse time duration, with a first time interval separating successive pulses. A second level of the hierarchy of the pulsed waveform includes a plurality of first sets of pulses as a second set of pulses, a second time interval separating successive first sets of pulses, the second time interval being at least three times the duration of the first time interval.

Abstract: A cryotreatment catheter for treating tissue. The catheter may include an outer elongate body, a balloon treatment element coupled to the distal portion of the elongate body with a plurality of balloon lobes radially arranged around the outer elongate body, an inner elongate body rotatably movable within the lumen of the outer elongate body, and a fluid delivery lumen located within the lumen of the outer elongate body and at least partially within the lumen of the inner elongate body. The fluid delivery lumen may be branched at a distal portion into a plurality of linear segments, each linear segment being in fluid communication with one of the plurality of balloon lobes. Each of the balloon lobes may be inflated independently of each other by the linear segments of the fluid delivery lumen.

Abstract: A medical coagulation instrument having a shaft as well as at least one electrode tip that extends beyond the distal end of the shaft. To create a coagulation instrument whose electrodes are of simple structure and ensure an atraumatic and safe handling, at least one electrode tip should be widened or be configured as widening in the distal direction.

Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a radiofrequency treatment device to apply radiofrequency energy to tissue to treat tissue to create lesions without ablating the tissue. The system includes a device having flexible outer tube, an expandable basket having a plurality of arms movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position, a plurality of electrodes movable from a retracted position to an extended position to extend through the openings in the arms, and an advancer slidably disposed within the outer tube to move the electrodes. An elongated spacer is positioned within the outer tube, the spacer having a central lumen to receive the advancer and to maintain a central position of the advancer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for creating tissue necrosis include an energy delivery apparatus that can be positioned adjacent a target treatment site such as a vessel without direct contact with the treatment site tissue. Collimated energy is then directed to the vessel to create necrotic regions in the tissue. Exemplary use in renal vessels creates necrotic regions in adjacent nerves which can alleviate hypertension in a patient.

Abstract: A medical system, including a catheter body, an elongate body disposed in the catheter body; an expandable element having a proximal portion coupled to the catheter body and a distal portion coupled to the elongate body, the distal portion of the expandable element defining the distal-most portion of the medical device; a mesh or array of longitudinal splines substantially surrounding the expandable element, at least a portion of the mesh or splines being electrically conductive; and a coolant source in fluid communication with the expandable element.

Abstract: A method of directing energy to tissue includes the initial steps of determining target tissue location and/or target tissue margins, positioning an ablation device for delivery of energy to target tissue, and positioning one or more heat-sensitive optical probes into a tissue region to be monitored. Each heat-sensitive optical probe is adapted to utilize spectral properties of light to access one or more optical fiber portions of the heat-sensitive optical probe in response to heat. The method also includes the steps of applying energy to the ablation device, continuing ablation while size and/or position of ablated zone which received heat above a threshold value is displayed on a monitor using one or more electrical signals generated by the one or more heat-sensitive optical probes, and determining whether the ablated zone displayed on the monitor is larger than the target tissue margins.

Abstract: A catheter carries a position sensor in a distal, on-axis position in an irrigated ablation tip electrode. The tip electrode has a shell wall that defines a cavity through which fluid flows and exits via fluid ports formed in the shell wall. The cavity is sealed by an internal member extends into the cavity with a baffle portion and a distal portion. The distal portion safely houses the position sensor and the baffle portion diffuses and disperses fluid entering the tip electrode for a more uniform flow through the cavity. The distal portion is configured to provide an annular region that runs along the length of the tip electrode to better feed fluid to the more distal fluid ports on the tip electrode for more uniform cooling at all locations on the tip electrode.

Abstract: A tissue treatment selection device that has at least one treatment delivery member, a delivery setting circuit that is coupled to the treatment delivery member that is adapted to be deployed into tissue to deliver therapeutic energy to a target tissue zone, and the processing circuit is operable to set treatment parameters in the delivery setting circuit that is operable to set treatment parameters in the delivery setting circuit. The processing circuit is operable to transmit a test signal through the deployed treatment delivery member and to determine deployment status. The treatment selection device has a processing circuit adapted to send a message to a display device that indicates that the deployed treatment delivery member has been determined to be compensable and contains a suggested change in the treatment parameters. Also presented herein is a method of treating a tissue of a patient using the treatment delivery device.

Abstract: A system for generating microwave energy includes a microwave generator that generates first and second microwave signals, a transmission line and a dual antenna microwave device. The transmission line transmits the first and second microwave signals to the microwave device. The microwave device includes a first antenna proximal a second antenna and a dual-sided choke positioned therebetween. The first antenna receives the first microwave signal from the transmission line between a first conductor and a second conductor and the second antenna receives the second microwave signal between the second conductor and a third conductor. The dual-sided choke includes a first and a second antenna choke circuit. The first antenna choke circuit limits the propagation of electromagnetic fields generated by the first antenna toward the second antenna and the second antenna choke circuit limits the propagation of electromagnetic fields generated by the second antenna toward the first antenna.

Abstract: Cardiac ablation is carried out by placing two ablation electrodes on opposite sides of a wall of the heart to generally oppose one another. The effective current transmission area of one of the electrodes is then varied according to the distance between the two electrodes or the thickness of the wall. Sufficient electrical current is transmitted between the two electrodes to achieve transmural ablation.

Abstract: The high-frequency treatment tool includes a flexible tube inserted into a body cavity; an operating wire inserted through the flexible tube to be movable back and forth; a treatment part arranged on a distal end of the operating wire and treats biological tissue by applying a high-frequency current; a main body that fixes a base end of the flexible tube; a slider-fixing part that fixes a base end of the operating wire guided from the base end of the flexible tube and slides the operating wire in an axis direction with respect to the main body; and a slider-zipping part provided to encircle at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the slider-fixing part and slides the slider-fixing part by the operation of a user. The slider-fixing part is unrotatably coupled to the main body and the slider-gripping part is rotatably coupled to the slider-fixing part.

Abstract: A system for controlling temperature of a fluid used during treatment of biological tissue includes a fluid temperature control apparatus. The apparatus includes at least one heat transfer device and a solution bag and/or a heat transfer membrane. The solution bag and/or the heat transfer membrane reside in thermal communication with the heat transfer device. When the solution bag and/or the heat transfer membrane is fluidically coupled to an electrosurgical device, fluid is supplied to the electrosurgical device at a controlled temperature during a surgical procedure utilizing the electrosurgical device to enable more efficient treatment of the biological tissue. A corresponding method includes fluidically coupling the fluid temperature control apparatus to the electrosurgical device and supplying fluid at a controlled temperature during a surgical procedure utilizing the electrosurgical device to enable more efficient treatment of the biological tissue.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument, in particular for argon plasma coagulation, includes a handpiece 10, an electrode (11) connected to the handpiece (10), a shaft (12) which surrounds the electrode (11) and is held in the handpiece (10), and an operating mechanism (13), which comprises at least one rotary knob (14) arranged on the handpiece (10). The shaft (12) is axially movable relative to the electrode (11) and a shear force can be applied to it by operating the rotary knob (14). The handpiece (10) has a brake device which exerts a braking force on the shaft (12), and the operating mechanism (13) forms a transmission gear (15) which is connected to the shaft (12) for transferring the shear force.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inductive disturbance reduction device (18) for reducing an inductive disturbance of a signal like an ultrasound signal to be transmitted via first connection conductors (25, 26) of an electrical connector (11), which is caused when ablation current flows through a second connection conductor (24) of the electrical connector. The inductive disturbance reduction device is adapted to induce a voltage, which at least partly compensates a voltage induced in the electrical connector, in order to reduce the inductive disturbance in the signals to be transmitted via the first connection conductors of the electrical connector. Since the inductive disturbance is reduced, a high quality electrical connection can be provided, without necessarily using, for instance, a technically relatively complex and expensive coaxial connector. The inductive disturbance reduction device may be integrated, for instance, in a part of the electrical connector or in a cable.

Abstract: A catheter and catheter system for treatment of a blood vessel of a patient include an elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure. A plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces can radially engage material to be treated when the structure expands. A material detector near the distal end of the catheter body may measure circumferential material distribution, and a power source selectively energizes the electrodes to eccentrically treat of a body lumen.

Abstract: An aspect of various embodiments of the present invention system and method provide, but not limited thereto, a novel means for epicardial ablation using a double-curve steerable sheath and a double-curve deflectable open irrigated-tip/suction catheter that can be guided around the apex of the heart and adjusted so as to position the distal tip optimally. The catheter can also both deliver fluid to and withdraw fluid from the pericardial space. Access to the epicardial surface of the heart is via a subxiphoid entry. The method and means presented include, but are not limited to, steering, energy delivery, bipolar mapping, placement and use of electrodes, irrigation, suction of irrigation fluid, and other details of the subject invention.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating rhinitis are described where the devices are configured to ablate a single nerve branch or multiple nerve branches of the posterior nasal nerves located within the nasal cavity. A surgical probe may be inserted into the sub-mucosal space of a lateral nasal wall and advanced towards a posterior nasal nerve associated with a middle nasal turbinate or an inferior nasal turbinate into a position proximate to the posterior nasal nerve where neuroablation of the posterior nasal nerve may be performed with the surgical probe. The probe device may utilize a visible light beacon that provides trans-illumination of the sub-mucosal tissue or an expandable structure disposed in the vicinity of the distal end of the probe shaft to enable the surgeon to visualize the sub-mucosal position of the distal end of the surgical probe from inside the nasal cavity using, e.g., an endoscope.

Abstract: A method and system for performing pulmonary vein isolation, mapping, and assessing pulmonary vein occlusion using a single device. The device may generally include an ablation element, such as a cryoballoon, and a sensing component slidably disposed within a lumen of the device and bearing one or more mapping electrodes and one or more pressure sensors. The method may generally include mapping cardiac electrical signals within a heart and/or pulmonary vein, positioning a distal portion of the sensing component within a pulmonary vein, advancing the ablation element until it is in contact with the pulmonary vein ostium, recording blood pressure measurements within the pulmonary vein with the one or more pressure sensors to assess pulmonary vein occlusion, and activating the treatment element when the pulmonary vein is completely occluded. The sensing component may have a straight or hooped configuration, or a configuration therebetween.