Abstract: An irrigated ablation catheter includes a tip electrode with a thin shell and a plug, defining a plenum chamber. The tip electrode has an inlet of a predetermined size and noncircular shape, and a predetermined number of outlet fluid ports having a predetermined diameter in the shell wall. The tip electrode thus considers a diffusion ratio of total fluid output area to fluid input area, a fluid port ratio, and a fluid inlet aspect ratio where the fluid inlet has a noncircular radial cross-section. The plenum chamber has a narrow proximal portion opening to a wider distal portion so that fluid pressure decreases while fluid velocity increases thereby increasing turbulence which decreases momentum for a more uniform distribution of fluid in the tip electrode. Extending distally from the plug is a baffle member shaped to diffuse fluid entering the tip electrode and to house an electromagnetic position sensor.

Abstract: A catheter for ablation, mapping, injection, and directional control by an external magnetic system has a catheter body, an intermediate section, and a tip section having a tip electrode with an omnidirectional distal end and a concentric needle port. The tip electrode houses a magnetic device and a position sensor in an integrated configuration that facilitates a path in the tip section for extension and retraction of a component, including an injection needle, with reduced stress and friction. The integrated configuration is an efficient use of space in the tip electrode that allows the tip section to carry both the position sensor and the necessary volume of magnetic or magnetizable material to accomplish magnetic navigation. The catheter also includes a very soft and flexible intermediate section and an even softer and more flexible distal transitional section carrying additional magnetic members to facilitate remote magnetic navigation.

Abstract: A catheter for ablation, mapping, injection, and directional control by an external magnetic system has a catheter body, an intermediate section, and a tip section having a tip electrode with an omnidirectional distal end and a concentric needle port. The tip electrode houses a magnetic device and a position sensor in an integrated configuration that facilitates a path in the tip section for extension and retraction of a component, including an injection needle, with reduced stress and friction. The integrated configuration is an efficient use of space in the tip electrode that allows the tip section to carry both the position sensor and the necessary volume of magnetic or magnetizable material to accomplish magnetic navigation. The catheter also includes a very soft and flexible intermediate section and an even softer and more flexible distal transitional section carrying additional magnetic members to facilitate remote magnetic navigation.

Abstract: A dongle couples an electrophysiologic catheter and a navigational system, including a patient interface unit (PIU). The dongle permits hardware normally carried on catheter control handle to be relocated onto the dongle to render catheter “greener” and less costly to manufacture use. The dongle having a support portion with flexibility, shape memory and/or varying degrees of stiffness also advantageously allows a user more control over the placement, position and orientation of the dongle. The dongle has a body with a first electrical interface unit, and a support portion with a second electrical interface unit, the support portion having an outer flexible tubular member with shape memory. In one embodiment, the support portion comprises a gooseneck tubing. In another embodiment, the support portion comprises a coiled spring.

Abstract: A dongle couples an electrophysiologic catheter and a navigational system, including a patient interface unit (PIU). The dongle permits hardware normally carried on catheter control handle to be relocated onto the dongle to render catheter “greener” and less costly to manufacture use. The dongle having a support portion with flexibility, shape memory and/or varying degrees of stiffness also advantageously allows a user more control over the placement, position and orientation of the dongle. The dongle has a body with a first electrical interface unit, and a support portion with a second electrical interface unit, the support portion having an outer flexible tubular member with shape memory. In one embodiment, the support portion comprises a gooseneck tubing. In another embodiment, the support portion comprises a coiled spring.

Abstract: A dongle couples an electrophysiologic catheter and a navigational system, including a patient interface unit (PIU). The dongle permits hardware normally carried on catheter control handle to be relocated onto the dongle to render catheter “greener” and less costly to manufacture use. The dongle having a support portion with flexibility, shape memory and/or varying degrees of stiffness also advantageously allows a user more control over the placement, position and orientation of the dongle. The dongle has a body with a first electrical interface unit, and a support portion with a second electrical interface unit, the support portion having an outer flexible tubular member with shape memory. In one embodiment, the support portion comprises a gooseneck tubing. In another embodiment, the support portion comprises a coiled spring.

Abstract: An irrigated ablation catheter includes a tip electrode with a thin shell and a plug, defining a plenum chamber. The tip electrode has an inlet of a predetermined size and noncircular shape, and a predetermined number of outlet fluid ports having a predetermined diameter in the shell wall. The tip electrode thus considers a diffusion ratio of total fluid output area to fluid input area, and a fluid port ratio, and considers a fluid inlet aspect ratio where the fluid inlet has a noncircular radial cross-section. The plenum chamber has a narrow proximal portion opening to a wider distal portion so that fluid pressure decreases while fluid velocity increases thereby increasing turbulence which decreases momentum for a more uniform distribution of fluid in the tip electrode. Extending distally from the plug is a baffle member shaped to diffuse fluid entering the tip electrode and to house an electromagnetic position sensor.

Abstract: A catheter for ablation, mapping, injection, and directional control by an external magnetic system has a catheter body, an intermediate section, and a tip section having a tip electrode with an omnidirectional distal end and a concentric needle port. The tip electrode houses a magnetic device and a position sensor in an integrated configuration that facilitates a path in the tip section for extension and retraction of a component, including an injection needle, with reduced stress and friction. The integrated configuration is an efficient use of space in the tip electrode that allows the tip section to carry both the position sensor and the necessary volume of magnetic or magnetizable material to accomplish magnetic navigation. The catheter also includes a very soft and flexible intermediate section and an even softer and more flexible distal transitional section carrying additional magnetic members to facilitate remote magnetic navigation.

Abstract: An irrigated ablation catheter includes a tip electrode with a thin shell and a plug, defining a plenum chamber. The tip electrode has an inlet of a predetermined size and noncircular shape, and a predetermined number of outlet fluid ports having a predetermined diameter shell wall. The tip electrode thus considers a diffusion ratio of total fluid output area to fluid input area, and a fluid port ratio, and considers a fluid inlet aspect ratio where the fluid inlet has a noncircular radial cross-section. The plenum chamber has a narrow proximal portion opening to a wider distal portion so that fluid pressure decreases while fluid velocity increases thereby increasing turbulence which decreases momentum for a more uniform distribution of fluid in the tip electrode. Extending distally from the plug is a baffle member shaped to diffuse fluid entering the tip electrode and to house an electromagnetic position sensor.

Abstract: An irrigated ablation catheter includes a tip electrode with a thin shell and a plug, defining a plenum chamber. The tip electrode has an inlet of a predetermined size and noncircular shape, and a predetermined number of outlet fluid ports having a predetermined diameter in the shell wall. The tip electrode thus considers a diffusion ratio of total fluid output area to fluid input area, and a fluid port ratio, and considers a fluid inlet aspect ratio where the fluid inlet has a noncircular radial cross-section. The plenum chamber has a narrow proximal portion opening to a wider distal portion so that fluid pressure decreases while fluid velocity increases thereby increasing turbulence which decreases momentum for a more uniform distribution of fluid in the tip electrode. Extending distally from the plug is a baffle member shaped to diffuse fluid entering the tip electrode and to house an electromagnetic position sensor.

Abstract: A catheter for ablation, mapping, injection, and directional control by an external magnetic system has a catheter body, an intermediate section, and a tip section having a tip electrode with an omnidirectional distal end and a concentric needle port. The tip electrode houses a magnetic device and a position sensor in an integrated configuration that facilitates a path in the tip section for extension and retraction of a component, including an injection needle, with reduced stress and friction. The integrated configuration is an efficient use of space in the tip electrode that allows the tip section to carry both the position sensor and the necessary volume of magnetic or magnetizable material to accomplish magnetic navigation. The catheter also includes a very soft and flexible intermediate section and an even softer and more flexible distal transitional section carrying additional magnetic members to facilitate remote magnetic navigation.

Abstract: A dongle couples an electrophysiologic catheter and a navigational system, including a patient interface unit (PIU). The dongle permits hardware normally carried on catheter control handle to be relocated onto the dongle to render catheter “greener” and less costly to manufacture use. The dongle having a support portion with flexibility, shape memory and/or varying degrees of stiffness also advantageously allows a user more control over the placement, position and orientation of the dongle. The dongle has a body with a first electrical interface unit, and a support portion with a second electrical interface unit, the support portion having an outer flexible tubular member with shape memory. In one embodiment, the support portion comprises a gooseneck tubing. In another embodiment, the support portion comprises a coiled spring.

Abstract: A dongle couples an electrophysiologic catheter and a navigational system, including a patient interface unit (PIU). The dongle permits hardware normally carried on catheter control handle to be relocated onto the dongle to render catheter “greener” and less costly to manufacture use. The dongle having a support portion with flexibility, shape memory and/or varying degrees of stiffness also advantageously allows a user more control over the placement, position and orientation of the dongle. The dongle has a body with a first electrical interface unit, and a support portion with a second electrical interface unit, the support portion having an outer flexible tubular member with shape memory. In one embodiment, the support portion comprises a gooseneck tubing. In another embodiment, the support portion comprises a coiled spring.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for ablation, mapping, injection, and directional control by an external magnetic system has a catheter body, an intermediate section, and a tip section having a tip electrode configured with an omnidirectional distal end and a concentric needle port. The tip electrode houses a magnetic device and a position sensor arranged in an integrated configuration, wherein the configuration facilitates a path in the tip section for a component, including an injection needle, to extend through the tip section for extension and retraction with reduced stress and friction. The integrated configuration is an efficient use of space in the tip electrode that allows the tip section to carry both the position sensor for determining location and orientation of the tip section and the necessary volume of magnetic or magnetizable material to accomplish magnetic navigation.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for ablation, mapping, injection, and directional control by an external magnetic system has a catheter body, an intermediate section, and a tip section having a tip electrode configured with an omnidirectional distal end and a concentric needle port. The tip electrode houses a magnetic device and a position sensor arranged in an integrated configuration, wherein the configuration facilitates a path in the tip section for a component, including an injection needle, to extend through the tip section for extension and retraction with reduced stress and friction. The integrated configuration is an efficient use of space in the tip electrode that allows the tip section to carry both the position sensor for determining location and orientation of the tip section and the necessary volume of magnetic or magnetizable material to accomplish magnetic navigation.

Abstract: A dongle couples an electrophysiologic catheter and a navigational system, including a patient interface unit (PIU). The dongle permits hardware normally carried on catheter control handle to be relocated onto the dongle to render catheter “greener” and less costly to manufacture use. The dongle having a support portion with flexibility, shape memory and/or varying degrees of stiffness also advantageously allows a user more control over the placement, position and orientation of the dongle. The dongle has a body with a first electrical interface unit, and a support portion with a second electrical interface unit, the support portion having an outer flexible tubular member with shape memory. In one embodiment, the support portion comprises a gooseneck tubing. In another embodiment, the support portion comprises a coiled spring.

Abstract: A device and system for automating catheter needle injection has a first actuator that extends a needle past the distal end of the catheter, a second actuator that depresses a plunger to deliver injectate through the needle and an agitator assembly to agitate the injectate before it enters the needle. The device and system may also include a force sensor coupled to the plunger to sense pressure to detect occlusion, and an optical sensor to sense movement of the second actuator.

Abstract: A catheter adapted for ablation, mapping, injection, and directional control by an external magnetic system has a catheter body, an intermediate section, and a tip section having a tip electrode configured with an omnidirectional distal end and a concentric needle port. The tip electrode houses a magnetic device and a position sensor arranged in an integrated configuration, wherein the configuration facilitates a path in the tip section for a component, including an injection needle, to extend through the tip section for extension and retraction with reduced stress and friction. The integrated configuration is an efficient use of space in the tip electrode that allows the tip section to carry both the position sensor for determining location and orientation of the tip section and the necessary volume of magnetic or magnetizable material to accomplish magnetic navigation.

Abstract: A catheter system includes a flexible abutment at its distal end. Functionally, the abutment serves to stabilize and align (orient) the distal portion of the catheter as its distal tip is advanced into contact with a tissue surface. Structurally, the flexible abutment is an arrangement of wires that creates a hollow conical shaped frame having two open ends. One end is affixed to the distal end of the catheter. And, the other is presented as a plurality of separated end points that collectively define an annulus at a distal distance from the catheter's tip. For its operation, the flexible abutment is moved from a folded (tube-shaped) configuration, for travel through the vasculature of a patient, to a flared configuration with end points on the frame extended outwardly from the catheter axis, for contact with the tissue surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a needle control handle which allows a needle extension distance to be adjusted, set and locked. In one embodiment, the control handle has an outer body and a piston adapted for relative longitudinal movement to extend the needle. A first control knob is movable on the piston for adjusting and setting the distance of the needle extension. A second knob is provided for releasably locking the first control knob on the piston once the needle extension distance has been set. Each of the knobs has a contact surface that enables the knobs to mutually lock with and release from each other.