Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus having a tubular member for receiving an endocardial lead implanted within a patient's body. Disposed generally at a distal end of the tubular member is at least one blade or cutting surface. An adjustment mechanism moves the blade between retracted and extended positions to engage the cutting surface with the endocardial lead to cut the lead. Once severed, the cut portion of the lead remains within an inner channel of the tubular member and the apparatus and cut portion of the lead are removed from within the patient. Various embodiments include the blade pivotally connected to the distal end of the tubular member and activated by a wire adjustment mechanism. Others include a metallic wire for slicing through the lead. Still others include a pneumatically actuated adjustment mechanism that inflates to move the blade and engage the cutting surface with the lead.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus having a tubular member for receiving an endocardial lead implanted within a patient's body. Disposed generally at a distal end of the tubular member is at least one blade or cutting surface. An adjustment mechanism moves the blade between retracted and extended positions to engage the cutting surface with the endocardial lead to cut the lead. Once severed, the cut portion of the lead remains within an inner channel of the tubular member and the apparatus and cut portion of the lead are removed from within the patient. Various embodiments include the blade pivotally connected to the distal end of the tubular member and activated by a wire adjustment mechanism. Others include a metallic wire for slicing through the lead. Still others include a pneumatically actuated adjustment mechanism that inflates to move the blade and engage the cutting surface with the lead.

Abstract: A device and method for excimer laser ablation is provided wherein fibers in a catheter tip are arranged in an eccentric bundle. The optical fibers are cut and polished at an angle with respect to the end face of the catheter. The guidewire lumen lumen is preferably offset from the center of the tip.

Abstract: A phototherapy device has a phototherapy handpiece, an optical fiber attached to the phototherapy handpiece, and a laser phototherapy light source. The phototherapy handpiece, has a handpiece body that defines an interior region and has an outer surface which defines a foot of the phototherapy handpiece, an optical fiber drive assembly disposed at least partially within the interior region of the handpiece body has an optical fiber attachment portion that is movable relative to the handpiece body. The optical fiber drive assembly includes a driving component which causes the attachment portion to move relative to the handpiece body, and a damping component which resists the motion of the optical fiber attachment portion such that the optical fiber attachment portion attains a substantially constant speed motion relative to the handpiece body.

Abstract: A catheter for delivering electrical energy to a selectable region of a patient's body has at least one layer of fibers with at least one electrically conductive fiber stranded over a flexible core. Each layer of fibers is stranded over the flexible core and underlying layers opposite in direction from that of the immediately preceding layer so as to provide a catheter with good torque transfer properties in addition to its electrical energy transfer properties. The outermost layer of stranded fibers is electrically conductive and is covered by an electrically insulative outer layer which is mechanically strippable to expose selectable regions of the underlying layer of stranded fibers. Electrical energy is transmitted along the outermost layer of stranded fibers to tissue which is in contact with the exposed contact region of the outermost layer of stranded fibers. The catheter can also deliver electrical energy through a cutting tip for multipolar electro-cautery.