Abstract: Devices for supporting diagnostic or therapeutic elements and assemblies for creating curves in the distal regions thereof. The assemblies are adapted to create compound curves such that respective portions of the distal region have distinct curvatures.

Abstract: Systems and methods examine heart tissue morphology using three or more spaced apart electrodes, at least two of which are located within the heart in contact with endocardial tissue. The systems and methods transmit electrical current through a region of heart tissue lying between selected pairs of the electrodes, at least one of the electrodes in each pair being located within the heart. The systems and methods derive the electrical characteristic of tissue lying between the electrode pairs based, at least in part, upon sensing tissue impedances. The systems and methods make possible the use of multiple endocardial electrodes for taking multiple measurements of the electrical characteristics of heart tissue. Multiplexing can be used to facilitate data processing. The systems and methods also make possible the identification of regions of low relative electrical characteristics, indicative of infarcted tissue, without invasive surgical techniques.

Abstract: A probe that may be used to create circumferential lesions in body tissue and, in some implementations, may also be used to perform mapping functions. The probe includes a collapsible/expandable structure that supports electrodes or other operative elements against the body tissue.

Abstract: Compound steering assemblies, usable in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications, enable a physician to swiftly and accurately steer the distal section of the catheter in multiple planes or complex curves to position and maintain ablation and/or mapping electrodes in intimate contact with an interior body surface.

Abstract: A medical system for limiting the re-use of a medical probe, such as, e.g., a catheter or a surgical probe, is provided. The medical system includes a medical probe that includes an electronic storage component for storing a probe identification code. The medical probe further includes a disabling circuit, the activation of which disables the electronic storage component. The medical system further includes a control unit, such as, e.g., an RF generator, for connection to the medical probe. The control unit includes control circuit that is configured for automatically reading the probe identification code from the electronic storage component and preventing the medical probe from being operated if the probe identification code is not approved. If the medical probe has been previously used, the control circuit prevents operation of the medical probe and activates the disabling circuitry to disable the electronic storage component in the medical probe.

Abstract: Surgical methods and apparatus for positioning diagnostic an therapeutic elements on the epicardium or other organ surface. The apparatus include a relatively short shaft and a tissue cooling apparatus.

Abstract: A system records use of a structure deployed in operative association with heart tissue in a patient. An image controller generates an image of the structure while in use in the patient. An input receives data including information identifying the patient. An output processes the image in association with the data as a patient-specific, data base record for storage, retrieval, or manipulation.

Abstract: Electrode assemblies and associated systems employ a nonporous wall having an exterior for contacting tissue. The exterior peripherally surrounds an interior area. The wall is essentially free of electrically conductive material. The wall is adapted to assume an expanded geometry having a first maximum diameter and a collapsed geometry having a second maximum diameter less than the first maximum diameter. The assemblies and systems include a lumen that conveys a medium containing ions into the interior area. An element free of physical contact with the wall couples the medium within the interior area to a source of electrical energy to enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the source through the medium to the wall for capacitive coupling to tissue contacting the exterior of the wall.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods form larger and deeper lesion patterns by shaping a support body with multiple electrodes in ways that increase the density of the electrodes per given tissue area. The support body can carry either elongated, continuous electrodes or arrays of non-contiguous, segmented electrodes.

Abstract: A system for performing an invasive diagnostic or therapeutic medical procedure includes a first probe having a distal portion carrying a plurality of functional elements and a second probe having a distal portion carrying a functional element and a location sensor. The system includes a proximity processing subsystem in communication with the functional elements carried by each of the first and second probes and configured to determine a proximity of the functional element carried by the second probe relative to a first functional element carried by the first probe. The systems further includes a location processing subsystem configured to determine an absolute position and orientation of the location sensor carried by the second probe with respect to a three-dimensional reference coordinate system that can be internal or external to the three-dimensional space in which the first and second probes are positioned.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods place a temperature sensing element in an “edge region” between an energy transmitting electrode and a non-electrically conducting support body, where higher temperatures are likely to exist. Reliable temperature sensing, which is sensitive to variations in temperatures along the electrode, results.

Abstract: An interface is associated with a structure which, in use, is deployed in an interior body region of a patient. The structure includes an operative element coupled to a controller, which establishes an operating condition for the operative element to perform a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure in the interior body region. The interface generates a first display comprising an image of the structure at least partially while the operative element performs the procedure. The interface also generates a second display comprising one or more data fields reflecting the operating condition of the controller. The interface enables selection of the first display or the second display for viewing on a display screen.

Abstract: A coil electrode for use in an electrophysiology probe includes a first material having a relatively high radiopacity and a second material having a relatively high resiliency. This combination provides the necessary levels of durability, resiliency and radiopacity. An electrophysiological probe includes a support structure, at least one first electrode defining a first radiopacity supported on the support structure and at least one second electrode defining a second radiopacity supported on the support structure, the second radiopacity being greater than the first radiopacity. When viewed under a fluoroscope, the pattern of electrodes of varying radiopacities allows the physician to distinguish between individual electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods heat or ablate body tissue by positioning an electrode to transmit heat or ablation energy to a tissue region. The systems and methods measure a first temperature using a temperature sensing element associated with the electrode. The systems and methods also measure a second temperature using a temperature sensing element associated with the electrode. The systems and methods process at least one of the first and second temperatures to derive a prediction of maximum temperature of the tissue region. The systems and methods generate an output that controls the transmission of the heating or ablation energy based, at least in part, upon the maximum tissue temperature prediction.

Abstract: An electrode assembly adapted to transmit electrical energy for ablating body tissue includes an expandable and collapsible non-compliant body made of a durable material and defining an interior adapted to receive a medium containing ions. The body includes a porous region, an electrode adapted to transmit electrical energy located in the interior of the body, a microporous membrane located on the porous region of the non-compliant body, and the microporous membrane is sized to pass ions contained in the medium without substantial medium perfusion therethrough, to thereby enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the ion-containing medium to the exterior of the electrode assembly to ablate body tissue.

Abstract: A probe that may be used to create circumferential lesions in body tissue and, in some implementations, may also be used to perform mapping functions. The probe includes a collapsible/expandable structure that supports electrodes or other operative elements against the body tissue.

Abstract: A catheter tube carries an imaging element for visualizing tissue. The catheter tube also carries a support structure, which extends beyond the imaging element for contacting surrounding tissue away from the imaging elements, the imaging element being movable with the support structure. The support element stabilizes the imaging element, while the imaging element visualizes tissue in the interior body region. The support structure also carries a diagnostic or therapeutic component to contact surrounding tissue.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locating an operative element within an interior body space use a locating probe, which includes at least one transmitting element to transmit an electric waveform output within at least a portion of the space. The systems and methods also use a sensing element, which is adapted to be carried by the operative element to sense a local electric waveform within the space. A processing element coupled to the sensing element generates a processed output that locates the sensing element relative to the locating probe based, at least in part, upon a differential comparison of the waveform output and the sensed local waveform.

Abstract: An interface is associated with a structure which, in use, is deployed in an interior body region of a patient. The structure includes an operative element coupled to a controller, which establishes an operating condition for the operative element to perform a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure in the interior body region. The interface generates a first display comprising an image of the structure at least partially while the operative element performs the procedure. The interface also generates a second display comprising one or more data fields reflecting the operating condition of the controller. The interface enables selection of the first display or the second display for viewing on a display screen.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods form larger and deeper lesion patterns by shaping a support body with multiple electrodes in ways that increase the density of the electrodes per given tissue area. The support body can carry either elongated, continuous electrodes or arrays of non-contiguous, segmented electrodes.