Abstract: An electrophysiology system for mapping and/or ablating tissue includes a catheter having a plurality of electrically active sites. The system includes a controller providing a user interface through which the plurality of sites may be controlled. The sites may be accessed individually or in groups. In addition, the order and timing of the accessing of specific electrically active sites may be controlled in a manual or automated fashion.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses apparatus and methods for mapping electrical activity within the heart. The present invention also encompasses methods and apparatus for creating lesions in the heart tissue (ablating) to create a region of necrotic tissue which serves to disable the propagation of errant electrical impulses caused by an arrhythmia.

Abstract: Extendable and expandable ablation electrodes are disclosed. Electrophysiology catheter systems include ablation electrodes that maintain a reduced cross-sectional profile during introduction into a patient and are extendable and/or expandable once positioned at a lesion site. The expanded electrodes having a larger length or and/or diameter can help to produce large lesions. Controllability of the dimensions of the ablation electrodes may be improved.

Abstract: Catheters for mapping and/or ablation are disclosed. In one embodiment, the catheter comprises a handle, a flexible shaft, a tip assembly, and a cable. The handle includes an actuator and is attached, at its distal end, to the proximal end of the flexible shaft. The flexible shaft has a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of the shaft. The proximal end of the tip assembly is attached to the distal end of the shaft and includes a fixed bend of approximatley ninety degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The distal end of the tip assembly includes an arcuate curve having a diameter. The arcuate curve is oriented in a plane that is approximatley perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The cable is attached to the actuator and the distal end of the tip assembly, and extends through the shaft. The cable is adapted to change the diameter of the arcuate curve in response to movement of the actuator.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter and method of use for mapping and ablation procedures. The catheter includes a braided conductive member at its distal end that can be radially expanded.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for displaying closely proximate cardiac signals is provided and can include the steps of: (a) identifying one or more overlapping portions of a template signal and a data signal; (b) processing the overlapping portion so as to have a first color when displayed on a display; (c) processing the non-overlapping portion of the template signal to have a second color; (d) processing the non-overlapping portion of the data signal to have a third color; and (e) displaying the processed signals.

Abstract: A packet processing integrated circuit chip includes a plurality of input ports configured to receive packets from respective external sources and a plurality of output ports configured to transmit packets to respective external recipients. The chip further includes a packet processor configured to process the received packets to generate new packets with new payloads according to selected ones of a plurality of packet processing scenarios based on destination addresses in the received packets. The plurality of packet processing scenarios may include individual packet processing scenarios and group packet processing scenarios that invoke parallel processing of a packet by selected ones of the individual packet processing scenarios. The chip may further include a packet switching fabric configured to route selected packets from the input ports to selected ones of the output ports without payload modification.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter including control, localization, and/or fluid delivery features, and methods of using the same. One embodiment of the invention is directed to an electrophysiology catheter including a superelastic wire and a cable, and a method of controlling the catheter using the cable. Another embodiment is directed to an electrophysiology catheter including an adhesive to bias the orientation of the catheter. A further embodiment is directed to an electrophysiology catheter including adhesive and one or more cables, and a method of controlling the catheter using the one or more cables. Another embodiment is directed to a method including acts of injecting a fluid into the heart of a patient and adjusting the diameter of an arcuate curve of the catheter. Further embodiments are directed to a catheter having multiple position sensors on an arcuate curve of the catheter, or a position sensor associated with a movable electrode of the catheter.

Abstract: Systems and methods to assist in locating the focus of an atrial fibrillation include the association of atrial fibrillation cycle length values and statistics relating thereto with temporal locations on an electrogram of a given electrode, and/or the coordination of electrode locations with respective the spectral analyses of electrogram signals and further parameters and statistics relating thereto. Ablation therapy can proceed under guidance of such information.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods and associated systems are disclosed for processing electrical signals recorded from the heart and, more particularly, for objectively deriving sub-components and comparing signals and their sub-components.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating conductive irregularities in the heart, particularly atrial fibrillation and accessory path arrythmias. An ablative catheter is positioned relative to an inter-atria electrical pathway, or a vicinity of accessory paths such as the coronary sinus or fossa ovalis, and actuated to form a lesion that partially or completely blocks electrical conduction in at least one direction along the pathway.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses apparatus and methods for mapping electrical activity within the heart. The present invention also encompasses methods and apparatus for creating lesions in the heart tissue (ablating) to create a region of necrotic tissue which serves to disable the propagation of errant electrical impulses caused by an arrhythmia.

Abstract: An electrophysiology catheter and method of use for mapping and ablation procedures. The catheter includes a braided conductive member at its distal end that can be radially expanded.

Abstract: Catheter for mapping and/or ablation, and methods of using the same. According to one embodiment, catheter includes a metallic cap having a plurality of apertures and at least one electrode disposed in each aperture of the plurality of apertures. According to another embodiment, the catheter includes a non-conductive cap having a plurality of apertures and at least one electrode disposed in each aperture of the plurality of apertures. Electrodes may be paired, arranged along the length of the cap, or circumferentially arranged on the cap, according to various embodiments. According to a further embodiment, a method for treating a condition of a heart includes placing a catheter inside the heart, mapping a region of the heart using mapping electrodes on the catheter, and ablating using an ablation electrode disposed about the mapping electrodes of the catheter.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods and associated systems are disclosed for processing electrical signals recorded from the heart and, more particularly, for objectively deriving sub-components and comparing signals and their sub-components.