Abstract: A catheter system to record and map electrical signals by cardiac tissues before, during, and/or after the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in a group of patients. The system can include an elongated body; a distal electrode assembly comprising a proximal stem, a plurality of spines emanating from the stem; and a plurality of nonconductive spine covers, each surrounding a respective spine. Each spine can cover one or more tensile members of the respective spine cover. The system can be configured to achieve clinically improved performance and safety of catheter configurations as to accessibility into target areas of a beating heart.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a shaft and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft. The end effector has a distal end and a proximal end with a longitudinal intermediate point between the distal and proximal ends. The end effector is sized to fit in an anatomical passageway within a cardiovascular system. The end effector includes at least one sensor electrode and a reference electrode. The at least one sensor electrode is configured to contact cardiovascular tissue and thereby pick up potentials. The reference electrode is configured to pick up a potential from fluid in contact with the reference electrode. The reference electrode is located proximal to the longitudinal intermediate point of the end effector. The end effector is configured to prevent the reference electrode from contacting tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter, a sensor, a first pair of wire segments, an artifact reduction feature, and a correction module. The sensor is positioned at a distal end of the catheter and is configured to generate a sensor signal. The first pair of wire segments is coupled with the sensor and extends along the length of the catheter. The artifact reduction feature is positioned proximate to the sensor and includes a second pair of wire segments. The correction module is configured to subtract motion-induced artifacts from signals received from the first pair of wire segments, based on motion-induced artifacts from signals received from the second pair of wire segments, to thereby provide a corrected sensor signal.

Abstract: A tool to insert an archwire into an archwire slot of an orthodontic bracket including a handle and a plunger mechanism. A plunger is movable relative to the handle along an operational axis from a retracted to an extended position. An alignment member holds the archwire in the slot. The alignment member includes a pair of tines, each tine including a forked end. The forked end is an open-ended cutout with flats. The plunger includes a tip portion that engages a portion of the orthodontic bracket when the plunger is moved toward the extended position. The plunger mechanism includes a return spring to bias the plunger toward the retracted position. A method of inserting an archwire into an archwire slot using a tool including forcing the archwire into the slot with the tool and moving a movable member with the tool to capture the archwire in the slot.