Abstract: Tissue stabilization and ablation devices and methods provide techniques for stabilizing and ablating body tissues during surgical ablation procedures. In many embodiments, for example, devices may be used in minimally invasive techniques for ablating epicardial tissue adjacent one or more pulmonary veins to treat atrial fibrillation. Tissue stabilization and ablation devices generally include a rigidifying bladder coupled with an ablation member. The devices may additionally include a tissue stabilizing bladder or means within the rigidifying bladder for enhancing tissue stabilization. The rigidifying bladder conforms to a tissue surface and then stiffens to help the device hold its shape and position and to stabilize the tissue. The ablation member is then used to ablate an area of tissue. Such cardiac stabilization and ablation devices and methods may be used to ablate one or more patterns on the epicardial surface of a heart to treat atrial fibrillation and/or other cardiac arrhythmias.

Abstract: Tissue stabilization and ablation devices and methods provide techniques for stabilizing and ablating body tissues during surgical ablation procedures. In many embodiments, for example, devices may be used in minimally invasive techniques for ablating epicardial tissue adjacent one or more pulmonary veins to treat atrial fibrillation. Tissue stabilization and ablation devices generally include a rigidifying bladder coupled with an ablation member. The devices may additionally include a tissue stabilizing bladder or means within the rigidifying bladder for enhancing tissue stabilization. The rigidifying bladder conforms to a tissue surface and then stiffens to help the device hold its shape and position and to stabilize the tissue. The ablation member is then used to ablate an area of tissue. Such cardiac stabilization and ablation devices and methods may be used to ablate one or more patterns on the epicardial surface of a heart to treat atrial fibrillation and/or other cardiac arrhythmias.

Abstract: Tissue stabilization and ablation devices and methods provide techniques for stabilizing and ablating body tissues during surgical ablation procedures. In many embodiments, for example, devices may be used in minimally invasive techniques for ablating epicardial tissue adjacent one or more pulmonary veins to treat atrial fibrillation. Tissue stabilization and ablation devices generally include a rigidifying bladder coupled with an ablation member. The devices may additionally include a tissue stabilizing bladder or means within the rigidifying bladder for enhancing tissue stabilization. The rigidifying bladder conforms to a tissue surface and then stiffens to help the device hold its shape and position and to stabilize the tissue. The ablation member is then used to ablate an area of tissue. Such cardiac stabilization and ablation devices and methods may be used to ablate one or more patterns on the epicardial surface of a heart to treat atrial fibrillation and/or other cardiac arrhythmias.

Abstract: A device permits effective engagement of micro-needles with a cutaneous layer thereby to permit for a substance to pass effectively to the cutaneous layer. A flexible or non-flexible material supports an array of micro-needles for receiving the surface of the cutaneous layer so that the proximal ends of the micro-needles pierce to effect a passage of a substance with the micro-needles to the cutaneous layer. A passageway or bladder acts on the substrate to cause the proximal ends of the micro-needles to pass to the cutaneous layer for passage of a substance associated with the micro-needles to the cutaneous layer. The bladder includes apertures located about and spaced from the micro-needles such that suction transmitted though the apertures. The micro-needles are mounted with a movable first substrate. In one form, the first substrate includes a surface with concavities and the micro-needles are mounted in the concavities, and the apertures are located in the concavities.

Abstract: A device permits effective engagement of micro-needles with a cutaneous layer thereby to permit for a substance to pass effectively to the cutaneous layer. A flexible or non-flexible material supports an array of micro-needles for receiving the surface of the cutaneous layer so that the proximal ends of the micro-needles pierce to effect a passage of a substance with the micro-needles to the cutaneous layer. A passageway or bladder acts on the substrate to cause the proximal ends of the micro-needles to pass to the cutaneous layer for passage of a substance associated with the micro-needles to the cutaneous layer. The bladder includes apertures located about and spaced from the micro-needles such that suction transmitted though the apertures. The micro-needles are mounted with a movable first substrate. In one form, the first substrate includes a surface with concavities and the micro-needles are mounted in the concavities, and the apertures are located in the concavities.

Abstract: A device permits effective engagement of micro-needles with a cutaneous layer thereby to permit for a substance to pass effectively to the cutaneous layer. A flexible or non-flexible material supports an array of micro-needles for receiving the surface of the cutaneous layer so that the proximal ends of the micro-needles pierce to effect a passage of a substance with the micro-needles to the cutaneous layer. A passageway or bladder acts on the substrate to cause the proximal ends of the micro-needles to pass to the cutaneous layer for passage of a substance associated with the micro-needles to the cutaneous layer. The bladder includes apertures located about and spaced from the micro-needles such that suction transmitted though the apertures. The micro-needles are mounted with a movable first substrate. In one form, the first substrate includes a surface with concavities and the micro-needles are mounted in the concavities, and the apertures are located in the concavities.

Abstract: The delivery of a fluid cutaneously is effected by generating a suction force on a surface of a housing. A surface of a cutaneous layer is received under the suction force about which the proximal end of a needle thereby to pierce the cutaneous surface and to effect an injection of fluid. There is generated a suction force to operate the movement of a needle in the housing. The needle is moved under the suction force from the housing thereby to permit piercing a cutaneous layer. The bladder for containing fluid is emptied under the suction into the distal end of the needle and thereby permit the expulsion of fluid through the proximal end of the needle for injection below the cutaneous layer.

Abstract: A tissue stabilizer includes a pneumatic rigidifying bladder which is flexible when at ambient pressure and rigid when at negative pressure or evacuated. Structure such as straps with hook-and-eye fasteners attaches the rigidifying bladder to tissue to be stabilized, such as a broken arm. When positioned on the tissue, the bladder is evacuated, thereby rigidifying the bladder and supporting the tissue. The tissue stabilizer may be configured for use in surgical procedures, such as performing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) on a warm, beating heart. In a cardiac embodiment, the tissue stabilizer includes an attaching bladder with a plurality of openings. When suction is applied at a port of the attaching bladder, suction is applied at the openings, which is utilized to attach the stabilizer to the epicardium of the heart. Once in position on the heart, suction may be applied at a port of the rigidifying bladder. When rigid, the heart may be moved as desired to perform CABG procedures.