Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for irrigated bipolar radiofrequency ablation. The system includes an ablation probe that includes an elongate inner electrode assembly and an elongate outer electrode assembly. An irrigation path for irrigation fluid flow is defined between the outer surface of the inner electrode assembly and the outer surface of the outer electrode assembly. The irrigation path enables cooling fluid to be circulated within the probe body, cooling the outer electrode during ablation.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to mixtures of LaFeSiH magnetic nanoparticles having different Curie temperatures useful for improved inductive hyperthermia efficiency, injectable formulations containing the nanoparticles, and methods of raising the temperature of selected cells using the nanoparticles.

Abstract: One general aspect includes a system for ablation including a catheter including a sheath defining a sheath lumen and a distal end, and an elongate electrode assembly axially moveable within the sheath lumen. The electrode assembly includes a shaft defining a central channel and a distal central channel opening. The electrode assembly also includes an expandable electrode array including two or more electrode elements positioned at the distal portion of the electrode assembly, where the electrode array is moveable between a retracted position contained within the sheath lumen and an expanded position protruding from the sheath.

Abstract: A system for ablation is described herein including an inner electrode assembly with an inner elongate shaft and a distal electrode, an outer electrode assembly having an outer elongate shaft and a proximal electrode, wherein the outer electrode assembly defines a central passage configured to slidably receive the inner electrode assembly, wherein the distal electrode or the proximal electrode is axially moveable with respect to the other, and an energy source configured to be electrically connected to the distal electrode and the proximal electrode and configured to deliver a pulsed electric field (PEF). One of the distal electrode and proximal electrode is part of a first expandable electrode array comprising two or more electrode elements moveable between an unexpanded position and an expanded position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are ablation systems and methods for providing feedback on lesion formation in real-time. The methods and systems assess absorptivity of tissue based on a degree of electric coupling or contact between an ablation electrode and the tissue. The absorptivity can then be used, along with other information, including, power levels and activation times, to provide real-time feedback on the lesions being created. Feedback may be provided, for example, in the form of estimated lesion volumes and other lesion characteristics. The methods and systems can provide estimated treatment times to achieve a desired lesion characteristic for a given degree of contact, as well as depth of a lesion being created. The degree of contact may be measured using different techniques, including the phase angle techniques and a coupling index.

Abstract: A system and method for denervation where a catheter includes a radially expandable member, the radially expandable member including an exterior surface, a plurality of electrodes on the exterior surface configured for delivery of energy during a denervation procedure in a vessel, and a chemical agent coating on the exterior surface, wherein the chemical agent inhibits or prevents nerve regeneration. The radially expandable member is configured to have a first unexpanded configuration and a second expanded configuration, and is configured to bring the exterior surface in contact with a wall of a vessel when it is in the expanded configuration.

Abstract: A microwave ablation system and method include an elongate microwave ablation probe. The probe has a radiating portion for performing microwave ablation. The probe includes a first electrode and a second electrode located along the probe body. A radiofrequency energy source is connected to the first and second electrodes. An impedance of tissue is measured using the first and second electrodes. The impedance is used to detect a change in tissue due to microwave ablation of the tissue. Therapy parameters for the microwave ablation procedure can be adjusted in response to the measured impedance. In some examples, one of the electrodes is proximal and one electrode is distal to the radiating portion.

Abstract: A compensation circuit has a predetermined, known complex impedance and is located in a handle of a catheter or in a distal end of a cable that connects to the catheter. The compensation circuit is probed with a pilot signal produced by a compensation control. The compensation control measures the complex impedance, which is the combination of the circuit's known impedance as well as that of the cable and then determines the difference between the measured and the known complex impedances which represents that which is attributable to the cable, and is used to cancel out such cable-related contributions to complex impedance in other electrical connections in the same cable. In another aspect, an unknown tissue is identified as one of a plurality of possible tissue types such as regular myocardium, scar and fat based on the measured phase angle of the complex impedance of the unknown tissue.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for irrigated bipolar radiofrequency ablation. Some examples of the system include an elongate inner electrode assembly and an elongate outer electrode assembly. An irrigation path for irrigation fluid flow is defined between the outer surface of the inner electrode assembly and the outer surface of the outer electrode assembly.

Abstract: An occlusive implant includes an expandable framework that is configured to shift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. An occlusive member is disposed along at least a portion of the expandable framework. At least part of the occlusive implant is configured to repel fibrinogen. In some cases, the occlusive implant may be configured for placement within a left atrial appendage (LAA) of a patient's heart.

Abstract: An introducer set for a microwave ablation probe is disclosed. The introducer set includes a cannula that is at least partially transparent to microwave energy, and a stylet sized to be received by the lumen of the cannula. Other examples provide a microwave ablation system including a microwave ablation probe having a radiating portion and a cannula that is at least partially transparent to microwave energy. The radiating portion of the probe aligns with the transparent portion of the cannula when the probe is inserted into the cannula lumen. The technology provides a method including introducing a microwave ablation probe into the lumen of a cannula having a cannula body that is at least partially transparent to microwave energy, aligning the transparent portion of the cannula with the radiating portion of the probe, and causing microwave energy to be emitted from the radiating portion of the probe.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for regulating glucose levels, including treating diabetes, in accordance with the present disclosure may include a catheter having an expandable or inflatable portion, one or more electrodes disposed on the expandable or inflatable portion of the catheter, wherein the electrodes are configured to deliver energy to a patient's gastrointestinal tract, and a drug delivery mechanism for delivering a drug therapy subsequent to energy delivery by the electrodes. A method for regulating glucose levels according to the present disclosure may include inserting a catheter into a patient's gastrointestinal tract, positioning the catheter in a duodenum of the patient's gastrointestinal tract, expanding or inflating a portion of the catheter in the duodenum, the expandable or inflatable portion of the catheter including electrodes, applying energy to the duodenum via the electrodes to ablate tissue of the duodenum, and delivering a drug therapy to the ablated tissue of the duodenum.

Abstract: Novel and versatile apparatuses for delivering one or more of thermal ablation and irreversible electroporation therapies to target tissue. In some examples, a device includes at its distal end a plurality of electrodes that can be advanced or retracted to pierce patient tissue, with a variable position and size shaft electrode provided near the distal end of the device to allow manipulation of therapy fields to achieve various tissue destruction field shapes. A number of method of use examples are described as well.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example medical device may include a medical device for tissue ablation. The medical device may include an elongated shaft having a distal region. An inflatable balloon may be mounted to the distal region. The inflatable balloon may include a body region, a proximal waist, a distal waist, a proximal cone region, and a distal cone region. A skirt may be attached to the inflatable balloon and may extend proximally from the body region. An electrode assembly may be applied directly to an outer surface of the body region of the inflatable balloon. The electrode assembly may include a first conductive member applied directly to the outer surface of the body region of the inflatable balloon and extending proximally therefrom along an outer surface of the skirt.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrodes used in ablation catheter devices, where the electrodes contain two or more thermal sensors at different positions within the electrode that are capable of detecting temperature differences along the external surface of the electrode. In preferred embodiments, the thermal sensors are separated by one or more thermal insulating members and the thermal sensors are positioned near the external surface of the electrode at about the same distance from the end of the electrode, so that temperature measurements can indicate the position of the electrode with respect to the tissue desired to be ablated.

Abstract: Biological cell destruction is achieved through a combination of injection of a substance and application of an electrical field. The substance, such as a cationic polymer, is selected for its electrical characteristics which can add to the transmembrane electric field of a cell when the electrical field is applied. In some examples, electrical field application is performed to encourage spatial concentration of the injected substance favorable to increased transmembrane field strength. The biological cell or cells are destroyed primarily through irreversible electroporation.

Abstract: A medical device for sympathetic nerve ablation may include a catheter shaft, an expandable member disposed on or coupled to the catheter shaft, and a plurality of elongate electrode assemblies each constructed as a flexible circuit having a plurality of layers. The expandable member may be configured to shift between an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration. The plurality of electrode assemblies may be disposed on an outer surface of the expandable member. Each of the plurality of electrode assemblies may include a temperature sensor within the plurality of layers.

Abstract: An ablation device is provided for forming one or more lesions on a wall of an artery, such as a renal artery. The device can include an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. The device may also include a handle disposed at the proximal end, a distal tip including an electrode disposed at the distal end, and one or a plurality of independently expandable splines proximate the distal end.

Abstract: An occlusive medical device system may include a microcatheter, an elongate shaft, an occlusive medical device, wherein a release wire is configured to releasably attach the medical device to the distal end of the shaft at a release mechanism, and an RF generator. In a first electrical state current is not flowing and in a second electrical state current is flowing to the medical device. The shaft is slidable between a first position wherein the medical device is disposed within the microcatheter, a second position wherein at least a portion of the medical device is disposed outside of the microcatheter and the release mechanism is disposed within the microcatheter, and a third position wherein the release mechanism is disposed outside of the microcatheter. The medical device system is configured to be in the second electrical state when the elongate shaft is in the second position.

Abstract: A catheter assembly for assessing contact between the catheter assembly and tissue is disclosed. The assembly includes a catheter shaft and a pressure sensitive conductive composite member whose electrical resistance varies with pressure applied to the catheter assembly. The assembly also includes at least one measurement terminal to permit the measurement of changes in the electrical characteristics of the pressure sensitive conductive composite member. The assembly may optionally include a measurement device to measure resistance, impedance and/or other electrical characteristics. The assembly may utilize a reference electrode secured to the patient's tissue, which permits the measurement device to measure changes between the reference electrode and the at least one measurement terminal. Optionally, the assembly may include a conductive outer layer.