Abstract: A medical device for tissue 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. 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 aligned with two or more electrodes.

Abstract: Audio data processing method and an audio data processing system are described. The audio data processing system includes an audio collect module, a processing module, a virtual play module, a virtual collect module, and a buffer memory. The virtual play module and the virtual collect module are registered in an application interface layer of a third-part software. The third-part software chooses the virtual play module and the virtual collect module. The virtual play module is configured for receiving audio data processed by the processing module and storing the processed audio data in the buffer memory. The virtual collect module is configured for collecting the processed audio data from the buffer memory and transmitting the processed audio data to the third-part software. The invention provides a universal solution suitable for any chatting tool by installing the virtual speaker and the virtual microphone.

Abstract: An example of a system comprises a patch of electrodes for placement on tissue containing neural tissue, and a tissue tester configured to measure an electrical characteristic of tissue. The tissue tester may include a test controller and switches. The test controller and the switches may be configured to connect different combinations of the electrodes to create subsets of two or more electrodes to measure the electrical characteristic of tissue using the subsets. The test controller may be configured to measure an electrical characteristic of tissue using the subsets within the set of electrodes placed on the tissue, and compare measurements of the electrical characteristic and identify a neural target for a therapy based on the comparison of the measurements of the electrical characteristic for tissue at the neural target relative to adjacent non-neural tissue.

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: 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: An electrode catheter and a method for assessing electrode-tissue contact and coupling are disclosed. An exemplary electrode catheter comprises an electrode adapted to apply electrical energy. A measurement circuit is adapted to measure impedance between the electrode and ground as the electrode approaches a target tissue. A processor determines a contact and coupling condition for the target tissue based at least in part on reactance of the impedance measured by the measurement circuit. In another exemplary embodiment, the electrode catheter determines the contact and coupling condition based at least in part on a phase angle of the impedance.

Abstract: A balloon for renal nerve modulation is disclosed. The balloon may include a polymer material forming a balloon wall having an outer surface and flexible circuits comprising a base selectively adhered to the exterior surface of the balloon wall. Adhesive is selectively applied to the outer surface of the balloon, to the flexible circuit or to both such that the adhesive is selectively deposited on the at least a portion of the at least two pads or on the at least a portion of the at least two pads and to a portion of the distal spline. The portion of the at least two pads or the portion of the at least two pads and a portion of the distal spline are adhered to the outer surface of the balloon and a remainder of the flexible circuit moves freely with respect to the outer surface of the balloon.

Abstract: Provided is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog shown as the following formula, wherein X is selected from glycine and glycinamide. The GLP-1 analog has a non-proteogenic amino acid residue in position 8 relative to the sequence GLP-1, and is acylated with a moiety comprising two acidic groups to the lysine residue in position 26. The GLP-1 analog is resistant to dipeptidyl peptidase IV so as to have an extended half-life in vivo. Also provided is a use of the GLP-1 analog in conquering blood sugar.

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: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a catheter shaft. An expandable balloon may be coupled to the catheter shaft. The balloon may be capable of shifting between a folded configuration and an expanded configuration. A support structure may be coupled to the balloon. The support structure may be capable of shifting the balloon toward the folded configuration. A plurality of elongate flexible electrode assemblies may be disposed on the balloon. The elongate flexible electrode assemblies may be oriented at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the balloon.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to medical devices and methods for making and using the medical devices. An exemplary medical device includes a catheter having an elongated shaft and an inflatable balloon mounted at or on a distal portion of the elongated shaft. The catheter further includes a first electrically conductive blade, and a second electrically conductive blade. Each blade may be configured to contact tissue upon inflation of the balloon. The blades may contact the tissue with reduced or minimal incising of the tissue, or even without incising the tissue, within a body lumen. Thermal energy may be applied to the tissue upon electrical energy being applied to the respective blades.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example medical device may include a medical device for renal nerve ablation. The medical device may include an elongate shaft having a distal region. An expandable member may be coupled to the distal region. A plurality of electrodes may be coupled to the expandable member and a single conductive member may be coupled to each electrode. Where one of the plurality of electrodes is active, the remaining electrodes may be inactive and act as ground or return electrodes. The electrode of the plurality of electrodes that is active may change over time.

Abstract: An electrode coupling output system provides indication to the physician, via electrode guidance instrumentation, concerning the electrical coupling of an electrode, such as an ablative or mapping electrode, with a patient. The output can be provided to the physician via an output device incorporated into the handle set of the electrode catheter. For example, a visual, audio or mechanical output can be provided via the handle set. Additionally or alternatively, the output can be provided to the physician via a navigation system. The indication may be provided by changing the color or other display characteristics of the electrode on the navigation system display or by way of providing a waveform indicating the electrode coupling. In this manner, electrode coupling information is provided to a physician in a manner that minimizes physician distraction.

Abstract: The polymorphic forms of the compound of Formula I, the preparation thereof including the preparation of the intermediates, the pharmaceutical compositions thereof and the uses of a polymorph above in the manufacture of medicaments for treating a disease, a disorder or a condition are disclosed.

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: 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: A deflective medical device including a catheter shaft having a distal end, and an ablation electrode disposed at the distal end of the catheter shaft. A deflection body is provided within the catheter shaft, and the deflection body includes a longitudinally extending spine. Multiple slots are formed in the deflection body, and the slots define a group of ribs. A flex member is disposed distal to the deflection body, and an intermediate region is defined between the deflection body and the flex member. A deflection mechanism is coupled to the intermediate region, which includes a retaining member, a collar, and a pull wire coupled to the collar.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a medical device for modulating nerves. The medical device may include an elongate shaft having a distal region. Two or more electrodes may be positioned adjacent to the distal end region of the elongate shaft. A control unit may supply power and control algorithms to the electrodes. The control algorithm may allow the electrodes to be operated simultaneously and individually.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ablation catheter which controls the temperature and reduces the coagulation of biological fluids on an electrode of a catheter, prevents the impedance rise of tissue in contact with the electrode, and maximizes the potential energy transfer to the tissue, thereby allowing an increase in the lesion size produced by the ablation. The electrode includes passages positioned to allow saline flow out of an inner cavity of the electrode. This fluid flow is pulsatile to increase turbulence, reducing areas of stagnant flow, and produces a desired cooling effect.