Abstract: Systems and methods for noncontact ablation of tissues or materials in/on the body using an ablation catheter that has a directional ablation unit. The ablation unit has a set of individual transducer (e.g., ultrasound) elements that are movably positioned. A position adjustment element (a deformer) is movable with respect to the ultrasonic transducer to alter the positions of the individual transducer elements and thereby alter the directions in which the transducer elements emit ultrasonic energy. In one embodiment, the ablation catheter is a lumen catheter through which a positioning/measurement catheter can be inserted. The luminal ablation catheter is inserted through the skin and into the body via conventional methods. The ablation and positioning catheters can be used to make electrical measurements with respect to the surrounding tissue, and the ablation catheter can be used to emit energy in a desired direction and/or pattern to ablate target tissue.

Abstract: Systems and methods for noncontact ablation of tissues or materials in/on the body using a luminal catheter and a catheter inserted into the lumen. In one embodiment, the luminal catheter is an ablation catheter and the other catheter is a recording/measurement/positioning catheter. The luminal catheter incorporates a noncontact ablation element such as an ultrasonic transducer. The luminal catheter can be inserted through the skin and into the body (e.g., into the heart) and the recording/measurement/positioning catheter can be inserted into the lumen so that the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters are simultaneously positioned to record/measure the electrical activity of the target tissue and ablate the target tissue without causing the trauma that results from the introduction of additional catheters. Either of the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters can be steerable, and either may incorporate recording/measurement electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for noncontact ablation of tissues or materials in/on the body using a luminal catheter and a catheter inserted into the lumen. In one embodiment, the luminal catheter is an ablation catheter and the other catheter is a recording/measurement/positioning catheter. The luminal catheter incorporates a noncontact ablation element such as an ultrasonic transducer. The luminal catheter can be inserted through the skin and into the body (e.g., into the heart) and the recording/measurement/positioning catheter can be inserted into the lumen so that the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters are simultaneously positioned to record/measure the electrical activity of the target tissue and ablate the target tissue without causing the trauma that results from the introduction of additional catheters. Either of the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters can be steerable, and either may incorporate recording/measurement electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for noncontact ablation of tissues or materials in/on the body using a luminal catheter and a catheter inserted into the lumen. In one embodiment, the luminal catheter is an ablation catheter and the other catheter is a recording/measurement/positioning catheter. The luminal catheter incorporates a noncontact ablation element such as an ultrasonic transducer. The luminal catheter can be inserted through the skin and into the body (e.g., into the heart) and the recording/measurement/positioning catheter can be inserted into the lumen so that the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters are simultaneously positioned to record/measure the electrical activity of the target tissue and ablate the target tissue without causing the trauma that results from the introduction of additional catheters. Either of the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters can be steerable, and either may incorporate recording/measurement electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for noncontact ablation of tissues or materials in/on the body using a luminal catheter and a catheter inserted into the lumen. In one embodiment, the luminal catheter is an ablation catheter and the other catheter is a recording/measurement/positioning catheter. The luminal catheter incorporates a noncontact ablation element such as an ultrasonic transducer. The luminal catheter can be inserted through the skin and into the body (e.g., into the heart) and the recording/measurement/positioning catheter can be inserted into the lumen so that the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters are simultaneously positioned to record/measure the electrical activity of the target tissue and ablate the target tissue without causing the trauma that results from the introduction of additional catheters. Either of the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters can be steerable, and either may incorporate recording/measurement electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for noncontact ablation of tissues or materials in/on the body using a luminal catheter and a catheter inserted into the lumen. In one embodiment, the luminal catheter is an ablation catheter and the other catheter is a recording/measurement/positioning catheter. The luminal catheter incorporates a noncontact ablation element such as an ultrasonic transducer. The luminal catheter can be inserted through the skin and into the body (e.g., into the heart) and the recording/measurement/positioning catheter can be inserted into the lumen so that the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters are simultaneously positioned to record/measure the electrical activity of the target tissue and ablate the target tissue without causing the trauma that results from the introduction of additional catheters. Either of the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters can be steerable, and either may incorporate recording/measurement electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for steering catheters to facilitate advancing the catheters through the body, wherein the catheters employ multiple steering stages, each of which can move in multiple planes. The steering stages are independently controlled to enable them to form complex shapes. In one embodiment, the steerable catheter includes an elongated catheter body with the steering stages incorporated into the distal end of the catheter. The steering stages may incorporate multiple memory wires and corresponding heating elements that control the temperatures of the memory wires and consequently control the shapes of the wires and the steering stages in which they are embedded. The catheter may be any type of catheter (e.g., a lumen catheter) and may include features that enable the catheter to perform functions such as delivering therapies (e.g., ablation) to target tissues within the body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for steering catheters to facilitate advancing the catheters through the body, wherein the catheters employ multiple steering stages, each of which can move in multiple planes. The steering stages are independently controlled to enable them to form complex shapes. In one embodiment, the steerable catheter includes an elongated catheter body with the steering stages incorporated into the distal end of the catheter. The steering stages may incorporate multiple memory wires and corresponding heating elements that control the temperatures of the memory wires and consequently control the shapes of the wires and the steering stages in which they are embedded. The catheter may be any type of catheter (e.g., a lumen catheter) and may include features that enable the catheter to perform functions such as delivering therapies (e.g., ablation) to target tissues within the body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for steering catheters to facilitate advancing the catheters through the body, wherein the catheters employ multiple steering stages, each of which can move in multiple planes. The steering stages are independently controlled to enable them to form complex shapes. In one embodiment, the steerable catheter includes an elongated catheter body with the steering stages incorporated into the distal end of the catheter. The steering stages may incorporate multiple memory wires and corresponding heating elements that control the temperatures of the memory wires and consequently control the shapes of the wires and the steering stages in which they are embedded. The catheter may be any type of catheter (e.g., a lumen catheter) and may include features that enable the catheter to perform functions such as delivering therapies (e.g., ablation) to target tissues within the body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for noncontact ablation of tissues or materials in/on the body using a luminal catheter and a catheter inserted into the lumen. In one embodiment, the luminal catheter is an ablation catheter and the other catheter is a recording/measurement/positioning catheter. The luminal catheter incorporates a noncontact ablation element such as an ultrasonic transducer. The luminal catheter can be inserted through the skin and into the body (e.g., into the heart) and the recording/measurement/positioning catheter can be inserted into the lumen so that the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters are simultaneously positioned to record/measure the electrical activity of the target tissue and ablate the target tissue without causing the trauma that results from the introduction of additional catheters. Either of the ablation and recording/measurement/positioning catheters can be steerable, and either may incorporate recording/measurement electrodes.