Abstract: This invention is related to a tissue ablation system and method that treats atrial arrhythmia by ablating a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium. The system includes a circumferential ablation member with an ablation element and also includes a delivery assembly for delivering the ablation member to the location. The circumferential ablation member is generally adjustable between different configurations to allow both the delivery through a delivery sheath into the atrium and the ablative coupling between the ablation element and the circumferential region of tissue.

Abstract: A medical device assembly is adapted to isolate the heart from systemic circulation while perfusing oxygenated blood to the systemic arterial circulation during a minimally invasive bypasss procedure. An arterial catheter with an external shunt valve forms a funnel which shunts antegrade aortic blood flow from the aortic root, into a distal flow port and through an internal flow lumen in the catheter, out an intermediate flow port along the catheter proximally of the anchor, and into the systemic arterial circulation. A distal internal valve selectively occludes the shunted antegrade aortic blood flow between the distal flow port and the intermediate flow port and isolates the left heart chambers from the systemic arterial circulation. Oxygenated blood may then flow from a cardiopulmonary bypass pump, distally through the internal flow lumen, out the intermediate port.

Abstract: A medical balloon catheter assembly includes a balloon having a permeable region and a non-permeable region. The balloon is constructed at least in part from a fluid permeable tube such that the permeable region is formed from a porous material which allows a volume of pressurized fluid to pass from within a chamber formed by the balloon and into the permeable region sufficiently such that the fluid may be ablatively coupled to tissue engaged by the permeable region. The non-permeable region is adapted to substantially block the pressurized fluid from passing from within the chamber and outwardly from the balloon. The porous material may be a porous fluoropolymer, such as porous polytetrafluoroethylene, and the pores may be created by voids that are inherently formed between an interlocking node-fibril network that makes up the fluoropolymer. Such voids may be created according to one mode by expanding the fluoropolymer.

Abstract: This invention is related to a tissue ablation system and method that treats atrial arrhythmia by ablating a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium. The system includes a circumferential ablation member with an ablation element and also includes a delivery assembly for delivering the ablation member to the location. The circumferential ablation member is generally adjustable between different configurations to allow both the delivery through a delivery sheath into the atrium and the ablative coupling between the ablation element and the circumferential region of tissue.

Abstract: This invention is related to a tissue ablation system and method that treats atrial arrhythmia by ablating a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium. The system includes a circumferential ablation member with an ablation element and also includes a delivery assembly for delivering the ablation member to the location. The circumferential ablation member is generally adjustable between different configurations to allow both the delivery through a delivery sheath into the atrium and the ablative coupling between the ablation element and the circumferential region of tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tissue ablation device assembly which is adapted to form a conduction block along a length of tissue between two predetermined locations along the left atrial wall. The assembly comprises an ablation element on an elongated ablation member that is coupled to each of two delivery members, wherein the delivery members are adapted to controllably position and secure the ablation element along the length of tissue between the predetermined locations. A linear lesion in the tissue between the predetermined locations is then formed by actuation of the ablation element. The invention further provides that the ablation member may slideably engage one or two delivery members such that an adjustable length of the ablation element along the ablation member may be extended externally from the engaged delivery member and along a length of tissue.

Abstract: An endolumenal medical device assembly is provided for use in a bifurcation region of a body lumen. An expandable prosthesis, such as a stent, is included in the assembly and is adjustable from a radially collapsed condition to a radially expanded condition. The expandable prosthesis includes a prosthesis passageway and a side port. A dilator or an access device is engaged within the prosthesis passageway and also through the side port while the expandable prosthesis is in the radially collapsed condition. The expandable prosthesis may be positioned in the bifurcation region such that its distal end portion is in a first branch lumen extending from the bifurcation, its proximal end portion is in a common proximal lumen of the bifurcation region, and the side port is aligned with an entrance zone to a second branch lumen extending from the bifurcation.

Abstract: A medical balloon catheter assembly includes a balloon having a permeable region and a non-permeable region. The balloon is constructed at least in part from a fluid permeable tube such that the permeable region is formed from a porous material which allows a volume of pressurized fluid to pass from within a chamber formed by the balloon and into the permeable region sufficiently such that the fluid may be ablatively coupled to tissue engaged by the permeable region. The non-permeable region is adapted to substantially block the pressurized fluid from passing from within the chamber and outwardly from the balloon. The porous material may be a porous fluoropolymer, such as porous polytetrafluoroethylene, and the pores may be created by voids which are inherently formed between an interlocking node-fibril network which makes up the fluoropolymer. Such voids may be created according to one mode by expanding the fluoropolymer.

Abstract: An intraluminal catheter which provides access to distal locations within a patient's body lumen and which is provided with a flexible distal section having an inner lining, an outer jacket or coating and a helical coil between the lining and jacket. The distal section of the catheter is quite flexible yet it has sufficient transverse or radial rigidity to prevent significant distortion of the transverse cross-sectional shape of the catheter.

Abstract: This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator.

Abstract: This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tissue ablation device assembly which is adapted to form a conduction block along a length of tissue between two predetermined locations along the left atrial wall. The assembly comprises an ablation element on an elongated ablation member that is coupled to each of two delivery members, wherein the delivery members are adapted to controllably position and secure the ablation element along the length of tissue between the predetermined locations. A linear lesion in the tissue between the predetermined locations is then formed by actuation of the ablation element. The invention further provides that the ablation member may slideably engage one or two delivery members such that an adjustable length of the ablation element along the ablation member may be extended externally from the engaged delivery member and along a length of tissue.

Abstract: This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator.

Abstract: A medical device system and method allows an arterial bypass graft to be proximally anastomosed to an aorta during a beating heart procedure without substantial loss of blood by use of an endolumenal aorta isolation assembly provided along the distal end portion of an elongate catheter body. The aorta isolation assembly includes proximal and distal portions that are separated by an isolation region and that are adjustable to first and second extended positions, respectively, which are adapted to circumferentially engage the aortic wall and isolate upstream and downstream aspects of an exterior space between the elongate body and the aortic wall. The intermediate region is adapted to be positioned along the proximal anastomosis site such that the distal and proximal portions when adjusted to the first and second extended positions circumferentially engage the aortic wall on upstream and downstream sides of the proximal anastomosis site.

Abstract: A medical device assembly and method provides an ultrasound transducer mounted onto a catheter shaft. The ultrasound transducer is mounted such that there is a radial separation between the transducer and the underlying catheter shaft. The transducer is mounted on support structures which do not bridge the gap between the transducer and delivery member. The location of the support structures provides for an “airbacked” transducer that is very efficient and prevents heat build-up in the materials in contact therewith.

Abstract: This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator.

Abstract: This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator.

Abstract: A medical device system and method allows an arterial bypass graft to be proximally anastomosed to an aorta during a beating heart CABG procedure without substantial loss of blood by use of an endolumenal aorta isolation assembly provided along the distal end portion of an elongate catheter body. The aorta isolation assembly includes proximal and distal portions that are separated by an intermediate isolation region and that are adjustable to first and second extended positions, respectively, which are adapted to circumferentially engage the aortic wall and isolate upstream and downstream aspects of an exterior space between the elongate body and the aortic wall. Blood flowing within the aorta is thereby isolated from the proximal anastomosis site along the intermediate region and is shunted from an upstream region of the aorta, through the distal port into the flow lumen, proximally along the flow lumen, out from the flow lumen through the proximal port, and into a downstream region of the aorta.

Abstract: This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator.

Abstract: This is a percutaneous medical device and related methods for its use. More particularly, it is a percutaneous catheter having ends which are interchangeably capable both of distal introduction into a delivery device lumen or body space and of proximal coupling to other medical devices.