Abstract: Systems and methods for ablating tissue include an ablation device having an energy source and a sensor. The energy source provides a beam of energy directable to target tissue, and the sensor senses energy reflected back from the target tissue. The sensor collects various information from the target tissue in order to facilitate adjustment of ablation operating parameters, such as changing power or position of the energy beam. Gap distance between the energy source and target tissue, energy beam incident angle, tissue motion, tissue type, lesion depth, etc. are examples of some of the information that may be collected during the ablation process and used to help control ablation of the tissue.

Abstract: An ablation system for treating atrial fibrillation in a patient comprises an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, a lumen therebetween and a housing adjacent the distal end of the elongate shaft. An energy source is coupled to the housing and is adapted to deliver energy to a target tissue so as to create a zone of ablation in the target tissue that blocks abnormal electrical activity thereby reducing or eliminating the atrial fibrillation in the patient. A sensor is adjacent the energy source and adapted to detect relative position of the energy source to the target tissue or characteristics of the target tissue. The system also has a reflecting element operably coupled with the energy source and adapted to redirect energy emitted from the energy source in a desired direction or pattern.

Abstract: A cardiac ablation method including the following steps: inserting a treatment catheter into an atrium of a heart, the treatment catheter including an ultrasound emitter; positioning the ultrasound emitter to face heart tissue within the left atrium outside of a pulmonary vein; emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitter while rotating the ultrasound emitter about a rotation axis; and ablating heart tissue with the ultrasound energy to form a lesion outside of a pulmonary vein.

Abstract: Methods for ablating tissue in a patient having atrial fibrillation comprise advancing an elongate flexible shaft through a patient's vasculature into a chamber of a heart. The elongate flexible shaft has an energy source and a sensor. Tissue in the heart is scanned with the sensor and data about the tissue is captured. The captured data is grouped into one of a plurality of tissue classifications and an anatomical map of the tissue showing the grouped data is displayed. At least a portion of the tissue is ablated so as to form a conduction block that blocks aberrant electrical pathways in the heart. The ablated tissue is grouped into one or more predefined tissue classifications during or prior to the ablation.

Abstract: Methods for ablating tissue in a patient having atrial fibrillation comprise advancing an elongate flexible shaft through a patient's vasculature into a chamber of a heart. The elongate flexible shaft has an energy source and a sensor. Tissue in the heart is scanned with the sensor and data about the tissue is captured. The captured data is grouped into one of a plurality of tissue classifications and an anatomical map of the tissue showing the grouped data is displayed. At least a portion of the tissue is ablated so as to form a conduction block that blocks aberrant electrical pathways in the heart. The ablated tissue is grouped into one or more predefined tissue classifications during or prior to the ablation.

Abstract: An ablation system for treating atrial fibrillation in a patient comprises an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, a lumen therebetween and a housing adjacent the distal end of the elongate shaft. An energy source is coupled to the housing and is adapted to deliver energy to a target tissue so as to create a zone of ablation in the target tissue that blocks abnormal electrical activity thereby reducing or eliminating the atrial fibrillation in the patient. A sensor is adjacent the energy source and adapted to detect relative position of the energy source to the target tissue or characteristics of the target tissue. The system also has a reflecting element operably coupled with the energy source and adapted to redirect energy emitted from the energy source in a desired direction or pattern.

Abstract: A cardiac ablation method including the following steps: inserting a treatment catheter into an atrium of a heart, the treatment catheter including an ultrasound emitter; positioning the ultrasound emitter to face heart tissue within the left atrium outside of a pulmonary vein; emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitter while rotating the ultrasound emitter about a rotation axis; and ablating heart tissue with the ultrasound energy to form a lesion outside of a pulmonary vein.

Abstract: An ablation system for treating atrial fibrillation in a patient comprises an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, a lumen therebetween and a housing adjacent the distal end of the elongate shaft. An energy source is coupled to the housing and is adapted to deliver energy to a target tissue so as to create a zone of ablation in the target tissue that blocks abnormal electrical activity thereby reducing or eliminating the atrial fibrillation in the patient. A sensor is adjacent the energy source and adapted to detect relative position of the energy source to the target tissue or characteristics of the target tissue. The system also has a reflecting element operably coupled with the energy source and adapted to redirect energy emitted from the energy source in a desired direction or pattern.

Abstract: An ablation system for treating atrial fibrillation in a patient including an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, a lumen therebetween and a housing adjacent the distal end of the elongate shaft. An energy source is coupled to the housing and is adapted to deliver energy to a target tissue so as to create a zone of ablation in the target tissue that blocks abnormal electrical activity thereby reducing or eliminating the atrial fibrillation in the patient. A sensor is adjacent the energy source and adapted to detect relative position of the energy source to the target tissue or characteristics of the target tissue. The system also has a reflecting element operably coupled with the energy source and adapted to redirect energy emitted from the energy source in a desired direction or pattern.

Abstract: A cardiac ablation method including the following steps: inserting a treatment catheter into an atrium of a heart, the treatment catheter including an ultrasound emitter; positioning the ultrasound emitter to face heart tissue within the left atrium outside of a pulmonary vein; emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitter while rotating the ultrasound emitter about a rotation axis; and ablating heart tissue with the ultrasound energy to form a lesion outside of a pulmonary vein.

Abstract: A tissue ablation system for treating fibrillation in a patient comprises a steerable interventional catheter having an energy source that emits a beam of energy to ablate tissue thereby creating a conduction block for aberrant electrical pathways. The system also includes a handle disposed near a proximal end of the interventional catheter and has an actuation mechanism for steering the interventional catheter. A console allows the system to be controlled and provides power to the system, and a display pod is electrically coupled with the console. The display pod has a display panel to display system information to a user and allows the user to control the system. A catheter pod is releasably coupled with the handle electrically and mechanically, and also electrically coupled with the display pod.

Abstract: Echo-anatomically mapping tissue includes advancing a catheter having an ultrasound transducer toward tissue. A console adjacent the proximal end of the catheter controls catheter movement, and the ultrasound transducer senses tissue. First and second regions of the tissue are ultrasonically sensed while moving the ultrasound transducer along first, and second sensing patterns, respectively. A first 3-dimensional surface map of the first region, and a second 3-dimensional surface map of the second region are generated. The 3-dimensional surface maps are combined to form a combined surface map. Anatomical features may be identified in the first or second sensed regions. The tissue may be ultrasonically ablated while moving the ultrasound transducer along a first ablation path. The first ablation path may form a lesion around the identified anatomical features, and may be selected from a catalog of ablation paths or it may be prescribed by a physician.

Abstract: A method for creating a transmural lesion in tissue includes positioning a distal portion of a catheter near the tissue, where an ultrasound transducer is attached to the distal portion and is operatively coupled to a console and processor. The tissue is imaged by energizing the ultrasound transducer at a first power level to produce an ultrasound beam, where the imaging determines a thickness of the tissue, and a gap distance between the ultrasound transducer and the tissue. The tissue is ablated by energizing the ultrasound transducer at a second power level to produce the ultrasound beam. Energy delivered to the tissue during the ablating is controlled, using the processor, where the processor adjusts a speed of the ultrasound beam moving across the tissue based on the thickness and gap distance, to create the transmural lesion.

Abstract: A cardiac ablation method including the following steps: inserting a treatment catheter into an atrium of a heart, the treatment catheter including an ultrasound emitter; positioning the ultrasound emitter to face heart tissue within the left atrium outside of a pulmonary vein; emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitter while rotating the ultrasound emitter about a rotation axis; and ablating heart tissue with the ultrasound energy to form a lesion outside of a pulmonary vein.

Abstract: A cardiac ablation method including the following steps: inserting a treatment catheter into an atrium of a heart, the treatment catheter including an ultrasound emitter; positioning the ultrasound emitter to face heart tissue within the left atrium outside of a pulmonary vein; emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitter while rotating the ultrasound emitter about a rotation axis; and ablating heart tissue with the ultrasound energy to form a lesion outside of a pulmonary vein.

Abstract: Methods for ablating tissue in a patient having atrial fibrillation comprise advancing an elongate flexible shaft through a patient's vasculature into a chamber of a heart. The elongate flexible shaft has an energy source and a sensor. Tissue in the heart is scanned with the sensor and data about the tissue is captured. The captured data is grouped into one of a plurality of tissue classifications and an anatomical map of the tissue showing the grouped data is displayed. At least a portion of the tissue is ablated so as to form a conduction block that blocks aberrant electrical pathways in the heart. The ablated tissue is grouped into one or more predefined tissue classifications during or prior to the ablation.

Abstract: A tissue ablation method for treating atrial fibrillation in a patient comprises locating an ostium of a pulmonary vein and positioning an interventional catheter adjacent the ostium. The interventional catheter has an energy source. Collateral tissue adjacent the ostium is located and tissue around the ostium is ablated with energy from the energy source so as to form a contiguous lesion circumscribing the ostium. The lesion blocks aberrant electrical pathways in the tissue so as to reduce or eliminate the atrial fibrillation. The ablating is modified so as to avoid ablating or otherwise damaging the collateral tissue.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ablating tissue include an ablation device having an energy source and a sensor. The energy source provides a beam of energy directable to target tissue, and the sensor senses energy reflected back from the target tissue. The sensor collects various information from the target tissue in order to facilitate adjustment of ablation operating parameters, such as changing power or position of the energy beam. Gap distance between the energy source and target tissue, energy beam incident angle, tissue motion, tissue type, lesion depth, etc. are examples of some of the information that may be collected during the ablation process and used to help control ablation of the tissue.

Abstract: A transducer subassembly with combined imaging and therapeutic capabilities is disclosed. The subassembly includes heat sinks that are configured to maintain the transducer at a low operating temperature so that the transducer operates at high efficiency and also can handle a wider range of frequencies. The subassembly is also configured to allow cooling fluid to flow past the transducer element. One heat sink in the subassembly also acts as an acoustic matching layer and another heat sink acts as a backing Alternatively, the second heat sink which acts as a backing is optional. The transducer is configured to transmit at one power level for imaging, and at a second power level for ablating. The transducer may comprise sub-elements transmitting at different power levels. The subassembly may be operated at one power level for imaging and a second power level for ablating.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ablating tissue include an ablation device having an energy source and a sensor. The energy source provides a beam of energy directable to target tissue, and the sensor senses energy reflected back from the target tissue. The sensor collects various information from the target tissue in order to facilitate adjustment of ablation operating parameters, such as changing power or position of the energy beam. Gap distance between the energy source and target tissue, energy beam incident angle, tissue motion, tissue type, lesion depth, etc. are examples of some of the information that may be collected during the ablation process and used to help control ablation of the tissue.