Abstract: A cardiac ablation apparatus for producing a circumferential ablation that electrically isolates a heart chamber wall portion from vessel such as a pulmonary vein extending into said wall portion comprises (a) an elongate centering catheter having a distal end portion; (b) an expandable centering element connected to said centering catheter distal end portion and configured for positioning within said vessel when in a retracted configuration, and for securing said elongate centering catheter in a substantially axially aligned position with respect to said vessel when said centering element is in an expanded configuration; (c) an ablation catheter slidably connected to said centering catheter said ablation element having a distal end portion, and (d) an expandable ablation element connected to said ablation catheter distal end portion.

Abstract: A laminated plate assembly in which the laminations in a stack are secured together by means of one or more interlocks or tabs that project from the uppermost lamination in the assembly through holes or slots in all the other laminations in the assembly, or around the periphery of the other laminations in the assembly, with each tab being bent or pressed against the underside of the bottom lamination in the assembly. This secures all the laminations in the stack together, much like a staple secures papers in a stack together, allowing for additional handling and processing of the laminated plate assembly without concern that the laminated plates in the stack will become misaligned or even become removed from the stack.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products measure electrical activity of the cardiac tissue proximate the lesion site during an ablation treatment, and then compare the measurements to determine whether the lesion is clinically efficacious so as to be able to block myocardial propagation. The methods can include obtaining the measurements and performing the ablation therapy while the subject is experiencing atrial fibrillation and may measure the standard deviation of the electrogram signal.

Abstract: A surface covering including a primary layer of a porous polymer structure and a secondary surface covering one or both of a metallic element layer and a hydrophilic layer is positioned over the surface of an ablation electrode. The pores of the surface covering are sized such that blood platelets are prevented from contacting the surface of the electrode while physiological fluid is allowed to pass through and contact the electrode surface to hereby provide a conduction path for current from the electrodes. The surface covering may further include an electrically non-conductive and thermally conductive portion positioned over another portion of the electrode to prevent alternate or non-intended site ablations.

Abstract: A catheter system includes an outer catheter having a lumen and an inner catheter sized to fit within and slide through the lumen of the outer catheter. Both catheters may be introduced into an anatomical site through a single introduction path. At the distal-end region of each catheter is an electrode system. One electrode system is for mapping the site; the other is for ablating the site. The distal-end regions of one or both of the catheters may be linear shaped, circular shaped, or radially expandable. When the catheter system is deployed the electrode systems carried by the distal-end regions of the mapping catheter and the ablation catheter are movable relative to each other and tend to lie in planes substantially parallel to each other. Another catheter system includes two separate electrode systems on a single expandable member shaped so that both electrode systems come in contact with separate sites.

Abstract: A method of presenting information for evaluating the condition of chronically impaired cardiac patients based on long-term assessment of activity trends, using a memoried implanted cardiac rhythm management device having a plurality of programmable parameters and one or more sensors for sensing one or more parameters related to an activity level of the patient. The method includes acquiring sensor signal data indicative of the activity level of the patient, accumulating sensor signal data in memory and using the accumulated sensor signal data to determine the activity level of the patient during a predetermined period of time, recording the activity level during a plurality of sequential time periods, adding contemporary annotation information to the activity data and producing a data record of the activity level with the annotation information during sequential time periods sufficient to indicate trends in a patient's activity level.

Abstract: An electric motor having a snap-together construction without the use of separate fasteners. The construction of the motor removes additive tolerances for a more accurate assembly. The motor is capable of programming and testing after final assembly and can be non-destructively disassembled for repair or modification. The motor is constructed to inhibit the ready entry of water into the motor housing and to limit the effect of any water which manages to enter the housing.

Abstract: A catheter carries a plurality of electrodes, each with multiple thermal sensors attached and is used to position the electrodes proximal biological tissue. A processor responsive to each of the thermal sensors determines the temperature at the thermal-sensor/electrode junction. A display provides a graphic representation of the temperatures of the thermal-sensor/electrode junctions. An exemplary representation is a bar graph having the temperature of one thermal sensor at one end and the temperature of another thermal sensor at the other end. The length of the bar graph combined with the position of the bar graph relative to a temperature range region provides an indication of the position of the thermal-sensor/electrode junctions relative to the biological tissue. The processor also monitors the spread between the sensor temperatures and compares it to a threshold value. Base on the result of the comparison, the processor controls the power applied to the electrode.

Abstract: The present tool and methods embody a percutaneous transluminal ablation (PTA) catheter manipulation tool for holding and positioning a PTA catheter, comprising a handle portion and a PTA catheter support structure. The PTA catheter is securely held in the PTA catheter support structure and the user holds the handle portion to position the PTA catheter against the treatment site. In one embodiment, the tool is made from a rigid material. In another embodiment, the PTA catheter support structure and/or the handle portion are made from a malleable material to facilitate forming to a desired shape. After treating one site, the tool may then be bent to a new desired configuration to treat the same or additional sites. In another embodiment, the PTA catheter manipulation tool incorporates, either internally or externally, a fluid delivery system that provides fluid to cool the PTA catheter support structure and/or the treatment site.

Abstract: A liquid extraction cleaner includes a recovery tank mounted to the forward end of a cleaner housing with a suction nozzle and conduit on a front face of the recovery tank connected to an inlet opening in the recovery tank. A vacuum source is connected to the recovery tank through a working conduit integrally formed in the recovery tank, the recovery tank removably received in a cavity on a front portion of the cleaner housing, and including a pivotal connection and latch for securing the tank to the housing. A removable cleaning fluid supply tank is mounted to a rear portion of the cleaner housing, having depressions formed thereon to aid removal, and retained thereon by the seal between the supply tank and the housing. A recharging base for the cleaner has a guide pin and electrical connector for aligning to form an electrical connection with a battery charging circuit.

Abstract: The present tool and methods embody a percutaneous transluminal ablation (PTA) catheter manipulation tool for holding and positioning a PTA catheter, comprising a handle portion and a PTA catheter support structure. The PTA catheter is securely held in the PTA catheter support structure and the user holds the handle portion to position the PTA catheter against the treatment site. In one embodiment, the tool is made from a rigid material. In another embodiment, the PTA catheter support structure and/or the handle portion are made from a malleable material to facilitate forming to a desired shape. After treating one site, the tool may then be bent to a new desired configuration to treat the same or additional sites. In another embodiment, the PTA catheter manipulation tool incorporates, either internally or externally, a fluid delivery system that provides fluid to cool the PTA catheter support structure and/or the treatment site.

Abstract: The present tool and associated methods provide for precisely controlled positioning of an ablative element, or an array of ablative elements, against a tissue targeted for treatment. Such treatment is in the form of a lesion, caused by energy emitted from the ablative element, selectively changing or destroying cells within the target tissue. The tool incorporates an element array. This element array consists of one or more energy emitting (ablative) elements. The energy delivered may be in the form of radio frequency, microwave, ultrasound, light, and cryogenics, among others. The element array may also incorporate one or more temperature sensing elements. Further, this element array may incorporate a fluid system providing recirculative cooling or fluid delivery to cool the element array and/or surrounding tissue. In one use of the tool, the element array, which is located at the distal end of an elongate member, is positioned against cardiac tissue during an open heart procedure.

Abstract: An electric motor having a snap-together construction without the use of separate fasteners. The construction of the motor removes additive tolerances for a more accurate assembly. The motor is capable of programming and testing after final assembly and can be non-destructively disassembled for repair or modification. The motor is constructed to inhibit the ready entry of water into the motor housing and to limit the effect of any water which manages to enter the housing.

Abstract: An electric motor having a snap-together construction without the use of separate fasteners. The construction of the motor removes additive tolerances for a more accurate assembly. The motor is capable of programming and testing after final assembly and can be non-destructively disassembled for repair or modification. The motor is constructed to inhibit the ready entry of water into the motor housing and to limit the effect of any water which manages to enter the housing.

Abstract: A handheld liquid extraction cleaner includes a recovery tank mounted to the forward end of a cleaner housing with a suction nozzle and conduit on a front face of the recovery tank connected to an inlet opening in the recovery tank. A vacuum source is connected to the recovery tank through an exhaust conduit, integrally formed in the recovery tank, for drawing liquid and debris through the suction nozzle and the suction conduit and into the recovery tank A removable cleaning fluid supply tank is mounted to a rear portion of the cleaner housing, an adjustable spray nozzle is mounted to the suction conduit and a pump is positioned in a supply conduit between the spray nozzle and the cleaning fluid supply tank for supplying pressurized cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid supply tank to the spray nozzle The pump includes an impeller which is positioned in an outlet opening of a reservoir in which the cleaning fluid is deposited from the cleaning fluid supply tank.

Abstract: A chair includes a base, a seat operably supported on the base for depth adjustment, and a back operably supported by an upright that extends from the base for recline. The back includes a structural back support, a rear cover covering a rear side of the back support, and a front/lower concave cover covering the upright between a rear of the seat and below the back support to provide a one-piece back and seat appearance. The concave cover defines a concavity shaped to receive a rear of the seat to facilitate depth adjustment, but so that the one-piece back and seat appearance is maintained. The concave cover further includes upwardly extending tabs that engage a lower marginal edge of the back support to facilitate assembly.

Abstract: A back construction for a chair includes a back shell having a plurality of horizontal bands defining a flexible lumbar section, with the back shell including non-parallel guides defined along its edges. A vertically adjustable lumbar support includes a panel body located at the flexible lumbar section, a bent wire member that engages the panel body and that is stretchable laterally, and opposing handles attached to ends of the bent wire member that engage the non-parallel guides. The opposing handles slidingly follow the guides and are movable between a first position where the bent wire member is flexed to a first width dimension, and a second position where the bent wire member is flexed to a second width dimension different than the first width dimension. Slots in the panel body retain the bent wire member to the panel body, but permit the bent wire member to be stretched horizontally during vertical adjustment of the lumbar support.

Abstract: A chair includes a base, a seat operably supported on the base for depth adjustment, and a back operably supported by an upright that extends from the base for recline. The back includes a structural back support, a rear cover covering a rear side of the back support, and a front/lower concave cover covering the upright between a rear of the seat and below the back support to provide a one-piece back and seat appearance. The concave cover defines a concavity shaped to receive a rear of the seat to facilitate depth adjustment, but so that the one-piece back and seat appearance is maintained. The concave cover further includes upwardly extending tabs that engage a lower marginal edge of the back support to facilitate assembly.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner is provided which has a handle pivotally mounted to a foot. The foot has a releasable mechanism pivotally mounted thereto. The releasable mechanism and the handle are provided with abutting protrusions and recesses which can abut one another to retain the handle in an upright storage position, in an angularly disposed position for normal use and a generally horizontal position. The releasable mechanism preferably comprises a foot pedal which has an integral arm spring extending angularly therefrom and biased against the foot so that the protrusion and/or recess on the foot pedal is urged within a corresponding recess and/or protrusion on the handle.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises a housing, a motor mounted in the housing, and a switch coupled the motor for actuating the motor to an operative and an inoperative condition. The switch includes an actuator button for moving the switch between an opened and a closed position. A foot pedal is pivotally mounted to the housing and has a bottom surface in an abutting relationship with respect to the actuator button. The foot pedal can include an axle having a pair of flat surfaces which pivotally mount to a slotted circular retainer in the housing. The bottom surface of the foot pedal can include a depending flange which is in abutting relationship with the actuator button. Further, a spring can be disposed between the bottom surface of the foot pedal and the housing to bias the foot pedal away from the switch wherein the spring at least partially surrounds a portion of the foot pedal and at least partially surrounds the actuator button.