Abstract: A catheter having an internal advancing mechanism that can advance stiffening wires or other devices, has a catheter with a catheter body, a tip section distal the catheter body, a device extending through at least the catheter body, and a control handle proximal the catheter body, where the control handle has an advancing mechanism with a threaded member, an adjustment member, and a guided member to which the device is connected, and the advancing mechanism is configured to advance and retract the device along the catheter body as controlled by a user. Each of the threaded member and the adjustment member has a generally cylindrical configuration. The threaded member has an outer surface configured with a helical guide channel. The adjustment member is configured to guide the guided member to move within the helical guide channel to advance and retract the device. The adjustment member can be rotatable over the threaded member by the user to control advancement and retraction of the device.

Abstract: An irrigated ablation catheter provides improved distribution of irrigation fluid across its tip electrode surface resulting in improved cooling and flushing of blood and proteins from the tip region. An axially directed flow of irrigation provides improved heat transfer from the tip electrode to the irrigation fluid allowing for a cooler tip electrode and larger lesions. The irrigation fluid is introduced to the catheter with improved flow by means of a standard constant flow pump. A lumen or tube within a shaft of the catheter transfers the irrigation fluid to a proximal end of the tip electrode where it exits the catheter via a flow directing member mounted on the tip electrode. In one embodiment, the flow directing member is a thin walled tube that surrounds the proximal end of the tip electrode and directs the irrigation fluid distally along an outer surface of the tip electrode.

Abstract: A catheter that provides bi-directional steering and allows for deflection sensitivity adjustment includes a catheter body, a deflectable tip section and a control handle, wherein the control handle has a deflection member adapted for user manipulation, a deflection assembly responsive to the deflection member to draw on a tensile puller member for deflecting the tip section, and an adjustment mechanism adapted to adjust sensitivity of the deflection member. The adjustment mechanism also correspondingly adjusts a maximum degree of deflection of the tip section. The deflection assembly includes a rotatable pulley arm and two pulleys, and a deflection sensitivity adjustment mechanism with a cam device that varies a separation distance between the pulleys.

Abstract: A catheter having an internal advancing mechanism that can advance stiffening wires or other devices, has a catheter with a catheter body, a tip section distal the catheter body, a device extending through at least the catheter body, and a control handle proximal the catheter body, where the control handle has an advancing mechanism with a threaded member, an adjustment member, and a guided member to which the device is connected, and the advancing mechanism is configured to advance and retract the device along the catheter body as controlled by a user. Each of the threaded member and the adjustment member has a generally cylindrical configuration. The threaded member has an outer surface configured with a helical guide channel. The adjustment member is configured to guide the guided member to move within the helical guide channel to advance and retract the device. The adjustment member can be rotatable over the threaded member by the user to control advancement and retraction of the device.

Abstract: A catheter having an internal advancing mechanism that can advance stiffening wires or other devices, has a catheter with a catheter body, a tip section distal the catheter body, a device extending through at least the catheter body, and a control handle proximal the catheter body, where the control handle has an advancing mechanism with a threaded member, an adjustment member, and a guided member to which the device is connected, and the advancing mechanism is configured to advance and retract the device along the catheter body as controlled by a user. Each of the threaded member and the adjustment member has a generally cylindrical configuration. The threaded member has an outer surface configured with a helical guide channel. The adjustment member is configured to guide the guided member to move within the helical guide channel to advance and retract the device. The adjustment member can be rotatable over the threaded member by the user to control advancement and retraction of the device.

Abstract: A sheath introducer for use with a catheter, has a hub and a tube through which the catheter extends, and a lock assembly which has a rotational knob that actuates a plurality of prongs arranged in a radial pattern around a hole in the hub that receives the catheter, wherein the prongs synchronously rotate in one direction to grip the catheter or in the other direction to release the catheter.

Abstract: A catheter for use in a patient's heart, especially for mapping a tubular region of the heart, has a catheter body, a deflectable intermediate section and a distal a mapping assembly that has a generally circular portion adapted to sit on or in a tubular region of the heart. A control handle of the catheter allows for single-handed manipulation of various control mechanisms that can deflect the intermediate section and contract the mapping assembly by means of a deflection control assembly and a linear control assembly. The deflection control assembly has a deflection arm and a rocker member. The linear control assembly has a linear control member, an inner rotational member and a cam. A pair of puller members are responsive to the deflection control assembly to bi-directionally deflect the intermediate section. A third puller member is responsive to the linear control assembly to contract the generally circular portion of the mapping assembly.

Abstract: A catheter that provides bi-directional steering and allows for deflection sensitivity adjustment includes a catheter body, a deflectable tip section and a control handle, wherein the control handle has a deflection member adapted for user manipulation, a deflection assembly responsive to the deflection member to draw on a tensile puller member for deflecting the tip section, and an adjustment mechanism adapted to adjust sensitivity of the deflection member. The adjustment mechanism also correspondingly adjusts a maximum degree of deflection of the tip section. The deflection assembly includes a rotatable pulley arm and two pulleys, and a deflection sensitivity adjustment mechanism with a cam device that varies a separation distance between the pulleys.

Abstract: An irrigated ablation catheter provides improved distribution of irrigation fluid across its tip electrode surface resulting in improved cooling and flushing of blood and proteins from the tip region. An axially directed flow of irrigation provides improved heat transfer from the tip electrode to the irrigation fluid allowing for a cooler tip electrode and larger lesions. The irrigation fluid is introduced to the catheter with improved flow by means of a standard constant flow pump. A lumen or tube within a shaft of the catheter transfers the irrigation fluid to a proximal end of the tip electrode where it exits the catheter via a flow directing member mounted on the tip electrode. In one embodiment, the flow directing member is a thin walled tube that surrounds the proximal end of the tip electrode and directs the irrigation fluid distally along an outer surface of the tip electrode.

Abstract: A catheter having an internal advancing mechanism that can advance stiffening wires or other devices, has a catheter with a catheter body, a tip section distal the catheter body, a device extending through at least the catheter body, and a control handle proximal the catheter body, where the control handle has an advancing mechanism with a threaded member, an adjustment member, and a guided member to which the device is connected, and the advancing mechanism is configured to advance and retract the device along the catheter body as controlled by a user. Each of the threaded member and the adjustment member has a generally cylindrical configuration. The threaded member has an outer surface configured with a helical guide channel. The adjustment member is configured to guide the guided member to move within the helical guide channel to advance and retract the device. The adjustment member can be rotatable over the threaded member by the user to control advancement and retraction of the device.

Abstract: A catheter is adapted to ablate tissue and provide lesion qualitative information on a real time basis, having an ablation tip section with a generally omni-directional light diffusion chamber with one openings to allow light energy in the chamber to radiate the tissue and return to the chamber. The chamber is irrigated at a positive pressure differential to continuously flush the opening with fluid. The light energy returning to the chamber from the tissue conveys a tissue parameter, including without limitation, lesion formation, depth of penetration of lesion, cross-sectional area of lesion, formation of char during ablation, recognition of char during ablation, recognition of char from non-charred tissue, formation of coagulum around the ablation site, differentiation of coagulated from non-coagulated blood, differentiation of ablated from healthy tissue, tissue proximity, and recognition of steam formation in the tissue for prevention of steam pop.