Abstract: A process for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia in the left ventricle using a retrograde approach by use of ablating and/or mapping catheters guided by a guiding introducer system. Also disclosed are predetermined shapes for an inner and outer guiding introducers which comprise the guiding introducer system.

Abstract: A process for the mapping and/or ablation of locations within the right ventricle associated with the right ventricular outflow tract for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia by use of ablation and/or mapping catheters guided by guiding introducers. Also disclosed are shapes for the guiding introducer to be used for the ablation and/or mapping of areas within the right ventricle associated with the right ventricular outflow tract for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia.

Abstract: A guiding introducer for use in the right atrium comprised of a first, second and third section wherein the first section is a generally elongated straight section wherein merged with the distal end of the first section is a second section which is curved upward in a longitudinal curve wherein the distal end of the second section is merged with the third section. The guiding introducer is for use in sensing, pacing and ablating procedures in the right atrium of the human heart.

Abstract: A guiding introducer for the treatment of atrial flutter and/or atrial fibrillation in the right atrium by use of an ablating and/or mapping catheters guided by the guiding introducer. Also disclosed is a predetermined shape for the guiding introducer for use in the treatment of atrial flutter and/or atrial fibrillation in the right atrium.

Abstract: A guiding introducer system for use in the left atrium comprised of an inner guiding introducer and an outer guiding introducer wherein the inner guiding introducer is comprised of a first and second section and the outer guiding introducer is comprised of a first and second sections. The guiding introducer system is for use in sensing, pacing, and ablating procedures within the left atrium of the human heart.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia in the left ventricle using a retrograde approach by use of ablation and/or mapping catheters guided by precurved guiding introducers. Also disclosed are predetermined shapes for the guiding introducers to be used for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia in the left ventricle using a retrograde approach.

Abstract: A guiding introducer for use in the left atrium comprised of a first, second and third section wherein the first section is a generally elongated straight section wherein merged with the distal end of the first section is a second section which is curved in a compound curve, first curving upward in a first longitudinal curve and simultaneously curving to the right in a second longitudinal curve, wherein the second section merges with the third section wherein said third section is a third longitudinal curve wherein the plane of the third section is angled upward at an angle of approximately 25 to about 60 degrees from the plane of the first section and wherein substantially all of the third section is coplanar.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of atrial arrhythmia by use of ablation and/or mapping procedures comprising ablating discrete ablation tracks within the left and right atrium of the heart by use of precurved left and right atrium guiding introducers, including preferably a guiding introducer system for use in the left atrium comprising an inner and an outer guiding introducer. Also disclosed are shapes for the guiding introducers and the guiding introducer system to be used for the ablation and/or mapping of the discrete tracks within the left and right atrium.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of ectopic atrial tachycardia by use of ablation and/or mapping procedures comprising ablating discrete locations within the right atrium of the heart by use of an ablation catheter and a precurved guiding introducer. Also disclosed is a shape for the guiding introducer to be used for the ablation and/or mapping of the discrete locations within the right atrium for the treatment of ectopic atrial tachycardia.

Abstract: A process for the mapping and/or ablation of accessory pathways around the mitral valve using a retrograde approach by use of ablation and/or mapping catheters guided by precurved guiding introducers. Also disclosed are shapes for the guiding introducers to be used for the ablation and/or mapping of the accessory pathways around the mitral valve using a retrograde approach.

Abstract: A guiding introducer system for use in the left atrium comprised of an inner guiding introducer and an outer guiding introducer wherein the inner guiding introducer is comprised of a first and second section and the outer guiding introducer is comprised of a first and second sections. The guiding introducer system is for use in sensing, pacing, and ablating procedures within the left atrium of the human heart.

Abstract: A catheter for insertion in the ostium of the coronary sinus in the right atrium comprised of a main reinforced portion, an intermediate zone portion and a soft tip portion wherein a portion of the catheter is curved in a double curve, wherein the first curve is a first longitudinal curve, wherein the second curve is a second longitudinal curve, wherein the second longitudinal curve is curved in approximately the same direction as the first longitudinal curve and wherein the first and second longitudinal curves are generally coplanar.

Abstract: A guiding introducer for in the left atrium comprised of a first, second and third section wherein the first section is a generally elongated straight section wherein merged with the distal end of the first section is a second section which is curved in a compound curve, first curving upward in a first longitudinal curve and simultaneously curving to the right in a second longitudinal curve, wherein the second section merges with the third section wherein said third section is a third longitudinal curve wherein the plane of the third section is angled upward at an angle of approximately 25 to about 60 degrees from the plane of the first section and wherein substantially all of the third section is coplanar.

Abstract: A guiding introducer for use in the right atrium comprised of a first, second and third section wherein the first section is a generally elongated straight section wherein merged with the distal end of the first section is a second section which is curved upward in a longitudinal curve wherein the distal end of the second section is merged with the third section. The guiding introducer is for use in sensing, pacing and ablating procedures in the right atrium of the human heart.

Abstract: A catheter for insertion in the ostium of the coronary sinus in the right atrium comprised of a main reinforced portion, an intermediate zone portion and a soft tip portion wherein a portion of the catheter is curved in a double curve, wherein the first curve is a first longitudinal curve, wherein the second curve is a second longitudinal curve, wherein the second longitudinal curve is curved in approximately the same direction as the first longitudinal curve and wherein the first and second longitudinal curves are generally coplanar.

Abstract: A steerable catheter comprised of an elongated catheter body containing one or more lumen; a catheter tip fixedly secured to the distal end of the catheter body and a steerable catheter handle attached to the proximal end of the catheter body wherein said steerable catheter handle is comprised of a mounting shaft containing a geared slide, a slide block, a slide block adjustment screw, and an adjustment screw guide; an adjustment knob comprised of a geared inset and an external rotation element for rotating the adjustment knob, a handle grip which fits over the mounting shaft and electrical connectors for attachment to the proximal end of the mounting shaft and which contain electrode electrical wires.

Abstract: A steerable catheter comprised of two parts: a catheter body proximally secured to a steerable catheter handle and a catheter tip containing an X-shaped in cross-section lumen secured to the distal end of the catheter body, a pull wire passing through the catheter body and one of the arms of the X-shaped lumen of the catheter tip, one or more electrode wires passing through the catheter body and through a second arm of the X-shaped lumen of the catheter tip and a supporting flat wire passing through the two remaining opposite arms of the X-shaped lumen of the catheter tip.

Abstract: A dryer apparatus for drying sheets of photosensitive material which eliminates reflective artifacts. The dryer apparatus includes a plurality of pairs of opposed drive rollers which support a sheet of photosensitive material in a generally planar sheet drying path. The pairs of opposed drive rollers are spaced longitudinally along the sheet drying path. The drive rollers are rotated to move the sheet in a first longitudinal direction along a path. A plurality of pairs of opposed dryer nozzles face the sheet drying path from each planar side thereof, with each pair of opposed dryer nozzles being between adjacent longitudinally spaced pairs of drive rollers. Each dryer nozzle includes a laterally disposed air inlet through which air is forced by a blower toward the sheet. A laterally extending guide is provided adjacent each roller for guiding the sheet along the sheet drying path.