Abstract: A medical apparatus and system for determining contact assessment includes a catheter having an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and defining an injection lumen and an exhaust lumen, an expandable membrane defining a cooling chamber disposed at a point along the elongate body, the cooling chamber in fluid communication with the injection lumen and the exhaust lumen, and a contact assessment element which may be a temperature sensor located proximate the coolant return lumen for measuring an internal temperature of the chamber. The system may include the catheter, a console having a fluid supply, an exhaust path and at least one control mechanism operationally coupled to the temperature sensor for processing a temperature signal received from the temperature sensor. The apparatus and system can also have multiple electrodes to measure and process various impedances to determine contact assessment.

Abstract: A method of treating tissue is provided, including positioning a portion of a catheter in proximity to cardiac tissue; measuring an impedance value with the catheter; determining a respiratory rate based at least in part on the measured impedance value; and thermally treating the cardiac tissue with the catheter.

Abstract: A medical apparatus and system for determining contact assessment includes a catheter having an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and defining an injection lumen and an exhaust lumen, an expandable membrane defining a cooling chamber disposed at a point along the elongate body, the cooling chamber in fluid communication with the injection lumen and the exhaust lumen, and a contact assessment element which may be a temperature sensor located proximate the coolant return lumen for measuring an internal temperature of the chamber. The system may include the catheter, a console having a fluid supply, an exhaust path and at least one control mechanism operationally coupled to the temperature sensor for processing a temperature signal received from the temperature sensor. The apparatus and system can also have multiple electrodes to measure and process various impedances to determine contact assessment.

Abstract: A medical apparatus and system for determining contact assessment includes a catheter having an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and defining an injection lumen and an exhaust lumen, an expandable membrane defining a cooling chamber disposed at a point along the elongate body, the cooling chamber in fluid communication with the injection lumen and the exhaust lumen, and a contact assessment element which may be a temperature sensor located proximate the coolant return lumen for measuring an internal temperature of the chamber. The system may include the catheter, a console having a fluid supply, an exhaust path and at least one control mechanism operationally coupled to the temperature sensor for processing a temperature signal received from the temperature sensor. The apparatus and system can also have multiple electrodes to measure and process various impedances to determine contact assessment.

Abstract: A method of treating tissue is provided, including positioning a portion of a catheter in proximity to cardiac tissue; measuring an impedance value with the catheter; determining a respiratory rate based at least in part on the measured impedance value; and thermally treating the cardiac tissue with the catheter.

Abstract: A method of treating tissue is provided, including positioning a portion of a catheter in proximity to cardiac tissue; measuring an impedance value with the catheter; determining a respiratory rate based at least in part on the measured impedance value; and thermally treating the cardiac tissue with the catheter.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting fluid egress, assessing lesion quality, determining tissue composition or structure, determining ice coverage of catheter tip and providing tissue contact assessment, by providing a catheter having a shaft with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion and the distal end portion define at least one fluid pathway therebetween with the shaft having a plurality of electrodes, positioning the catheter at a tissue treatment site, applying an electrical current between at least two of the plurality of electrodes, measuring impedance voltage between the at least two of the plurality of electrodes and, processing the measured impedance voltage caused by the applied electrical current to determine if fluid egress is present, to assess lesion quality, to determine tissue composition, ice cover of catheter tip, and to provide contact assessment.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting fluid egress, assessing lesion quality, determining tissue composition or structure, determining ice coverage of catheter tip and providing tissue contact assessment, by providing a catheter having a shaft with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion and the distal end portion define at least one fluid pathway therebetween with the shaft having a plurality of electrodes, positioning the catheter at a tissue treatment site, applying an electrical current between at least two of the plurality of electrodes, measuring impedance voltage between the at least two of the plurality of electrodes and, processing the measured impedance voltage caused by the applied electrical current to determine if fluid egress is present, to assess lesion quality, to determine tissue composition, ice cover of catheter tip, and to provide contact assessment.

Abstract: An elongated catheter device with a distal balloon assembly is adapted for endovascular insertion. Coolant injected through the device may, in different embodiments, directly cool tissue contacting the balloon, or may cool a separate internal chamber. In the first case, the coolant also inflates the balloon, and spent coolant is returned to the handle via a return passage extending through the body of the catheter. Plural balloons may be provided, wherein a secondary outer balloon surrounds a primary inner balloon, the primary balloon being filled with coolant and acting as the cooling chamber, the secondary balloon being coupled to a vacuum return lumen to serve as a robust leak containment device and thermal insulator around the cooling chamber. Various configurations, such as surface modification of the balloon interface, or placement of particles, coatings, or expandable meshes or coils in the balloon interface, may be employed to achieve this function.

Abstract: A method of treating tissue is provided, including positioning a portion of a catheter in proximity to cardiac tissue; measuring an impedance value with the catheter; determining a respiratory rate based at least in part on the measured impedance value; and thermally treating the cardiac tissue with the catheter.

Abstract: A medical apparatus and system for determining contact assessment includes a catheter having an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and defining an injection lumen and an exhaust lumen, an expandable membrane defining a cooling chamber disposed at a point along the elongate body, the cooling chamber in fluid communication with the injection lumen and the exhaust lumen, and a contact assessment element which may be a temperature sensor located proximate the coolant return lumen for measuring an internal temperature of the chamber. The system may include the catheter, a console having a fluid supply, an exhaust path and at least one control mechanism operationally coupled to the temperature sensor for processing a temperature signal received from the temperature sensor. The apparatus and system can also have multiple electrodes to measure and process various impedances to determine contact assessment.

Abstract: A method and system for determining contact assessment includes the steps of positioning a catheter at a tissue treatment site, where the catheter has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion defining at least one fluid inlet port and at least one fluid outlet port, an expandable membrane defining a cooling chamber a coolant injection lumen in fluid communication with the at least one fluid inlet port and the cooling chamber, a coolant return lumen in fluid communication with the at least one fluid outlet port and the cooling chamber, the coolant injection tube, the cooling chamber, and the primary coolant return lumen defining a fluid pathway and a temperature sensor located near the coolant return lumen; measuring an internal temperature of the chamber, and modifying the position of the catheter in response to the measured temperature. The method and system can also use a measured impedance to determine contact assessment.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting fluid egress, assessing lesion quality, determining tissue composition or structure, determining ice coverage of catheter tip and providing tissue contact assessment, by providing a catheter having a shaft with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion and the distal end portion define at least one fluid pathway therebetween with the shaft having a plurality of electrodes, positioning the catheter at a tissue treatment site, applying an electrical current between at least two of the plurality of electrodes, measuring impedance voltage between the at least two of the plurality of electrodes and, processing the measured impedance voltage caused by the applied electrical current to determine if fluid egress is present, to assess lesion quality, to determine tissue composition, ice cover of catheter tip, and to provide contact assessment.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting fluid egress, assessing lesion quality, determining tissue composition or structure, determining ice coverage of catheter tip and providing tissue contact assessment, by providing a catheter having a shaft with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion and the distal end portion define at least one fluid pathway therebetween with the shaft having a plurality of electrodes, positioning the catheter at a tissue treatment site, applying an electrical current between at least two of the plurality of electrodes, measuring impedance voltage between the at least two of the plurality of electrodes and, processing the measured impedance voltage caused by the applied electrical current to determine if fluid egress is present, to assess lesion quality, to determine tissue composition, ice cover of catheter tip, and to provide contact assessment.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a device body defining a sealed fluid path having a first end and a second end, a refrigerant supply in communication with the first end of the sealed fluid path, and a vacuum source in communication with the second end of the sealed fluid path. Leak detection apparatus can be provided in communication with the sealed fluid path.

Abstract: An elongated catheter device with a distal balloon assembly is adapted for endovascular insertion. Coolant injected through the device may, in different embodiments, directly cool tissue contacting the balloon, or may cool a separate internal chamber. In the first case, the coolant also inflates the balloon, and spent coolant is returned to the handle via a return passage extending through the body of the catheter. Plural balloons may be provided, wherein a secondary outer balloon surrounds a primary inner balloon, the primary balloon being filled with coolant and acting as the cooling chamber, the secondary balloon being coupled to a vacuum return lumen to serve as a robust leak containment device and thermal insulator around the cooling chamber. Various configurations, such as surface modification of the balloon interface, or placement of particles, coatings, or expandable meshes or coils in the balloon interface, may be employed to achieve this function.

Abstract: A cryogenic catheter system provides safe and effective treatment of tissue. The system includes a catheter that is coupled to a console via fluid and electrical umbilicals. The console controls the overall operation of the system based to provide and maintain a predetermined temperature at the catheter tip. The console also controls and monitors operating parameters for providing warning indications to the user and terminating operation of the system in the event of a failure that may compromise patient safety.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a device body defining a sealed fluid path having a first end and a second end, a refrigerant supply in communication with the first end of the sealed fluid path, and a vacuum source in communication with the second end of the sealed fluid path. Leak detection apparatus can be provided in communication with the sealed fluid path.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a device body defining a sealed fluid path having a first end and a second end, a refrigerant supply in communication with the first end of the sealed fluid path; and a vacuum source in communication with the second end of the sealed fluid path. Leak detection apparatus can be provided in communication with the sealed fluid path.

Abstract: A surgical device includes a device body defining a sealed fluid path having a first end and a second end, a refrigerant supply in communication with the first end of the sealed fluid path, and a vacuum source in communication with the second end of the sealed fluid path. Leak detection apparatus can be provided in communication with the sealed fluid path.