Abstract: A medical device for use by an operator to perform a medical procedure in a body includes a handle to be held by the operator, a shaft attached to the handle and an actuating assembly to control functions associated with the medical procedure. The shaft includes an operative distal portion to perform a medical procedure in the body. The medical device may be part of an ablation catheter system that is programmed to correlate one or more functions with the actuation of the actuating assembly. Multiple actuating assemblies may be provided. Each actuating assembly may be a button. Other types of actuating assemblies may also be used, such as switches or a trackball. The actuating assembly may also be provided on a sleeve that may be selectively attached to the handle of the catheter or the physician operating the catheter, for example.

Abstract: Distal catheter assemblies, catheters, and methods for minimizing damage to heat and/or magnetically sensitive components are provided. A distal catheter assembly comprises a housing having a cavity and a proximal mounting member. The sensitive component, e.g., a magnetic sensor, is mounted within the cavity of the housing, and another component, e.g., a steering assembly or RF wire, is mounted to the proximal mounting member. If the proximal mounting member is hollow, it may have a window to provide access to the inner surface of the proximal mounting member to facilitate mounting of the other component. The proximal mounting member extends proximally from the sensitive component, thereby minimizing any adverse effects on the sensitive component that may otherwise result from mounting the other component in close proximity to the sensitive component. In the preferred embodiment, the housing forms a cap-shaped head and a cylindrical neck section, with the head forming an ablation electrode.

Abstract: Distal catheter assemblies, catheters, and methods for minimizing damage to heat and/or magnetically sensitive components are provided. A distal catheter assembly comprises a composite housing having a cavity formed therein and first and second complementary lateral housing sections. A first component, e.g., a sensor, is mounted within the first housing section. Optionally, a second component, e.g., a steering assembly or RF wire, can also be mounted to the first housing section. The open housing section allows the first and second components to be mounted in any order. Thus, if the first component is mounted last, any adverse effects on the first component that may otherwise result from mounting the components in the reverse order may be minimized. After the first and second components are mounted, the first and second housing sections are affixed to each other in a suitable manner, e.g., by using a pin and hole arrangement.

Abstract: Distal catheter assemblies, catheters, and methods for minimizing damage to heat and/or magnetically sensitive components are provided. A distal catheter assembly comprises a distal housing having a cavity and a separate proximal mounting member. A first component, e.g., a sensor, is mounted within the cavity of the housing, and a second component, e.g., a steering assembly or RF wire, is mounted to the proximal mounting member. If the proximal mounting member is hollow, it may have a window to provide access to the inner surface of the proximal mounting member to facilitate mounting of the second component. After the first and second components are mounted, the proximal mounting member can then be affixed to the distal housing, thereby minimizing any adverse affects on the sensitive component that may otherwise result from mounting the first and second components on a single member.

Abstract: Various catheter designs with irrigated tip electrodes are provided for reducing the heating of the tip resulting from RF biasing. The electrode tip of the catheter may be comprised of a highly thermal conductivity layer covered by a biologically compatible material and having irrigation or irrigation channels for removing excess thermal energy from the catheter tip and the surrounding area of the catheter tip. The catheter tip may be designed with multiple irrigation channels, multiple channel pathways, and/or exterior shapes to improve the cooling of the tip. These approaches may be used individually or in combination to produce a catheter tip with improved heat dissipation characteristics.

Abstract: A medical device for use by an operator to perform a medical procedure in a body includes a handle to be held by the operator, a shaft attached to the handle and an actuating assembly to control functions associated with the medical procedure. The shaft includes an operative distal portion to perform a medical procedure in the body. The medical device may be part of an ablation catheter system that is programmed to correlate one or more functions with the actuation of the actuating assembly. Multiple actuating assemblies may be provided. Each actuating assembly may be a button. Other types of actuating assemblies may also be used, such as switches or a trackball. The actuating assembly may also be provided on a sleeve that may be selectively attached to the handle of the catheter or the physician operating the catheter, for example.

Abstract: A sensor assembly that allows a sensor to be detachably mounted onto a fluoroscopic mount, such as a C-arm, is provided. The sensor assembly includes an electromagnetic sensor that is configured for outputting positional data relating to the fluoroscopic mount. The sensor includes a mount engaging element, and the sensor mount includes a sensor engaging element, both of which are configured to be removably mounted in an interference relationship with each other. The mount engaging element of the sensor can be a sensor housing, or alternatively, an element that is separate from the sensor housing. The sensor mount, which is composed of a non-ferromagnetic material, further includes a spacer for maintaining the sensor a prescribed distance from the ferromagnetic fluoroscopic mount, thereby minimizing any adverse ferromagnetic effects on the sensor.

Abstract: Various catheter designs with irrigated tip electrodes are provided for reducing the heating of the tip resulting from RF biasing. The electrode tip of the catheter may be comprised of a highly thermal conductivity layer covered by a biologically compatible material and having irrigation or irrigation channels for removing excess thermal energy from the catheter tip and the surrounding area of the catheter tip. The catheter tip may be designed with multiple irrigation channels, multiple channel pathways, and/or exterior shapes to improve the cooling of the tip. These approaches may be used individually or in combination to produce a catheter tip with improved heat dissipation characteristics.

Abstract: A sensor assembly that allows a sensor to be detachably mounted onto a fluoroscopic mount, such as a C-arm, is provided.. The sensor assembly comprises an electromagnetic sensor that is configured for outputting positional data relating to the fluoroscopic mount. The sensor includes a mount engaging element, and the sensor mount includes a sensor engaging element, both of which are configured to be removably mounted in an interference relationship with each other. The mount engaging element of the sensor can be a sensor housing, or alternatively, an element that is separate from the sensor housing. The sensor mount, which is composed of a non-ferromagnetic material, further includes a spacer for maintaining the sensor a prescribed distance from the ferromagnetic fluoroscopic mount, thereby minimizing any adverse ferromagnetic effects on the sensor.

Abstract: Distal catheter assemblies, catheters, and methods for minimizing damage to heat and/or magnetically sensitive components are provided. A distal catheter assembly comprises a distal housing having a cavity and a separate proximal mounting member. A first component, e.g., a sensor, is mounted within the cavity of the housing, and a second component, e.g., a steering assembly or RF wire, is mounted to the proximal mounting member. If the proximal mounting member is hollow, it may have a window to provide access to the inner surface of the proximal mounting member to facilitate mounting of the second component. After the first and second components are mounted, the proximal mounting member can then be affixed to the distal housing, thereby minimizing any adverse affects on the sensitive component that may otherwise result from mounting the first and second components on a single member.

Abstract: Distal catheter assemblies, catheters, and methods for minimizing damage to heat and/or magnetically sensitive components are provided. A distal catheter assembly comprises a housing having a cavity and a proximal mounting member. The sensitive component, e.g., a magnetic sensor, is mounted within the cavity of the housing, and another component, e.g., a steering assembly or RF wire, is mounted to the proximal mounting member. If the proximal mounting member is hollow, it may have a window to provide access to the inner surface of the proximal mounting member to facilitate mounting of the other component. The proximal mounting member extends proximally from the sensitive component, thereby minimizing any adverse effects on the sensitive component that may otherwise result from mounting the other component in close proximity to the sensitive component. In the preferred embodiment, the housing forms a cap-shaped head and a cylindrical neck section, with the head forming an ablation electrode.

Abstract: Distal catheter assemblies, catheters, and methods for minimizing damage to heat and/or magnetically sensitive components are provided. A distal catheter assembly comprises a composite housing having a cavity formed therein and first and second complementary lateral housing sections. A first component, e.g., a sensor, is mounted within the first housing section. Optionally, a second component, e.g., a steering assembly or RF wire, can also be mounted to the first housing section. The open housing section allows the first and second components to be mounted in any order. Thus, if the first component is mounted last, any adverse effects on the first component that may otherwise result from mounting the components in the reverse order may be minimized. After the first and second components are mounted, the first and second housing sections are affixed to each other in a suitable manner, e.g., by using a pin and hole arrangement.

Abstract: Various catheter designs with irrigated tip electrodes are provided for reducing the heating of the tip resulting from RF biasing. The electrode tip of the catheter may be comprised of a highly thermal conductivity layer covered by a biologically compatible material and having irrigation or irrigation channels for removing excess thermal energy from the catheter tip and the surrounding area of the catheter tip. The catheter tip may be designed with multiple irrigation channels, multiple channel pathways, and/or exterior shapes to improve the cooling of the tip. These approaches may be used individually or in combination to produce a catheter tip with improved heat dissipation characteristics.

Abstract: A medical system for performing a tissue ablation procedure comprises a guide sheath and an ablation catheter disposed within an internal lumen of the catheter. The guide sheath has a distal end that includes irrigation exit ports that are configured to perfuse irrigation fluid in a distal direction over the ablation electrode of the catheter when the distal end of the catheter protrudes from the guide sheath. In this manner, the ablation electrode can be advantageously cooled during the tissue ablation process, thereby maximizing the size and depth of the ablation lesion and reducing the duration of the ablation process.