Abstract: A tissue-ablation method and apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of RF ablation electrodes, and a plurality of sensor elements, each movable from retracted to deployed positions in a tissue to be ablated. A control device in the apparatus is operatively connected to the electrodes for supplying an RF power to the electrodes, to produce tissue ablation that advances from individual-electrode ablation regions to fill a combined-electrode ablation volume. The control device is operatively connected to the sensor elements for determining the extent of ablation in the regions of the sensor elements. The supply of RF power to the electrodes can thus be regulated to control the level and extent of tissue ablation throughout the combined-electrode volume. The electrodes are preferably hollow-needle electrodes through which liquid can be infused into the tissue, also under the control of the control unit, to modulate and optimize tissue ablation.

Abstract: A tissue-ablation method and apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of RF ablation electrodes, and a plurality of sensor elements, each movable from retracted to deployed positions in a tissue to be ablated. A control device in the apparatus is operatively connected to the electrodes for supplying an RF power to the electrodes, to produce tissue ablation that advances from individual-electrode ablation regions to fill a combined-electrode ablation volume. The control device is operatively connected to the sensor elements for determining the extent of ablation in the regions of the sensor elements. The supply of RF power to the electrodes can thus be regulated to control the level and extent of tissue ablation throughout the combined-electrode volume. The electrodes are preferably hollow-needle electrodes through which liquid can be infused into the tissue, also under the control of the control unit, to modulate and optimize tissue ablation.

Abstract: A cell necrosis apparatus includes an introducer with a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue, an energy delivery including a plurality of electrodes and a slidable sensing member. Each electrode of the plurality of electrodes has a tissue piercing distal end and is positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue. At least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes is deployable with curvature from the introducer. The slidable sensing member is positionable within the introducer and electrically coupled to the energy delivery device. The sensing member is configured to measure a property of the energy delivery device or at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus has an expandable member that is inserted into an organ of a body and ablates all or a selected portion of the inner layer of the organ. Electrolytic solution fills the expandable member, and the expandable member includes a plurality of apertures from which electrolytic solution flows from the expandable member. First and second fluid conduits, which can be first and second conforming members, are in a surrounding relationship to the expandable member. The second conforming member, including a conductive surface, is made of a material that provides substantial conformity between the conductive surface and a shape of the inner layer of the organ. A plurality of electrodes is positioned between the two conforming members. The expandable member serves as an insulator to RF energy. Each electrode includes an insulator formed on a surface of the electrode positioned adjacent to the second conforming member.

Abstract: A cell necrosis apparatus includes an introducer with a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue. An energy delivery device has a first set of RF electrodes and a second set of RF electrodes. Each RF electrode of the first and second sets has a tissue piercing distal end and is positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue. The first and second sets of RF electrodes are deployable with curvature from the introducer. The second set of RF electrodes is deployable a greater distance from the introducer than the first set of RF electrodes.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus has an expandable member that is inserted into an organ of a body and ablates all or a selected portion of the inner layer of the organ. Electrolytic solution fills the expandable member, and the expandable member includes a plurality of apertures from which electrolytic solution flows from the expandable member. First and second fluid conduits, which can be first and second conforming members, are in a surrounding relationship to the expandable member. The second conforming member, including a conductive surface, is made of a material that provides substantial conformity between the conductive surface and a shape of the inner layer of the organ. A plurality of electrodes is positioned between the two conforming members. The expandable member serves as an insulator to RF energy. Each electrode includes an insulator formed on a surface of the electrode positioned adjacent to the second conforming member.

Abstract: A cell necrosis apparatus includes an introducer with a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue, an energy delivery including a plurality of electrodes and a slidable sensing member. Each electrode of the plurality of electrodes has a tissue piercing distal end and is positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue. At least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes is deployable with curvature from the introducer. The slidable sensing member is positionable within the introducer and electrically coupled to the energy delivery device. The sensing member is configured to measure a property of the energy delivery device or at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: A cell necrosis apparatus includes an introducer with a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue. An energy delivery device has a first set of RF electrodes, a second set of RF electrodes and a third RF electrode. Each of electrodes has a tissue piercing distal end and is positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue. The first and second sets of RF electrodes are deployable with curvature from the introducer. The third RF electrode is deployable from the introducer with less curvature than the first and second sets of RF electrodes. The second set of RF electrodes is deployable a greater distance from the introducer than the first set of RF electrodes.

Abstract: A transurethral needle ablation device for use with the human hand for radio frequency ablation of a target volume in the tissue of a prostate of a human male having a bladder with a base and a penis with a urethra therein formed by a urethral wall extending into the base of the bladder along a longitudinal axis with the tissue of the prostate surrounding the urethra near the base of the bladder. The device comprises a bridge having proximal and distal extremities and having a passage therein extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. A sheath having proximal and distal extremities is secured to the bridge and has a passageway therein in communication with the passage in the bridge. The sheath is sized so that it can enter the urethra and has a length so that when its distal extremity is in the vicinity of the prostate, the proximal extremity is outside the urethra.

Abstract: A transurethral needle ablation device for use with the human hand for radio frequency ablation of a target volume in the tissue of a prostate of a human male having a bladder with a base and a penis with a urethra therein formed by a urethral wall extending into the base of the bladder along a longitudinal axis with the tissue of the prostate surrounding the urethra near the base of the bladder. The device comprises a bridge having proximal and distal extremities and having a passage therein extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. A sheath having proximal and distal extremities is secured to the bridge and has a passageway therein in communication with the passage in the bridge. The sheath is sized so that it can enter the urethra and has a length so that when its distal extremity is in the vicinity of the prostate, the proximal extremity is outside the urethra.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus for ablating an inner layer in an organ or lumen of a body, or any desired thin layer, includes an expandable member made of a material with a porous exterior surface. An electrolytic solution, housed in an interior of the expandable member, releases electrolytic solution through the porous exterior surface. A conforming member, which can be an open cell foam material, has an RF conductive surface, and a back side in a surrounding relationship to an exterior surface of the expandable member. Further, the conforming member includes non-zone areas that have a first porosity rate for delivering electrolytic solution to the inner layer. The conforming member also includes a zone for housing each RF electrode and electrolytic solution. Zones have a second porosity rate that is less than the first porosity rate, thus permitting electrolytic solution to pass through the non-zone areas at a faster rate than in the zones.

Abstract: An ablation apparatus has an expandable member that is inserted into an organ of a body and ablates all or a selected portion of the inner layer of the organ. Electrolytic solution fills the expandable member, and the expandable member includes a plurality of apertures from which electrolytic solution flows from the expandable member. First and second fluid conduits, which can be first and second conforming members, are in a surrounding relationship to the expandable member. The second conforming member, including a conductive surface, is made of a material that provides substantial conformity between the conductive surface and a shape of the inner layer of the organ. A plurality of electrodes is positioned between the two conforming members. The expandable member serves as an insulator to RF energy. Each electrode includes an insulator formed on a surface of the electrode positioned adjacent to the second conforming member.

Abstract: An arm position control device for use in an industrial robot which comprises: a support body; a rotary arm rotatably mounted on the support body for rotation towed one of clockwise and counterclockwise deviation zones from a home position within a permissible angular extent; a home position sensor fixedly attached to the support body to identify home position of the rotary arm; a limit sensor fixedly secured to the support body with a predetermined angular spacing from the home position sensor to detect movement of the rotary arm beyond the permissible angular extent; a sensor actuator rotatable with the rotary arm as a unit for keeping the home position sensor interrupted when the rotary arm lies in the clockwise deviation zone, for making the home position sensor released when the rotary arm lies in the counterclockwise deviation zone and for bringing the limit sensor into a released condition as the rotary arm is out of the permissible angular extent; and an arm actuator operatively coupled to the rotary

Abstract: A system for removing an in-place intravascular device such as a catheter or guidewire from a patient's body lumen such as from a coronary artery and advancing a catheter or other similar device through the vascular system until its distal end is located at a desired location within the vascular system. The system includes an exchange catheter, which may be a dilatation catheter, having a flexible strand forming a loop at the distal end of the catheter which is adapted to be disposed about the guidewire or catheter which is in-place within the patient. The loop is tightened about the elongated intraluminal in-place device to be removed so that the catheter can be advanced over the in-place device until the distal end of the catheter is at a desired location within the patient's vasculature. The catheter may be used to perform a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure such as an angioplasty or a replacement device may be advanced through an inner lumen and out the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a noise reduction and signal compensating circuit for video imager which compensates a received picture image of a high density television or general television and permits reception of a clean image without noise, and reduces the deterioration in quality of a reproduced picture image which is attributed to a variable reproduction speed in a video cassette recorder (or video disk player).Accordingly, this invention provides an automatic picture quality compensating circuit which has an automatic picture quality compensating means to create a clean picture image by improving sharpness and removing noise components contained in the picture image.