Abstract: A catheter and method for the treatment of a patient having atrial flutter or other arrhythmia comprises an elongated catheter body having an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. Further it has a distal tip section comprising a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of lumens extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section further comprises a nitinol tube having slots formed therein which causes the distal tip section to deflect using the same puller-wire action used to cause the deflectable catheter to deflect at a point proximal to the distal tip section.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a catheter assembly for use in a medical procedure to conduct electrophysiological mapping. The catheter assembly includes a catheter having an end effector with a tip member. One or more insert-molded microelectrodes are located in the tip member of the end effector for conducting electrophysiological mapping. The insert-molded microelectrodes include a microelectrode and a composite that isolates the microelectrode from contact with the tip member.

Abstract: A catheter with a variable circular loop is responsive to a contraction wire for increasing the coiling of the circular loop. The shape of the loop is supported by an elongated member, wherein a radially constrictive sleeve confines the contraction wire to extends immediately alongside the length of elongated member so as to improve uniformity and minimize misshaping of the loop during contraction.

Abstract: A thermocouple assembly may feature a plurality of temperature sensors formed by thermocouple junctions. The sensors may be disposed upon a positioner, that has a configuration that displaces each of the plurality of temperature sensors from a longitudinal axis of the positioner.

Abstract: A method, including performing an ablation of tissue using a first high RF power for a short duration, suspending RF power for a predetermined period, and using a second high RF power for a short duration forming lesions with greater surface area and greater depth through resistive heating and thermal latency. High RF power may range between 75-95 W and short duration may range between 4-5 seconds.

Abstract: A catheter having an ablation electrode with at least one microelectrode configured to sense monophasic action potential signals and a force sensor configured to sense contact force of the microelectrode against tissue surface, may be used to acquire pre-ablation MAP signals with monophasic characteristics and post-ablation MAP signals to determine presence or absence of monophasic characteristics in the latter in assessing quality or success of ablation procedure and lesion formation.

Abstract: A catheter is described with an end effector having densely arrayed electrodes on three loops which are arrayed in various planar configurations when the end effector is unconstrained. The end effector has first, second and third loop members, each loop member includes two spines and a connector that connects the two spines to define a loop extending away from a tubular member of the catheter such that the first, second and third loop members are configured so that each connector of each of the first, second and third loop members is in contact with only one connector of the adjacent loop member.

Abstract: A method for displaying information includes receiving measurements, with respect to an invasive probe inside a body of a subject, of probe parameters consisting of a force exerted by the probe on tissue of the subject and temperatures measured by sensors of the probe; and responsively to the measurements, displaying in a single map on a display screen a graphical representation of a distribution of the temperatures in a vicinity of the probe and superimposing thereon a vector representation of the force, wherein the single map includes a color map based on an auto-adjust color scale. In some embodiments, the auto-adjust color scale includes a selected color that represents a maximum temperature equal to a maximum measured temperature increased by a predetermined number of degrees. In some embodiments, the auto-adjust color scale includes a selected color that represents a minimum temperature equal to a measured tissue temperature before ablation.

Abstract: A thermocouple assembly may feature a plurality of temperature sensors formed by thermocouple junctions. The sensors may be disposed upon a substrate, that has a curvature that biases each of the plurality of temperature sensors in a desired direction.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a method for providing electrical communication with a heart using a catheter having a lasso electrode assembly with a moveable spine. The lasso electrode assembly may have an array of sensing electrodes and may be configured to engage the ostium of the vessel of a patient. The moveable spine may have an ablation electrode and may travel along track around the circumference of the lasso electrode assembly. By adjusting the position of the moveable spine, tissue may be ablated to form lesions around a circumference of the vessel.

Abstract: Described and illustrated is a medical probe that includes a generally tubular member with a tip portion coupled to the tubular member. A puller wire is disposed in the tubular member and configured for movement along the longitudinal axis to bend the tip portion with respect to the longitudinal axis. An anchor is disposed within the tubular member and connected to the puller wire such that the anchor has a t-bar. The t-bar includes a generally transverse extension and a ferrule connected to the puller wire. The t-bar has a polymeric member disposed on the generally transverse extension to increase a strength of the anchor with respect to forces applied to the puller wire to deflect the tip of the medical probe.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a catheter having a lasso electrode assembly with a movable spine. The lasso electrode assembly may have an array of sensing electrodes and may be configured to engage the ostium of the vessel of a patient. The movable spine may have an ablation electrode and may travel along track around the circumference of the lasso electrode assembly. By adjusting the position of the movable spine, tissue may be ablated to form lesions around a circumference of the vessel.

Abstract: A medical device control handle or catheter includes deflection assembly and at least one of the following: a disk actuator, a lever actuator and a ring actuator for actuating additional puller wires in manipulation of multiple features of the medical device or catheter independently of each other. The disk actuator has a common rotational axis with but is rotationally independent of the deflection assembly. The lever actuator has a separate rotational axis. The ring is mounted outside of the control handle and rotatable relative to the control handle to actuate another puller wire for manipulating another feature of the catheter. Each of the disk, lever and ring actuators are of a design that allows existing control handles and catheters to be readily modified to include these actuators.

Abstract: A catheter tip may be a fabricated as a planar flexible circuit, e.g., via lithography, as having a first planar segment and a second planar segment that includes various electrodes on different sectors that are insulated from each other. The tip may be deformed to have a non-planar configuration, e.g., cylindrical, and then assembled onto a catheter. The catheter may be used to monitor ECG signals and temperature and to precisely deliver ablative energy to tissues via the various electrodes. ECG signals and temperature may be monitored for one sector while ablation energy is being delivered to another sector.

Abstract: A medical device control handle or catheter includes deflection assembly and at least one of the following: a disk actuator, a lever actuator and a ring actuator for actuating additional puller wires in manipulation of multiple features of the medical device or catheter independently of each other. The disk actuator has a common rotational axis with but is rotationally independent of the deflection assembly. The lever actuator has a separate rotational axis. The ring is mounted outside of the control handle and rotatable relative to the control handle to actuate another puller wire for manipulating another feature of the catheter. Each of the disk, lever and ring actuators are of a design that allows existing control handles and catheters to be readily modified to include these actuators.

Abstract: A catheter and method for the treatment of a patient having atrial flutter or other arrhythmia comprises an elongated catheter body having an outer wall, proximal and distal ends, and at least one lumen extending therethrough. Further it has a distal tip section comprising a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of lumens extending therethrough. The proximal end of the tip section is fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body. The tip section further comprises a nitinol tube having slots formed therein which causes the distal tip section to deflect using the same puller-wire action used to cause the deflectable catheter to deflect at a point proximal to the distal tip section.

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 thermocouple assembly may feature a plurality of temperature sensors formed by thermocouple junctions. The sensors may be disposed within an inner diameter of the tubular element and sealed within the tubular element by thermally conductive material. An air gap may be defined by the thermally conductive material and the interior diameter of the tubular element between each pair of adjacent temperature sensors to improve thermal isolation.

Abstract: A thermocouple assembly may feature a plurality of temperature sensors formed by thermocouple junctions. The sensors may be disposed upon a positioner, that has a configuration that displaces each of the plurality of temperature sensors from a longitudinal axis of the positioner.

Abstract: A thermocouple assembly may feature a plurality of temperature sensors formed by thermocouple junctions. The sensors may be disposed upon a substrate, that has a curvature that biases each of the plurality of temperature sensors in a desired direction.