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 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 has a two-piece tip electrode with a shell and a support structure defining a chamber, and a fluid distribution tube that extends longitudinally into the chamber, the fluid tube having fluid apertures along its length for distributing fluid more uniformly distributed throughout the chamber for improved cooling and thus minimizing the risk of char formation on regions of the tip electrode more prone to overheating.

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 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 device that shields internal organs and tissues from medical procedures performed within a patient's body, especially in the chest cavity where ablation and related procedures are performed in or near the heart, includes a catheter body, a distal section, and a barrier member that can be inflated with fluid to act as a barrier to extreme temperatures and physical trauma, and be deflated to a smaller size to facilitate entry and removal from the patient's chest cavity. In a more detailed embodiment, the barrier member is a balloon that can protect the esophagus, which can be provided with folds and shape memory elements so that the balloon expands and collapses into predetermined configurations. Fluid is fed to and drawn from the barrier member via an irrigation tubing that extends along a catheter shaft and is in communication with a lumen of a deflectable tubing section that extends through an interior cavity of the barrier member. The catheter can be adapted for uni- or bi-directional deflection.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a minimally invasive medical procedure into human breast tissue includes a cannula and an obturator. The cannula includes an open distal end, a lateral opening proximate to the open distal end, and a longitudinal lumen communicating with the lateral opening and the open distal end. The lumen has a non-circular cross-section. The obturator is sized for insertion into the cannula. The obturator has a distal end extending from the open distal end of the cannula when the obturator is inserted fully into the cannula. The obturator has a recess proximate of the distal end of the obturator. The recess is positioned along a portion of the length of the obturator to align with the lateral opening of the cannula when the obturator is inserted fully into the cannula.

Abstract: An patch and sensor assembly for use in an EP mapping system has two portions: a reusable portion and a disposable portion. The reusable portion houses the biosensors used in magnetic based location and mapping systems and the electrical lead necessary to communicate between the biosensor and the mapping system. The reusable portion may also contain a portion of the electrode necessary to receive electrical signals from the body of the patient. The disposable portion of the patch and sensor assembly contains an adhesive covered flexible patch having at least a portion of the electrode used to receive electrical signals form the body of the patient and may contain the electrical lead necessary to communicate such an electrical signal to the mapping system. The disposable portion contains a receptacle adapted to receive and mechanically secure the reusable portion to the disposable portion of the assembly.

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 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: An obturator as part of a biopsy system enhances use with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) by indicating location of a side aperture in an encompassing cannula. The cannula (e.g., detached probe, sleeve sized to receive a core biopsy probe) includes a side aperture for taking a tissue sample. When the obturator is inserted in lieu of the biopsy device into the cannula, a notch formed in a shaft of the obturator corresponds to the side aperture. A dugout trough into the notch may further accept aqueous material to further accentuate the side aperture. In addition, a series of dimensionally varied apertures (e.g., wells, slats) that communicate through a lateral surface of the shaft and that are proximal to the side aperture receive an aqueous material to accentuate visibility in an MRI image, even in a skewed MRI slice through the cannula/obturator.

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: 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: An obturator as part of a biopsy system enhances use with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) by indicating location of a side aperture in an encompassing cannula. The cannula (e.g., detached probe, sleeve sized to receive a core biopsy probe) includes a side aperture for taking a tissue sample. When the obturator is inserted in lieu of the biopsy device into the cannula, a notch formed in a shaft of the obturator corresponds to the side aperture. A dugout trough into the notch may further accept aqueous material to further accentuate the side aperture. In addition, a series of dimensionally varied apertures (e.g., wells, slats) that communicate through a lateral surface of the shaft and that are proximal to the side aperture receive an aqueous material to accentuate visibility in an MRI image, even in a skewed MRI slice through the cannula/obturator.

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 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 patch and sensor assembly has a biosensor housed in a reusable portion that connects to a mapping and localization system (MLS) via biosensor wires. A disposable portion has an electrode layer through which signals are transmitted to the MLS via ACL wires. The biosensor and ACL wires extend through a single cable exiting the reusable portion. The disposable portion includes an adhesive layer for adhering the electrode layer to a patient, on the electrode layer, and an engagement element for detachably receiving at least a portion of the housing of the reusable portion. The reusable portion includes a housing in which the biosensor has biosensor wires that exit the reusable portion. The housing is also adapted to carry and/or provide support to an ACL contact member responsive to the electrode layer of the disposable portion, and ACL wires that exit the reusable portion.

Abstract: A patch and sensor assembly has a biosensor housed in a reusable portion that connects to a mapping and localization system (MLS) via biosensor wires. A disposable portion has an electrode layer through which signals are transmitted to the MLS via ACL wires. The biosensor and ACL wires extend through a single cable exiting the reusable portion. The disposable portion includes an adhesive layer for adhering the electrode layer to a foam layer on the electrode layer, and an engagement element for detachably receiving at least a portion of the housing of the reusable portion. The reusable portion includes a housing in which the biosensor has biosensor wires that exit the reusable portion. The housing is also adapted to carry and/or provide support to an ACL contact member responsive to the electrode layer of the disposable portion, and ACL wires that exit the reusable portion.