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 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 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 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 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: 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 for the treatment of tissue, particularly for the treatment of cardiac tissue to alleviate cardiac arrhythmias includes a connector having mechanical use limiter that may be placed in the handle of the catheter or at any point along the electrical connection pathway to an electro-anatomic mapping system and/or ablation system. The mechanical use limiter has a counter wheel and locking pin which when engaged disables the reconnection of the connector to any mated connector after a predetermined number of uses.

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 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: 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: A catheter for the treatment of tissue, particularly for the treatment of cardiac tissue to alleviate cardiac arrhythmias includes a connector having mechanical use limiter that may be placed in the handle of the catheter or at any point along the electrical connection pathway to an electro-anatomic mapping system and/or ablation system. The mechanical use limiter has a counter wheel and locking pin which when engaged disables the reconnection of the connector to any mated connector after a predetermined number of uses.

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 patch and sensor assembly has a magnetic-based biosensor is housed in a reusable portion that connects to the mapping and localization system via biosensor wires, and a disposable portion provides an electrode layer through which impedance-based signals are transmitted to the mapping and localization system via ACL wires, wherein the biosensor wires and the ACL wires extend through a single cable exiting the reusable portion. In one embodiment, the disposable portion includes an adhesive layer for adhering the electrode layer to a patient's body where the electrode layer is disposed on the adhesive hydrogel layer. The disposable portion also includes a foam layer disposed on the electrode layer, and an engagement element adapted to detachably receive at least a portion of a housing of the resuable portion. In one embodiment, the reusable portion includes a housing defining a sealed interior volume in which a magnetic-based biosensor is provided with biosensor wires that exit the reusable portion.

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 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 localization mechanism, or fixture, is used in conjunction with a breast coil for breast compression and for guiding a core biopsy instrument during prone biopsy procedures in both open and closed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines. The localization fixture includes a three-dimensional Cartesian positionable guide for supporting and orienting an MRI-compatible biopsy instrument, and in particular a sleeve, to a biopsy site of suspicious tissues or lesions. A depth stop enhances accurate insertion, and prevents over-insertion or inadvertent retraction of the sleeve. The sleeve receives a probe of the MRI-compatible biopsy instrument and may contain various features to enhance its imagability, to enhance vacuum and pressure assist therethrough, and marker deployment etc.