Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are provided for deployment of one or more functional devices, such as therapeutic and/or diagnostic medical devices and/or positioning devices, at various locations relative to a defined operative path. The devices, systems, and methods can include a guide system and a positioning element. The guide system defines the operative path when deployed within a patient's body. The positioning element cooperates with the guide system to define one or more positions relative the defined operative path from which the one or more functional devices are deployed. The present inventions allow for the accurate and reliable placement of the one or more functional devices at the one or more positions relative the operative path. In one embodiment, the functional device is an ablation device adapted to ablate cardiac tissue for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are provided for deployment of one or more functional devices, such as therapeutic or diagnostic medical devices, or positioning devices, at various locations relative to a defined operative path. The devices, systems, and methods can include a guide system and a positioning element. The guide system defines the operative path when deployed within a patient's body. The positioning element cooperates with the guide system to define one or more positions relative the defined operative path from which the one or more functional devices are deployed. The present inventions allow for the accurate and reliable placement of the one or more functional devices at the one or more positions relative the operative path. In one embodiment, the functional device is an ablation device adapted to ablate cardiac tissue for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: The present invention related to devices and methods that use returned power (RP) measurements during microwave energy delivery to perform one or more functions. For example, microwave devices and systems that comprise one or more features to measure the returned microwave power. One or more measurements of the returned microwave power may be used to obtain information about one or more of: antenna shape, system status and system performance. One or more measurements of the returned microwave power shaping elements may also be used to obtain information about one or more properties of the target material. The invention also discloses devices and methods for delivering microwave energy to a variety of target materials to achieve a variety of desired microwave effects.

Abstract: The invention comprises novel microwave antennas wherein the microwave field profile generated by an antenna is tailored and optimized for a particular clinical application. The antennas disclosed herein incorporate one or more additional elements called shaping elements that use unique properties of microwaves such as interaction of a microwave field with one or more conductive or non-conductive elements to shape or redistribute the microwave field. Such shaping elements may be used to reduce the undesired backward coupling of the emitted microwave field to the transmission line. Such shaping elements may be used to increase the power efficiency of the antenna. The invention also discloses devices and methods for treating tissue with microwave energy emitted from the antennas for use in applications such as destroying a soil tissue by microwave ablation.

Abstract: Devices and methods for treating tissue with microwave energy used in applications such as destroying a soft tissue by microwave ablation and/or creating point, line, area or volumetric lesions. Various embodiments of flexible, low-profile devices are also disclosed where such device can be inserted non-invasively or minimally invasively near or into the target tissue such as cardiac tissue. The devices disclosed herein comprise antennas wherein the field profile generated by an antenna is tailored and optimized for a particular clinical application. The antennas use unique properties of microwaves such as interaction of a microwave field with one or more conductive or non-conductive shaping elements to shape or redistribute the microwave field.

Abstract: The present invention discloses medical systems and methods adapted for the delivery of various medical components such as microwave antennas within or on a body for performing one or more medical procedures. Several embodiments herein disclose medical systems comprising a combination of one or more medical components and one or more elongate steerable or non-steerable arms that are adapted to mechanically manipulate the one or more medical components. Several embodiments of microwave antennas are disclosed that comprise an additional diagnostic or therapeutic modality located on or in the vicinity of the microwave antennas.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for treating tissue with microwave energy. Such devices and methods are able to treat cavities or surface tissue by creating one or more area or volumetric lesions. Also disclosed are flexible, low-profile devices that can be inserted non-invasively or minimally invasively near or into the target tissue as well as microwave antennas designed to generate ablation profiles that can ablate a large area or a large volume of target tissue in a single ablation. The devices include antennas wherein the field profile generated by an antenna is tailored and optimized for a particular clinical application. The antennas use unique properties of microwaves such as interaction of a microwave field with a metallic object and the use of additional shaping elements to shape the microwave field.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods relating to delivery systems suitable for positioning various medical components within a patient's body and, more specifically, to delivery systems designed to cooperate with certain therapeutic and diagnostic devices.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are provided for deployment of one or more functional devices, such as therapeutic or diagnostic medical devices, or positioning devices, at various locations relative to a defined operative path. The devices, systems, and methods can include a guide system and a positioning element. The guide system defines the operative path when deployed within a patient's body. The positioning element cooperates with the guide system to define one or more positions relative the defined operative path from which the one or more functional devices are deployed. The present inventions allow for the accurate and reliable placement of the one or more functional devices at the one or more positions relative the operative path. In one embodiment, the functional device is an ablation device adapted to ablate cardiac tissue for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: Devices, tools and methods for occluding fluid flow between two walls of tissue in a patient. Two walls of tissue are compressed together with sufficient compressive force to prevent fluid flow between the two walls, while ensuring that the compressive force is not so great as to cause tissue necrosis. The devices, tools and methods may be carried out using minimally invasive surgical techniques, such as in reduced-access surgical sites. Devices, tools and methods are provided for occluding an atrial appendix.

Abstract: An adjustable surgical clamp including one or more ablation elements creates a circular lesion in a first operating mode and a linear lesion in a second operating mode. A “box” lesion surrounding all four pulmonary veins may be formed by using the clamp to create two complimentary C-shaped lesions about pairs of the veins. A thermochromic liquid crystal strip that changes color at a tissue-ablating threshold temperature may be mounted on the surgical clamp to monitor temperature of the ablated tissue. Two microwave antennae may be positioned on the jaws of the clamp relative to each other to produce a combined substantially uniform field of tissue-ablating energy between the jaws.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided as an accessory to an ablation device or instrument. The accessory includes a first and second jaw members adapted to work with an existing ablation device during ablation of biological tissue. The first jaw member includes a partial lumen adapted to accept and hold an ablation device therein. The accessory further includes a clamping means operably attached to the jaw members to facilitate placement and retention of target tissue therebetween. The accessory may incorporate a transmurality assessment system to determined whether the ablation is complete. The transmurality system may actively or passively obtain tissue characteristics indicating transmurality. These transmurality systems may includes two or more electrodes which each measure at least one of conduction time, conduction distance, conduction velocity, phase angle, and impedance through at least a portion of the targeted tissue to determine the transmurality of the ablation lesion.