Abstract: Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), preferably a variant form such as Apolipoprotein A-I Milano (ApoA-IM), alone or more preferably in combination with a lipid carrier such as phospholipids or other drug, can be administered locally before or during bypass surgery on diseased coronary, peripheral, and cerebral arteries, surgery to implant grafts or transplanted organs, or angioplasty, or to stabilize unstable plaques. In an alternative embodiment, the apolipoprotein is not provided directly, but the gene encoding the apolipoprotein is provided. The gene is introduced into the blood vessel in a manner similar to that used for the protein, where the protein is then expressed. The technique can also be used for delivery of genes for treatment or prevention or restenosis or other cardiovascular diseases.

Abstract: A treatment method is disclosed for treating a bodily tissue utilizing one or more steps of removal of material as well as one or more steps of energy delivery in order to effectively treat the bodily tissue. These mechanisms of treatment may beneficially be used to induce separate treatment effects, for example to treat both the symptoms and the underlying cause of a specific pathological condition. In addition, a specific application of the inventive method is described for using the inventive method to treat an intervertebral disc.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for the perforation of heart tissue of a patient when an inferior approach to the heart is contraindicated are disclosed. The method includes using a superior approach to introduce the apparatus, positioning the apparatus at a tissue location and delivering a controlled amount of non-mechanical energy to the tissue to create a perforation. For example, a method of surgical perforation via the delivery of electrical, radiant or thermal energy may include: introducing an apparatus comprising an energy delivery device into a patient's heart via the patient's superior vena cava; positioning the energy delivery device at a first location adjacent material to be perforated; and perforating the material by delivering energy via the energy delivery device; wherein the energy is selected from the group consisting of electrical energy, radiant energy and thermal energy.

Abstract: A method of surgical perforation via the delivery of electrical, radiant or thermal energy comprising the steps of: introducing an apparatus comprising an energy delivery device into a patient's heart via the patient's superior vena cava; positioning the energy delivery device at a first location adjacent material to be perforated; and perforating the material by delivering energy via the energy delivery device; wherein the energy is selected from the group consisting of electrical energy, radiant energy and thermal energy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving accuracy of placement of a cannula during delivery of electrical energy proximate to bodily tissue, e.g. neural structures. The apparatus optionally includes a cannula operable to deliver electrical current where a portion of the cannula is electrically insulated and a portion of the cannula is exposed and electrically conductive. The cannula further includes a radiopaque marker to identify a specific portion of the cannula, for example to differentiate the electrically insulated region from the electrically exposed region, by allowing it to be more clearly delineated using fluoroscopy or other radiographic imaging techniques. The radiopaque marker is optionally tapered in order to reduce the force required to insert a cannula comprising a radiopaque marker into the patient's body.

Abstract: A method of treating spinal tissue of a patient's body is disclosed, the method using a system comprising an energy source and first and second internally-cooled probe assemblies, wherein each of the probe assemblies comprises an electrically conductive energy delivery device electrically coupled to the energy source. The method comprises: inserting the energy delivery devices of the first and second internally-cooled probe assemblies into spaced-apart treatment sites for the spinal tissue; delivering energy from the energy source to the spinal tissue through the energy delivery devices to create a lesion within the spinal tissue; delivering a cooling fluid to the energy delivery devices; and controlling the delivery of energy and the delivery of the cooling fluid to the energy delivery devices such that the lesion extends between the energy delivery devices.

Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus having improved placement accuracy is provided. The electrosurgical apparatus comprises an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen therethrough, a stylet positioned within a lumen, a conductive tip at the distal end for delivery of energy to the tissue, an electrical coupling at or near the proximal end for flexibly coupling a power source control unit to supply energy to the conductive tip, a fluid delivery connection interface flexibly coupled at or near the proximal end for coupling a fluid delivery mechanism. The apparatus further comprises a temperature sensor. A method of delivering electrical energy to a target treatment area of an animal body is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical probe signal generator. More particularly, it relates to a medical probe signal generator architecture. The present invention further relates to a system including a medical probe signal generator having an automatic probe type detector for detecting an identifier and at least one instrument cable comprising the identifier.

Abstract: A medical probe assembly, system, and methods for the use thereof to treat tissue are described. The system optionally comprises an energy source, two internally-cooled probe assemblies, and one or more cooling devices to provide cooling to at least one of the probe assemblies. The probe assemblies may be configured in a bipolar mode, whereby current flows preferentially between the probe assemblies. The probe assemblies and system described herein are particularly useful to deliver radio frequency energy to a patient's body. RF energy delivery may be used for various applications, including the treatment of pain, tumor ablation and cardiac ablation.

Abstract: A device with a functional tip containing at least one active electrode capable of creating a controlled perforation in body tissue through the application of energy (e.g. Radio Frequency (RF)) is described. The position of the tip of the device can be determined in response to ECG measured at the tip and determined by a monitor coupled to the device. The device is useful to remove or perforate unwanted tissue in a controlled manner in any location in the body, particularly in the atrial septum for controlled transseptal puncture. In this application, the device is introduced into the right atrium, and the functional tip is then positioned against the atrial septum. ECG is used to locate the region of the fossa ovalis on the atrial septum. Energy is applied to create the perforation and ECG is monitored to determine if the perforation was created in a desired location.

Abstract: An elongate member for inserting into a cannula is disclosed. The cannula comprises an electrically insulated region and an electrically exposed conductive region for delivering energy to form a lesion within a patient's body at an intended location relative to the electrically exposed conductive region. The elongate member is structured to cooperatively engage with the cannula at a pre-determined insertion depth and to provide a variation in radiopacity, at a pre-determined position relative to the electrically exposed conductive region, when inserted to the pre-determined insertion depth. The variation in radiopacity provides a visual reference for distinguishing, using fluoroscopic imaging, the intended location of the lesion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical probe signal generator. More particularly, it relates to a medical probe signal generator architecture. The present invention further relates to a medical probe signal generator having an automatic probe type detector, a user interface and operational parameter settings automatically configured according to a type of medical probe connected to the generator.

Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for performing an electrosurgical procedure on a bodily tissue. The device has insulated and conductive regions for creating lesions in bodily tissue. A method of using the device is also described, including specific methods of diagnosing and treating sacroiliac-related pain using the device.

Abstract: A device with a functional tip containing at least one active electrode capable of creating a controlled perforation in body tissue through the application of Radio Frequency (RF) energy is described. The position of the tip of the device can be determined in response to pressure sensed at the tip and determined by a monitor. The device is useful to remove or perforate unwanted tissue in a controlled manner in any location in the body, particularly in the atrial septum for controlled transseptal puncture. In this application, the device is introduced into the right atrium, and the functional tip is then positioned against the atrial septum. Energy is applied to create the perforation and pressure is monitored to determine if the perforation was created in a desired location. Other possible applications include the removal of plaque or thrombotic occlusions from diseased vessels.

Abstract: A method of surgical perforation via the delivery of electrical, radiant or thermal energy comprising the steps of: introducing an apparatus comprising an energy delivery device into a patient's heart via the patient's superior vena cava; positioning the energy delivery device at a first location adjacent material to be perforated; and perforating the material by delivering energy via the energy delivery device; wherein the energy is selected from the group consisting of electrical energy, radiant energy and thermal energy.

Abstract: A device for creating a surgical perforation with a functional distal tip for creating a controlled perforation. The functional tip may comprise at least one active electrode for creating the perforation through the application of Radio Frequency (RF) energy. The device is curved in order to decrease the likelihood of injury to structures of a patient such as inadvertent cardiac perforation when used in transseptal perforation procedures. The device is introduced into the right atrium, and the functional tip is then positioned against the atrial septum. Energy is applied to create the perforation. The tip is advanced toward the left atrium to create the perforation and as it advances into the left atrium, the device takes on its curved shape to direct the tip away from cardiac structures. The position of the tip of the device can be determined in response to pressure sensed at the tip and determined by a monitor.

Abstract: This invention discloses a cannula comprising an elongate shaft comprising a distal region and a proximal region and defining a lumen therebetween, and further comprising a wall defining at least one lateral aperture therethrough and a distal end defining at least one distal aperture. The distal region comprises an electrically exposed and conductive distal tip and the outer surface of the cannula between the distal tip and the proximal region is non-conductive.

Abstract: An electrosurgical device having improved placement accuracy is provided. The electrosurgical device comprises an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen therethrough, a conductive tip at the distal end for delivery of energy to the tissue, an electrical connector at or near the proximal end for flexibly coupling a power source control unit to supply energy to the conductive tip, a fluid delivery connection interface flexibly coupled at or near the proximal end for coupling a fluid delivery mechanism. The device further comprises a temperature sensor. A method of delivering electrical energy to a target on an animal is also provided.

Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus having improved placement accuracy is provided. The electrosurgical apparatus comprises an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen therethrough, a stylet positioned within a lumen, a conductive tip at the distal end for delivery of energy to the tissue, an electrical coupling at or near the proximal end for flexibly coupling a power source control unit to supply energy to the conductive tip, a fluid delivery connection interface flexibly coupled at or near the proximal end for coupling a fluid delivery mechanism. The apparatus further comprises a temperature sensor. A method of delivering electrical energy to a target treatment area of an animal body is also provided.

Abstract: A novel medical probe assembly, system, and methods for the use thereof to treat tissue are described. The system optionally comprises an energy source, two probe assemblies, and one or more cooling devices to provide cooling to at least one of the probe assemblies. The probe assemblies may be configured in a bipolar mode, whereby current flows preferentially between the probe assemblies. The probe assemblies and system described herein are particularly useful to deliver radio frequency energy to a patient's body. RF energy delivery may be used for various applications, including the treatment of pain, tumor ablation and cardiac ablation.