Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a renal nerve modulation device. The renal nerve modulation device may include an elongate shaft. A balloon may be coupled to the shaft. The balloon may have a hydrophilic electrode region. A sensor may be coupled to the balloon and may be disposed adjacent to the hydrophilic electrode region. An electrode may be coupled to the catheter shaft and may be disposed within the balloon.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to mixtures of LaFeSiH magnetic nanoparticles having different Curie temperatures useful for improved inductive hyperthermia efficiency, injectable formulations containing the nanoparticles, and methods of raising the temperature of selected cells using the nanoparticles.

Abstract: Systems for nerve and tissue modulation are disclosed. An illustrative system may include an intravascular nerve modulation system including a catheter shaft, an expandable basket and one or more electrode assemblies affixed to the expandable basket. The one or more electrode assemblies may be affixed to the expandable basket using one or more covers or coatings.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns release mechanisms for medical implants, particularly embolic coils and the like, which utilize bulbous elements and receiving elements to constrain the bulbous elements. In some cases, the receiving elements are sized and shaped to help constrain the bulbous element axially and/or radially, and may work in concert with constraining elements and/or release wires that are optionally moveable independently of the receiving elements.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for forming the medical devices are disclosed in the present application. In one illustrative example an occlusion balloon comprises an outer balloon member, and an inner balloon member having an inner wall and an outer wall and extending through at least a portion of the outer balloon member. In at least some examples, when forces acting on the inner wall of the inner balloon member equal forces acting on the outer wall of the inner balloon member, the inner balloon member defines a lumen.

Abstract: A clip for reducing a dimension of an opening in tissue may include a continuous member having a plurality of legs and a plurality of preformed bends connecting adjacent legs, wherein the plurality of legs form: a first group having two protrusions; a second group having two protrusions; and a third group having two protrusions, wherein each protrusion of each group includes two legs of the continuous member and a corresponding preformed bend connecting the two legs, and each protrusion of each group extends from a region adjacent a first end of the clip to a region adjacent a second end of the clip.

Abstract: Methods and devices (e.g., for nerve modulation) may include at least one thermistor and a balloon having a balloon wall. In one or more embodiments, the medical device is configured and arranged to transfer heat to the medical device surroundings. In one or more embodiments, the at least one thermistor is a portion of a thermistor array disposed on the balloon wall, the thermistor array including a plurality of thermistors and operatively engaged with a source of electric current. In one or more embodiments, the device includes at least one flexible circuit mounted on the outer surface of the expandable balloon, the at least one flexible circuit including at least one temperature-sensing device that includes at least one thermistor, wherein at least a portion of a conductive layer is electronically coupled to the thermistor, with the proviso that no electrode is associated with the conductive layer.

Abstract: A clip for reducing a dimension of an opening in tissue may include a continuous member having a plurality of legs and a plurality of preformed bends connecting adjacent legs, wherein the plurality of legs form: a first group having two protrusions; a second group having two protrusions; and a third group having two protrusions, wherein each protrusion of each group includes two legs of the continuous member and a corresponding preformed bend connecting the two legs, and each protrusion of each group extends from a region adjacent a first end of the clip to a region adjacent a second end of the clip.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example medical device may include a medical device for tissue ablation. The medical device may include an elongated shaft having a distal region. An inflatable balloon may be mounted to the distal region. The inflatable balloon may include a body region, a proximal waist, a distal waist, a proximal cone region, and a distal cone region. A skirt may be attached to the inflatable balloon and may extend proximally from the body region. An electrode assembly may be applied directly to an outer surface of the body region of the inflatable balloon. The electrode assembly may include a first conductive member applied directly to the outer surface of the body region of the inflatable balloon and extending proximally therefrom along an outer surface of the skirt.

Abstract: Some embodiments of pacing systems employ wireless electrode assemblies to provide pacing therapy. The wireless electrode assemblies may wirelessly receive energy via an inductive coupling so as to provide electrical stimulation to the surrounding heart tissue. In certain embodiments, the wireless electrode assembly may include one or more biased tines that shift from a first position to a second position to secure the wireless electrode assembly into the inner wall of the heart chamber.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a catheter shaft. An expandable member may be coupled to the catheter shaft. The expandable member may be capable of shifting between a folded configuration and an expanded configuration. A plurality of flexible elements may be attached to the expandable member, with a plurality of electrode assemblies disposed on the flexible elements. The flexible elements may have a grooved substrate.

Abstract: An intravascular catheter is disclosed that includes an elongated shaft defined by a wall including at least one port extending through the wall into a lumen. At least one channel may be defined between layers of polymer making up the catheter shaft. The channel extends along at least a portion of the shaft and is in fluid communication with the port. Outer and inner diameters of the catheter may be substantially constant along the length of the catheter.

Abstract: Some embodiments of pacing systems employ wireless electrode assemblies to provide pacing therapy. The wireless electrode assemblies may wirelessly receive energy via an inductive coupling so as to provide electrical stimulation to the surrounding heart tissue. In certain embodiments, the wireless electrode assembly may include one or more biased tines that shift from a first position to a second position to secure the wireless electrode assembly into the inner wall of the heart chamber.

Abstract: A medical device for renal denervation may include a catheter shaft including an outer shaft having a lumen formed therein and an inner shaft extending within the lumen of the outer shaft. The catheter may further include an expandable member having a proximal region coupled to a distal region of the outer shaft, and a distal region of the expandable member may be coupled to a distal region of the inner shaft. In some embodiments, one or more active electrodes may be disposed on an exterior surface of the expandable member and capable of providing the renal denervation treatment. In some embodiments, the inner shaft may be rotatable in relation to the outer shaft and/or the outer shaft may be rotatable in relation to the inner shaft.

Abstract: A sensor device for sensing endoluminal geometry may include an expandable element disposed on the distal region of a shaft. The expandable element may be configured to move a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The expandable element may include one or more sensor elements configured to sense proximity of the sensor element to tissue. The sensor device may include an indicator configured to distinguish between contact of the sensor element with tissue, loss of contact and proximity of the sensor element to tissue.

Abstract: A catheter including an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, where the catheter includes a thermal element at the distal end thereof. The thermal element may be used in an ablation procedure or other procedure to heat a tissue adjacent a vessel. In some instances, the thermal element may be positioned in a first vessel and may operate to heat tissue adjacent a second vessel or adjacent an ostium between the first vessel and the second vessel. Further, the catheter may include an expandable portion on which the thermal element may be connected or positioned. The expandable portion(s) may comprise a basket or cage, a balloon, a memory shape and formable portion, and/or other mechanical expanders.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a catheter shaft. An expandable member may be coupled to the catheter shaft. The expandable member may be capable of shifting between a folded configuration and an expanded configuration. A plurality of flexible elements may be attached to the expandable member, with a plurality of electrode assemblies disposed on the flexible elements. The flexible elements may have a grooved substrate.

Abstract: A seed assembly for delivery to an interior of a heart includes an electrical stimulation circuit for delivering an electrical stimulus to cardiac tissue. A first electrode assembly is mechanically and electrically coupled to the seed assembly via a micro lead, the first electrode assembly configured to deliver the electrical stimulus generated by the electrical stimulation circuit to the cardiac tissue. The seed assembly and the first electrode assembly are sized and shaped to fit entirely within the heart.

Abstract: A renal nerve ablation device may include an elongate tubular member having a distal region. An expandable member may be coupled to the distal region. An electrode support may be coupled to the distal region of the elongate tubular member and extend over a body of the expandable member. The electrode support may be free of connection to the body of the expandable member. One or more electrodes may be coupled to the electrode support.

Abstract: A renal nerve ablation device may include an elongate tubular member having a distal region. An expandable member may be coupled to the distal region. One or more active electrodes may be coupled to the expandable member. One or more ground electrodes may be coupled to the expandable member. The one or more active electrodes and/or the one or more ground electrodes may be oriented helically about the length of the expandable member.