Abstract: An ablation catheter is disclosed having proximal and distal ends and an external surface, a lumen contained within the catheter body, a plurality of openings in the surface of the catheter, wherein the openings are in communication with the lumen, one or more electrodes secured within the catheter within the lumen and a source for conductive media to be introduced into the lumen to contact the electrode. The ablation catheter also may contain a conductive media flow control system which controls the flow of the conductive media through the openings in the surface of the catheter.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of atrial arrhythmia by use of ablation procedures including circumferential ablation of vessels, particularly pulmonary veins, associated with the left atrium of the heart. Also medical devices for such process including a pair of balloons secured to a catheter with one balloon located within the other balloon and an ablation catheter located within one of the balloons, which devices are used for the formation of a circumferential ablation lesion in the pulmonary vein.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of atrial arrhythmia by use of ablation procedures comprising circumferential ablation of vessels, particularly pulmonary veins associated with the left atrium of the heart. Also disclosed are medical devices used for formation of the circumferential ablation lesions in vessels associated with the heart.

Abstract: An ablation system for ablating cardiac tissue within a chamber of the human heart including a guiding introducer system, a rail, one end of which is contained within the guiding introducer system, and an ablation catheter system which is supported by the guiding introducer system. The guiding introducer system may be a single or multiple guiding introducers. The ablation system may include a slotted sheath which passes over the rail which supports the ablation catheter. A process is disclosed for ablation of cardiac tissue to form a linear lesion utilizing a rail catheter ablation and mapping system which includes a guiding introducer, a rail and an ablation catheter system advanced over the rail.

Abstract: An ablation catheter is disclosed having proximal and distal ends and an external surface, a lumen contained within the catheter body, a plurality of openings in the surface of the catheter, wherein the openings are in communication with the lumen, one or more electrodes secured within the catheter within the lumen and a source for conductive media to be introduced into the lumen to contact the electrode. The ablation catheter also may contain a conductive media flow control system which controls the flow of the conductive media through the openings in the surface of the catheter.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of atrial arrhythmia by use of ablation procedures comprising circumferential ablation of vessels, particularly pulmonary veins associated with the left atrium of the heart. Also disclosed are medical devices used for formation of the circumferential ablation lesions in vessels associated with the heart.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia by use of ablation and/or mapping procedures comprising ablating discrete ablation tracks within the heart by use of a guiding introducer containing openings with an ablation catheter. Also disclosed is the shape and structure of the guiding introducer containing openings to be used for the ablation procedure.

Abstract: A steerable catheter comprised of two parts: a catheter body proximally secured to a steerable catheter handle and a catheter tip containing an X-shaped in cross-section lumen secured to the distal end of the catheter body, a pull wire passing through the catheter body and one of the arms of the X-shaped lumen of the catheter tip, one or more electrode wires passing through the catheter body and through a second arm of the X-shaped lumen of the catheter tip and a supporting flat wire passing through the two remaining opposite arms of the X-shaped lumen of the catheter tip.