Abstract: A balloon catheter includes an inflatable balloon coupled to an outer catheter shaft and an axially translatable nose tip to which the inflatable balloon is coupled. An electrode basket surrounds the balloon and has a plurality of first splines and a plurality of second splines, wherein the plurality of first splines and the plurality of second splines are configured to deploy under inflation of the inflatable balloon and wherein at least some first splines of the plurality of first splines include at least one electrode. An actuator axially translates the nose tip in a longitudinal direction to facilitate the electrode basket moving to a collapsed state when the balloon is deflated and to an expanded state when the balloon is inflated. The actuator moves between an extended position and a retracted position and a lock mechanism locks the actuator in the extended position.

Abstract: A balloon catheter includes an inflatable balloon coupled to an outer catheter shaft and an axially translatable nose tip coupled to the inflatable balloon. An electrode basket surrounds the balloon and has a plurality of first splines and a plurality of second splines. The plurality of splines includes a first reference spline on which a first radiopaque marker is formed, a second reference spline on which a second radiopaque marker is formed and a third reference spline on which a third radiopaque marker is formed, the second radiopaque marker being located a first angular distance in a first direction from the first radiopaque marker and the third radiopaque marker being located the first angular distance in a second direction from the first radiopaque marker, wherein the second radiopaque marker is located proximal to the first radiopaque marker and the third radiopaque marker is located distal to the first radiopaque marker.

Abstract: An ablation catheter that includes a shaft having a distal end and a balloon coupled to the shaft. The balloon has an inner surface and an opposite outer surface. The inner surface has a proximal region including a proximal balloon end, a main center region, and a distal region including a distal balloon end. The ablation catheter also includes an energy emitter disposed inside the balloon and being configured to move both axially and rotationally within the inside of the balloon. The ablation catheter includes a thermally resistant coating disposed along the inner surface of the balloon within at least the main center region of the inner surface of the balloon. The thermally resistant coating is formed of a material selected from a group consisting of: silicone rubber, polyisoprene, polyurethane.

Abstract: An ablation balloon catheter includes an outer catheter shaft and an inflatable balloon coupled at a first end to the outer catheter shaft. The catheter includes a translatable nose tip to which a second end of the inflatable balloon is coupled. The catheter has a first electrode basket having a plurality of first splines and a second electrode basket having a plurality of second splines. The second electrode basket is disposed over the first electrode basket and the plurality of first splines are rotationally offset from the plurality of second splines. One or more of the first splines support one or more electrodes and one or more of the second splines support one or more electrodes. The first and second electrode baskets have a collapsed state when the balloon is deflated and a deployed state when the balloon is inflated.

Abstract: A method for ablating target tissue includes the steps of: (a) delivering an ablation balloon catheter to the target tissue, wherein the ablation balloon catheter includes a compliant balloon, a visualization device; and an electrode array that is visible to the visualization device, each electrode being configured to deliver ablation energy, wherein the electrode array is independently movable relative to the compliant balloon; (b) isolating the target tissue such that at least one electrode of the electrode array is in contact with the target tissue; and (c) delivering the ablation energy to those electrodes of the electrode array that are confirmed, using the visualization device, to be in contact with target tissue.

Abstract: An ablation catheter that includes a shaft having a distal end and a balloon coupled to the shaft. The balloon has an inner surface and an opposite outer surface. The inner surface has a proximal region including a proximal balloon end, a main center region, and a distal region including a distal balloon end. The ablation catheter also includes an energy emitter disposed inside the balloon and being configured to move both axially and rotationally within the inside of the balloon. The ablation catheter includes a thermally resistant coating disposed along the inner surface of the balloon within at least the main center region of the inner surface of the balloon. The thermally resistant coating is formed of a material selected from a group consisting of: silicone rubber, polyisoprene, polyurethane.