Abstract: A method of monitoring cardiac dysfunction, such as pericardial effusion, is disclosed. The method uses an indwelling probe inserted within a coronary sinus or a chamber or vessel of the heart, the probe having motion sensing means configured to sense motion of the probe based on movement of the wall of the coronary sinus or other chamber or vessel. Data is obtained from the motion sensing means and processed to monitor for cardiac dysfunction. The monitoring can be in real-time and can utilise one or more three-axis accelerometers. In some embodiments, two or more three-axis accelerometers are spaced longitudinally along an elongate body of the probe, which can increase accuracy and reliability of monitoring.

Abstract: A method of monitoring cardiac dysfunction, such as pericardial effusion, is disclosed. The method uses an indwelling probe inserted within a coronary sinus or a chamber or vessel of the heart, the probe having motion sensing means configured to sense motion of the probe based on movement of the wall of the coronary sinus or other chamber or vessel. Data is obtained from the motion sensing means and processed to monitor for cardiac dysfunction. The monitoring can be in real-time and can utilise one or more three-axis accelerometers. In some embodiments, two or more three-axis accelerometers are spaced longitudinally along an elongate body of the probe, which can increase accuracy and reliability of monitoring.

Abstract: A biomedical return electrode for electrosurgery or radiofrequency (RF), a biomedical electrode pad (100), a system (300), and a method of treating tissue using a biomedical return electrode are disclosed. The biomedical return electrode comprises an electrode conductor (114) for receiving electrical energy from tissue via a return path, and a thermochromic liquid crystal (TLC) layer (116) coupled to the conductor (114). The TLC layer (116) changes color at one or more sites dependent upon the conductor temperature at each site. The TLC layer (116) changes color in a predetermined range of temperatures from about 40° C. to about 50° C. to alert an operator about the risk of a burn occurring. The biomedical electrode pad (100) comprises at least one such biomedical return electrode and a conductive body (112) to form a contact with tissue. The system (300) comprises an apparatus for delivering electrical energy to tissue and such a biomedical electrode pad (100).

Abstract: A method (100), an apparatus, and a computer program product are disclosed for automated processing of intracardiac electrophysiological data.

Abstract: A biomedical return electrode for electrosurgery or radiofrequency (RF), a biomedical electrode pad (100), a system (300), and a method of treating tissue using a biomedical return electrode are disclosed. The biomedical return electrode comprises an electrode conductor (114) for receiving electrical energy from tissue via a return path, and a thermochromic liquid crystal (TLC) layer (116) coupled to the conductor (114). The TLC layer (116) changes colour at one or more sites dependent upon the conductor temperature at each site. The TLC layer (116) changes colour in a predetermined range of temperatures from about 40° C. to about 50° C. to alert an operator about the risk of a burn occurring. The biomedical electrode pad (100) comprises at least one such biomedical return electrode and a conductive body (112) to form a contact with tissue. The system (300) comprises an apparatus for delivering electrical energy to tissue and such a biomedical electrode pad (100).

Abstract: Surgical devices (60) are described that are capable of creating deep thermal ablation lesions using a percutaneous or endoscopic technique. In one embodiment, the device (600) has a catheter-like member (620) with a lumen that comprises an intramural ablation needle (640) and a helical fixing member (630). The helical fixing member (630) is preferably 3 mm long and is used to fix the catheter (620) to the tissue to be ablated (610) enabling the intramural needle-like member (640) to be pushed into the tissue (610). The intramural needle-like member (640) may comprise a thermocouple to allow temperature-controlled ablation and an irrigation tube to allow irrigated needle ablation.

Abstract: A system (2,4), method and splitter (6) for ablating tissue (15) using radiofrequency (RF) energy is disclosed. The system (2,4) ablates tissue (15) using unipolar RF energy simultaneously delivered to multiple electrodes (22A-22D) in one or more probes (20). This is carried out by the multiple channel RF splitter (6) that can independently control the RP energy delivered through each channel (18) to a respective electrode (22A-22D) in a continuous manner. Each electrode (22A-22D) has a corresponding temperature sensor or transducer (36A-36D) that is processed independently so that the amount of RF energy delivered to each electrode (22A-22D) can be varied dependent on the temperature of the electrode (22A-22D) so that the lesion size produced by each electrode (22A-22D) can be accurately controlled. Preferably, each probe (20) has a needle-like structure with a number of electrodes (22A-22D) separated by insulative material and is adapted to puncture tissue.

Abstract: A system (2,4), method and splitter (6) for ablating tissue (15) using radiofrequency (RF) energy is disclosed. The system (2,4) ablates tissue (15) using unipolar RF energy simultaneously delivered to multiple electrodes (22A-22D) in one or more probes (20). This is carried out by the multiple channel RF splitter (6) that can independently control the RF energy delivered through each channel (18) to a respective electrode (22A-22D) in a continuous manner. Each electrode (22A-22D) has a corresponding temperature sensor or transducer (36A-36D) that is processed independently so that the amount of RF energy delivered to each electrode (22A-22D) can be varied dependent on the temperature of the electrode (22A-22D) so that the lesion size produced by each electrode (22A-22D) can be accurately controlled. Preferably, each probe (20) has a needle-like structure with a number of electrodes (22A-22D) separated by insulative material and is adapted to puncture tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a needle-like probe (1) for use in electrical potential sensing and RF ablation of tissue, a method of making such probes (1), and a probe array comprising a number of such probes (1). The probe (1) has an elongated body (2, 22) with one end (9,29) adapted for penetration of tissue. The body (2, 22) has sufficient rigidity to be inserted into the tissue. The elongated body (2, 22) also comprises two or more electrodes (7, 27) separated and spaced apart from each other along the elongated body (2, 22) by insulative material (8, 28). Each electrode (7, 27) has at least one electrical conductor (10, 11) coupled to the electrode (7, 27). The electrode (7, 27) is capable of delivering RF energy to the tissue surrounding the electrode (7, 27) and sensing the electrical potential of the tissue.