Abstract: A cryotherapy catheter can include an elongate member and an inflatable balloon portion at a distal end of the elongate member. The inflatable balloon portion can have an external surface and an interior chamber, and the external surface can include a cooling region and a thermally insulated region. The interior chamber can be configured to receive during a cryotherapy procedure a cryogenic agent for extracting heat from body tissue that is in contact with the cooling region. A thermal profiling component can be disposed in the interior chamber and configured to thermally insulate the thermally insulated region from the cryogenic agent to minimize heat extraction by the cryogenic agent from body tissue that is in contact with the thermally insulated region.

Abstract: A cryotherapy catheter can include an elongate member and an inflatable balloon portion at a distal end of the elongate member. The inflatable balloon portion can have an external surface and an interior chamber, and the external surface can include a cooling region and a thermally insulated region. The interior chamber can be configured to receive during a cryotherapy procedure a cryogenic agent for extracting heat from body tissue that is in contact with the cooling region. A thermal profiling component can be disposed in the interior chamber and configured to thermally insulate the thermally insulated region from the cryogenic agent to minimize heat extraction by the cryogenic agent from body tissue that is in contact with the thermally insulated region.

Abstract: An apparatus including an elongate body having a lumen extending therethrough and a steering wire, having a distal portion defining a non-circular cross-section, associated with the distal portion of the elongate body.

Abstract: Distal catheter assemblies, catheters, and methods for minimizing damage to heat and/or magnetically sensitive components are provided. A distal catheter assembly comprises a housing having a cavity and a proximal mounting member. The sensitive component, e.g., a magnetic sensor, is mounted within the cavity of the housing, and another component, e.g., a steering assembly or RF wire, is mounted to the proximal mounting member. If the proximal mounting member is hollow, it may have a window to provide access to the inner surface of the proximal mounting member to facilitate mounting of the other component. The proximal mounting member extends proximally from the sensitive component, thereby minimizing any adverse effects on the sensitive component that may otherwise result from mounting the other component in close proximity to the sensitive component. In the preferred embodiment, the housing forms a cap-shaped head and a cylindrical neck section, with the head forming an ablation electrode.

Abstract: Distal catheter assemblies, catheters, and methods for minimizing damage to heat and/or magnetically sensitive components are provided. A distal catheter assembly comprises a composite housing having a cavity formed therein and first and second complementary lateral housing sections. A first component, e.g., a sensor, is mounted within the first housing section. Optionally, a second component, e.g., a steering assembly or RF wire, can also be mounted to the first housing section. The open housing section allows the first and second components to be mounted in any order. Thus, if the first component is mounted last, any adverse effects on the first component that may otherwise result from mounting the components in the reverse order may be minimized. After the first and second components are mounted, the first and second housing sections are affixed to each other in a suitable manner, e.g., by using a pin and hole arrangement.

Abstract: Distal catheter assemblies, catheters, and methods for minimizing damage to heat and/or magnetically sensitive components are provided. A distal catheter assembly comprises a distal housing having a cavity and a separate proximal mounting member. A first component, e.g., a sensor, is mounted within the cavity of the housing, and a second component, e.g., a steering assembly or RF wire, is mounted to the proximal mounting member. If the proximal mounting member is hollow, it may have a window to provide access to the inner surface of the proximal mounting member to facilitate mounting of the second component. After the first and second components are mounted, the proximal mounting member can then be affixed to the distal housing, thereby minimizing any adverse affects on the sensitive component that may otherwise result from mounting the first and second components on a single member.