Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating in situ biologic tissue include identifying a patient with a condition susceptible to treatment by forming a lesion in the tissue and accessing a surface of the tissue. A lesion formation tool is positioned against the accessed surface. The tool includes an optical fiber for guiding a coherent waveform of a selected wavelength to a fiber tip for discharge of light energy from the fiber tip. The wavelength is selected for the light energy to penetrate a full thickness of the tissue to form a volume of necrosed tissue through the thickness of the tissue. The tool further includes a guide tip coupled to the fiber tip. The guide tip is adapted to have a discharge bore aligned with the fiber tip to define an unobstructed light pathway from the fiber tip to the tissue surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating atrial tissue include positioning a lesion formation tool against the atrial surface. An optical fiber of the tool is energized at a wavelength is selected to form a volume of necrosed tissue through the thickness of the atrial tissue. A guide member is attached to the tip of the fiber. The guide member is slidable along the surface of the atrial tissue in atraumatic sliding engagement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a body tissue in situ (e.g., an atrial tissue of a heart to treat) atrial fibrillation include a lesion formation tool is positioned against the heart surface. The lesion formation tool includes a guide member having a tissue-opposing surface for placement against a heart surface. An ablation member is coupled to the guide member to move in a longitudinal path relative to the guide member. The ablation member has an ablation element for directing ablation energy in an emitting direction away from the tissue-opposing surface. The guide member may be flexible to adjust a shape of the guide member for the longitudinal path to approximate the desired ablation path while maintaining the tissue-opposing surface against the heart surface. In one embodiment, the ablation member includes at least one radiation-emitting member disposed to travel in the longitudinal pathway. Transmurality can be assessed to approximate a location of non-transmurality in a formed lesion.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a biological tissue of a patient in situ includes an optical fiber for guiding a coherent waveform of a selected wavelength to a fiber tip. The wavelength is selected to have a low absorption in water. The fiber tip is contained within a guide member having a discharge bore to define an unobstructed light pathway. The guide member is adapted to be slidable along a tissue surface in atraumatic sliding engagement with the discharge bore opposing the surface. The guide member is carried on an elongated flexible member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating atrial tissue include positioning a lesion formation tool against the atrial surface. An optical fiber of the tool is energized at a wavelength is selected to have a low absorption in water.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a lesion in cardiac tissue includes an optical fiber for guiding a coherent waveform of a selected wavelength to a fiber tip. The wavelength is selected to have a low absorption in water. The fiber tip is contained within a guide member having a discharge bore for a direction of energy discharge to define an unobstructed light pathway from the fiber tip through a discharge end of the discharge bore. A fluid pathway is in fluid flow communication with the guide member to admit a bio-compatible flushing fluid to the discharge bore.

Abstract: A microwave tomographic device including a single frequency three dimensional microwave tomographic system in cooperation with a single frequency three dimensional electrical impedance capable of imaging a full scale biological object is disclosed. The device includes a code division software which cooperates with a microwave patch system to, inter alia, enable superficial imaging of biological systems. A cluster of antennas and transceivers are used to provide MWT and EIT integrated in a single 3 dimensional microwave tomographic system for examining the biological from a number of views in real-time.

Abstract: A microwave tomographic device including a single frequency three dimensional microwave tomographic system in cooperation with a single frequency three dimensional electrical impedance capable of imaging a full scale biological object is disclosed. The device includes a code division software which cooperates with a microwave patch system to, inter alia, enable superficial imaging of biological systems. A cluster of antennas and transceivers are used to provide MWT and EIT integrated in a single 3 dimensional microwave tomographic system for examining the biological from a number of views in real-time.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for non-invasive tomographic spectroscopy of tissue using a plurality of microwave emitter-receivers spatially oriented to the tissue, an interface medium placed between the emitter-receivers, and a control subsystem operably coupled to the plurality of emitter-receivers for selectively controlling power to the plurality of emitter-receivers and for receiving signals from the plurality of emitter-receivers so that multiple frequency radiation is emitted from a selected plurality of emitter-receivers and received by a selected plurality of emitter-receivers after interacting with and passing through the tissue, and a computational subsystem operably connected to the control subsystem for computing a tomographic spectroscopic image of the tissue from the microwave signals received from the selected plurality of emitter-receivers.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for non-invasive tomographic spectroscopy of tissue using a plurality of microwave emitter-receivers spatially oriented to the tissue, an interface medium placed between the emitter-receivers, and a control subsystem operably coupled to the plurality of emitter-receivers for selectively controlling power to the plurality of emitter-receivers and for receiving signals from the plurality of emitter-receivers so that multiple frequency radiation is emitted from a selected plurality of emitter-receivers and received by a selected plurality of emitter-receivers after interacting with and passing through the tissue, and a computational subsystem operably connected to the control subsystem for computing a tomographic spectroscopic image of the tissue from the microwave signals received from the selected plurality of emitter-receivers.

Abstract: The invention is a system for non-invasive microwave tomographic spectroscopy of tissue using a plurality of microwave emitter-receivers spatially oriented to the tissue, an interface medium placed between the emitter-receivers, and a control subsystem operably coupled to the plurality of microwave emitter-receivers for selectively controlling power to the plurality of emitter-receivers and for receiving microwave signals from the plurality of emitter-receivers so that multiple frequency microwave radiation is emitted from a selected plurality of emitter-receivers and received by a selected plurality of emitter-receivers after interacting with and passing through the tissue, and a computational subsystem operably connected to the control subsystem for computing a tomographic spectroscopic image of the tissue from the microwave signals received from the selected plurality of emitter-receivers.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for mapping of tachyarrhythmia, such as ventricular tachycardia. The apparatus is a mapping catheter which is a polymer member including a plurality of electrodes at a distal end. An upper ring is divided into at least bipolar poles for sensing endocardial potentials. A spaced lower unipolar ring senses intercardic potentials. The process provides for sensing of a QRS signal with the upper bipolar electrodes, and the unipolar ring provides for sensing of the EKG signal. The mapping catheter is of such a size that the mapping catheter can be inserted up and through a hand-held probe to steer and guide the mapping catheter. An interventional catheter will fit within the mapping catheter for ablation of arrhythmogenic sites. One embodiment is a laser delivery catheter which can include a fiber optic cable, a fixation wire, a metal sensing tip and an internal flushing lumen.

Abstract: An electrophysiologically guided arrhythmia ablation system for ventricular tachycardia or other arrhythmia. The system combines a system for recording the electrical activtion time of various parts of the heart for locating an active site of the arrhythmia, with a system for delivering energy for ablation of the arrhythmia. The system has the capability of processing local myocardial electrical activation data and triggering the ablation energy source when at the active site or inhibiting the release of potentially harmful energy when the device is not at an active site. The process includes identification of an active site occurs during the 20-80%, preferably 35-50%, time period of a diastolic interval. The diastolic interval is monitored by appropriate electrical connections between the heart and a monitor. A mapping device also connects to the monitor which maps for indicating an active site.

Abstract: An electrophysiologically guided arrhythmia ablation system for ventricular tachycardia or other arrhythmias. The system includes recording the electrical activation time of various parts of the heart for locating the active site of the arrhythmia. The system has the capability of processing local myocardial electrical activation data. The process includes identification of an active site which occurs during the 20-80%, preferably 35-50%, time period of a diastolic interval. The diastolic interval is monitored by appropriate electrical connections between the heart and a monitor. A mapping device connects to the monitor which maps for indicating an active site. The active site is then a site for preferred placement of an electrode for a defibrilator.