Abstract: Catheters including an elongated shaft defining a lumen along a longitudinal axis and having a distal portion are disclosed. The elongated shaft includes a longitudinally extending inner member defining the lumen, a support member disposed on the longitudinally extending inner member, and a reinforcement member. The support member includes a proximal portion and a distal portion separated by a breakout section. The reinforcement member is disposed on the breakout section and having a reinforcement proximal end and a reinforcement distal end, the reinforcement proximal end coupled to the proximal portion and the reinforcement distal end coupled to the distal portion. An elongated tube extends along the shaft. The tube extends longitudinally along the proximal braided member radially underneath the proximal braided member, extends longitudinally on the outer surface along the distal braided member, and extends from underneath the proximal braided member to the outer surface at the breakout section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing injury to an esophagus caused by heat or cold being delivered to the left atrium, the method including altering a heat exchange device from an insertable configuration to a heat exchanging configuration which has an inflated generally flattened cross section (e.g. capsule-shaped, elliptical) corresponding with the cross section of the inside of the esophagus such that the esophagus is maintained in its natural shape and location. In some embodiments the heat exchange device has a heat exchanger which is inflated to be in the heat exchanging configuration.