Abstract: A radio-frequency heating balloon catheter is capable of cauterizing a target lesion in an atrial vestibule. The radio-frequency heating balloon catheter comprises: a catheter tube including an outer tube and an inner tube slidably extended through the outer tube, an inflatable balloon connected to an extremity of the outer tube and a part near an extremity of the inner tube, and capable of coming into contact with a target lesion when inflated, a radio-frequency electrode serving as a counter to a surface electrode attached to a surface of a subject's body and being placed in a wall of the balloon or inside the balloon to supply radio-frequency power between the surface electrode and the radio-frequency electrode, a temperature sensor capable of sensing temperature inside the balloon, a guide shaft projecting from the extremity of the inner tube and capable of holding the balloon on the target lesion, and a guide wire extended through the catheter tube and the guide shaft.

Abstract: A radiofrequency thermal balloon catheter makes it possible to heat uniformly the tissues in contact with the balloon and to achieve thermotherapy such as ablation or hyperthermia safely and properly for a diseased part.

Abstract: A balloon catheter is capable of forming a transmural necrotic layer around the pulmonary vein ostium without excessively cauterizing the endocardium and of cauterizing portions of the four pulmonary veins around the ostium of the same one by one. The balloon catheter comprises: a catheter shaft consisting of a tubular outer shaft (2) and a tubular inner shaft (2), an inflatable balloon (4) capable of coming into contact with a predetermined annular portion of the entrance (20) of a pulmonary vein when inflated, a radio-frequency electrode (8) paired with a counter electrode (44) placed on the surface of a patient's body to transmit radio-frequency power, and placed in a wall forming the balloon (4) or in the balloon (94), a lead wire (12) electrically connected to the radio-frequency electrode (8), a cooling means (38) for pouring cooling liquid (36) to cool respective interior of the catheter shaft and the balloon (4), and a temperature sensor (14) for measuring temperature in the balloon (4).

Abstract: A balloon catheter is capable of forming a transmural necrotic layer around the pulmonary vein ostium without excessively cauterizing the endocardium and of cauterizing portions of the four pulmonary veins around the ostium of the same one by one. The balloon catheter comprises: a catheter shaft consisting of a tubular outer shaft (2) and a tubular inner shaft (2), an inflatable balloon (4) capable of coming into contact with a predetermined annular portion of the entrance (20) of a pulmonary vein when inflated, a radio-frequency electrode (8) paired with a counter electrode (44) placed on the surface of a patient's body to transmit radio-frequency power, and placed in a wall forming the balloon (4) or in the balloon (94), a lead wire (12) electrically connected to the radio-frequency electrode (8), a cooling means (38) for pouring cooling liquid (36) to cool respective interior of the catheter shaft and the balloon (4), and a temperature sensor (14) for measuring temperature in the balloon (4).