Abstract:
An electrode assembly for use in interventricular cardiac mapping includes one or more elongated splines each of which carries a plurality of spaced apart electrodes thereon. The body of each spline is formed of a plurality of alternating electrically conductive layers and the electrically non-conductive layers. A separate electrically conductive pathway is provided to connect each of the electrodes to a different one of the conductive layers. Each of the layers is electrically connected to an electrical signal processing device so that signals provided by each of the electrodes can be processed.
Abstract:
A medical probe for the treatment by radio frequency ablation of a target volume in tissue of a human having a urethral channel extending into a base of a bladder along a longitudinal axis. The probe comprises an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities and sized so that it can be introduced into the urethra. The elongate probe member has a passage extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. Guide cannulae are mounted in the passage of the elongate probe member and have proximal and distal extremities with the distal extremities of the guide cannulae being in the vicinity of the distal extremity of the elongate probe member. Each of the guide cannulae has a lumen extending therethrough from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. A radio frequency conductive electrode is disposed in each lumen. A control handle is secured to the proximal extremity of the elongate probe member. The control handle is connected to each radio frequency electrode whereby each radio frequency electrode can be advanced and retracted.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for ablating at least a portion of a nasal concha. The apparatus includes a catheter having a distal portion with a dimension configured for positioning through a nostril of a patient into a nasal meatus adjacent a nasal concha, and an energy delivery device coupled to the catheter distal portion including one or more energy delivering probes extendable from the catheter distal portion a sufficient distance to be inserted into an interior of the nasal concha to deliver ablative energy therein. The distal portion of the apparatus may also include an expandable member, expansion of the expandable member within the nasal meatus immobilizing the distal portion within the nasal meatus.
Abstract:
A wound closure, hemostasis device, such as a femoral hemostat, includes an inflatable balloon with an inflation and deflation outlet. A placement patch includes an aperture for receiving the inflation and deflation outlet. The inflatable balloon is coupled to the placement patch and positioned adjacent to a wound site or a bleeding vessel. A belt straps through the placement patch and around the patient's body or a patient's appendage and holds the placement patch at the wound site or bleeding vessel. An inflation tube is coupled to the inflation and deflation outlet. An inflation apparatus is coupled to the inflation and deflation outlet.
Abstract:
An ablation apparatus suitable for the ablation of soft palate tissue, including but not limited to the uvula, includes a cannula with a distal end and a proximal end and a lumen. A vacuum assisted retainer device is coupled to the cannula distal end. The vacuum retainer member includes a uvula receiving member configured to retain at least a portion of the uvula with the application of vacuum. An electromagnetic electrode is coupled to an electromagnetic energy source. A vacuum source is coupled to the uvula receiving member.
Abstract:
A medical probe for the treatment by radio frequency ablation of a target volume in tissue of a human having a urethral channel extending into the base of a bladder along a longitudinal axis. The probe comprises an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities and is sized so that it can be introduced into the urethra. The elongate probe member has a passage extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. Guide cannulae are mounted in the passage of the elongate probe member and have proximal and distal extremities with the distal extremities of the guide cannulae being in the vicinity of the distal extremity of the elongate probe member. Each of the guide cannulae have a lumen extending therethrough from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. A radio frequency conductive electrode is disposed in each lumen. An insulating sleeve is coaxially disposed on each radio frequency electrode. A control handle is secured to the proximal extremity of the elongate probe member. The control handle is connected to each radio frequency electrode and each insulating sleeve so that each radio frequency electrode and each insulating sleeve can be advanced and retracted.
Abstract:
An improved assembly for steering and orienting a functional element at the distal end of a catheter tube holds the functional element with its major axis aligned with the axis of the catheter tube for convenient steering to a tissue site. The mechanism can also pivot the functional element in response to an external force to orient the major axis of the functional element generally parallel to the plane of the tissue site, without bending the catheter tube.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for contacting heart valve tissue with a catheter tip electrode adapted for atrioventricular (AV) node mapping and modification is provided. The tip is conformed to rest stably and comfortably on a cardiac valve such as the mitral or tricuspid valve. The tip has a peanut shape consisting of two electrode lobes joined by a narrower connecting piece. The tip rests on the valve at the connecting piece and is secured by the adjoining lobes. The connecting piece itself may either be insulating or electrically conductive. The catheter may also include standard mapping and/or pacing electrodes. The catheter may further include a steering mechanism for positioning the catheter at various treatment sites in the heart.
Abstract:
An apparatus includes an expandable member. The expandable member is sized to be positionable in a sphincter. An energy delivery device is positioned on a surface of the expandable member. The energy delivery device has a configuration that provides sufficient energy delivery to create lesions in the interior of the sphincter. When the expandable member is removed from the sphincter, the sphincter returns to its closed or contracted configuration.
Abstract:
A method of treating a sphincter provides a sphincter electropotential mapping device with at least one of a mapping electrode or a treatment electrode. The sphincter electropotential mapping device is introduced into at least a portion of the sphincter, the lower esophageal sphincter, stomach, the cardia or the fundus. Bioelectric activity causing a relaxation of the sphincter is detected and energy is delivered from either the mapping electrode or the treatment electrode to treat the bioelectric activity. A method of treating a sphincter provides a sphincter electropotential mapping device with at least one of a mapping electrode or a treatment electrode. The sphincter electropotential mapping device is introduced into at least a portion of the sphincter, the lower esophageal sphincter, stomach, the cardia or the fundus. Bioelectric activity causing a relaxation of the sphincter is detected and energy is delivered from either the mapping electrode or the treatment electrode to treat the bioelectric activity.