摘要:
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.
摘要:
A precurved cardiac introducer sheath (4) includes an elongate, hollow body having main and tip portions (24, 22). The tip portion includes first through fifth segments (26, 28, 30, 32, 34). The first, second, and third segments lie in a first plane (36) while the fourth and fifth segments lie in a second plane (38) oriented at a second angle (37) of about .+-.10 to 170.degree. to the first plane. The second segment defines an arc extending along a first, included angle of about 90-110.degree. while the fourth segment defines an arc extending along a third, included angle of about 90-140.degree. . The first, third, and fifth segments are preferably generally straight segments. The precurved introducer sheath is preferably configured to direct the electrophysiology catheter (18) directly at the posterior region (52) of the left atrium (40). The precurved introducer sheath is preferably housed within an outer introducer sheath (46) having a radially deflectable distal end (46), or a fixed distal curve.
摘要:
A catheter ablation system including a catheter having a distal segment carrying at least one electrode extending along the segment and having a number of temperature sensors arranged along the distal segment adjacent the electrode, each providing an output indicative of temperature. The catheter is coupled to a power source which provides R-F energy to the electrode and with temperature processing circuitry coupled to the temperature sensors and the power source which controls power output from the power source as a function of the outputs of the temperature sensors. In a preferred embodiment, the temperature processing circuitry includes circuitry for comparing the temperature indicated by the temperature sensors to a known reference sensor and circuitry for disabling subsequent use of an output of one of the sensors if the output from the sensor differs from the referenced temperature by more than a defined value. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the temperature processing circuitry includes circuitry responsive to the rate of change of the output of the temperature sensors and circuitry for disabling a sensor if the output of the sensor changes at a rate greater than a defined referenced rate of change.
摘要:
An injection molding apparatus includes an injector portion which includes a plurality of mold cavity modules each having a plurality of cavities cooled by fluid flowing through a plurality of cooling channels which communicates with a common coolant manifold. Each mold cavity module is supplied with molten plastic material by a separate manifold which consists of an elongated shell having an exterior surface defining at least one inlet sprue communicating with a source of plastic and a plurality of outlet gates each communicating with a cavity of the mold module, a tubular heating element positioned within the shell for heating the interior portion of the shell, and a plurality of runners extending from the inlet sprue to the outlet gates and spiral about the heating rod so that molten plastic material may flow from the inlet sprue through the runners to the outlet gates and receive heat energy from the heating rod.
摘要:
Systems and methods apply a selected treatment agent or agents into contact with tissue at or in the region of a dysfunctional sphincter (in the case of GERD, fecal incontinence, or other dysfunctional sphincter disorders) to affect improved sphincter barrier function and/or to disrupt abnormal nerve pathways. The treatment agent can include at least one cytokine and/or at least one tissue bulking agent and/or at least one vanilloid compound to evoke a desired tissue response. The systems and methods can be used a primary treatment modality, or applied as a supplementary treatment before, during or after a primary intervention.
摘要:
The present invention comprises a method of treating a sphincter that 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.In another embodiment of the method of the invention, a method of treating a sphincter that 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. The sphincter, lower esophageal sphincter, stomach, cardia or fundus is stimulated to produce a transient relaxation of the sphincter. The portion of the sphincter, lower esophageal sphincter, stomach, cardia or fundus causing a relaxation of the sphincter is indentified. Energy is delivered from the sphincter electropotential mapping device to treat the portion the sphincter, lower esophageal sphincter, stomach, cardia or fundus causing the transient relaxation of the sphincter.
摘要:
An improved system and method for ablating a tissue site is provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises an ablation catheter employing one or more electrodes and multiple temperature sensors located along the catheter distal end. The temperature sensors control the power applied to the one or more electrodes. A deflection mechanism may be included to provide directional control to the catheter.
摘要:
A sphincter treatment apparatus includes an elongated member having at least one lumen including an inflation lumen and a basket assembly with first and second arms. The basket assembly is coupled to the elongated member and has deployed and non-deployed configurations. An inflatable member is coupled to the elongated member and positioned in an interior of the basket assembly. The inflatable member has deployed and non-deployed states and is coupled to the inflation lumen. In the deployed state, the inflatable member expands the basket assembly to its deployed configuration. A first energy delivery device is positionable in the first arm and advanceable from the first arm to a selected treatment site. A second energy delivery device is positionable in the second arm and advanceable from the second arm to a selected treatment site.
摘要:
A left atrium ablation catheter (4), including a sheath (8) and a deflectable electrophysiology catheter (10) housed within the sheath, is used to ablate coronary tissue at a target site within the left atrium (LA) of a heart. The electrophysiology catheter has ablation electrodes (24) along the tip (10). The ablation catheter is introduced into the right atrium (RA) through either the superior vena cava (SVC) or the inferior vena cava (IVC). The distal open end of the sheath is guided through a punctured hole in the interatrial septum and into the left atrium. The distal end (20) of the sheath is either precurved or is steerable so the electrode tip can be directed to the coronary target site in the left atrium. The electrode tip is sized and configured to create the desired lesion at the target site without movement of the electrode tip.
摘要:
A balloon dilatation catheter having heating elements raise the temperature of the working surface of the balloon while the balloon is being inflated during an angioplasty procedure. In one embodiment, the balloon is provided with a thin electrically conductive layer in heat transfer relationship therewith preferably on the interior surface of the balloon. Electrical power at radio frequencies is preferred and a coaxial cable is employed to deliver such power to a conductive layer for heating the balloon. In another embodiment, the ballon itself is formed of electrically conductive material. A perfusion lumen may be provided through the balloon with one or more proximal inlet ports and one or more distal discharge ports in fluid communication with the lumen to allow blood to pass through the balloon when it is inflated during angioplasty procedures. This faciltiates the flow of oxygenated blood distally of the catheter when the balloon is inflated thus allowing for extended balloon inflations, e.g., up to 30 minutes or more. The catheter assembly may also be employed to treat myocardial infarction by dilating thrombotic occlusions.