Abstract:
A catheter including an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, where the catheter includes a thermal element at the distal end thereof. The thermal element may be used in an ablation procedure or other procedure to heat a tissue adjacent a vessel. In some instances, the thermal element may be positioned in a first vessel and may operate to heat tissue adjacent a second vessel or adjacent an ostium between the first vessel and the second vessel. Further, the catheter may include an expandable portion on which the thermal element may be connected or positioned. The expandable portion(s) may comprise a basket or cage, a balloon, a memory shape and formable portion, and/or to other mechanical expanders.
Abstract:
A delivery catheter includes a soft, atraumatic distal tip. The distal tip is configured to transition from a folded configuration to an unfolded configuration during delivery of a medical device. A wall thickness of the distal tip may be increased such that the distal tip is biased to remain in the unfolded configuration after delivery. Additionally, the increased wall thickness in a selected region of the distal tip may cause the distal tip to resist and/or prevent collapse of the distal tip during retrieval and/or repositioning of the medical device when the medical device comes into contact with a distal end of the catheter. The distal edge of the distal tip may be rounded so as to prevent the distal tip from damaging tissue during advancement of the catheter to a target location within a patient's body.
Abstract:
A sensor device for sensing endoluminal geometry may include an expandable element disposed on the distal region of a shaft. The expandable element may be configured to move a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The expandable element may include one or more sensor elements configured to sense proximity of the sensor element to tissue. The sensor device may include an indicator configured to distinguish between contact of the sensor element with tissue, loss of contact and proximity of the sensor element to tissue.
Abstract:
Medical devices for sympathetic nerve modulation are disclosed. An example medical device for sympathetic nerve modulation may include a catheter shaft having a distal region. A compliant balloon may be coupled to the distal region. A flexible circuit assembly may be coupled to the compliant balloon. The flexible circuit assembly may include one or more electrodes. An expansion-limiting member may be coupled to the compliant balloon.
Abstract:
Systems for nerve and tissue modulation are disclosed. An illustrative system may include an intravascular nerve modulation system including a catheter shaft, an expandable basket and one or more energy delivery regions. The one or more energy delivery regions may be defined by regions of the basket free from an insulating material.
Abstract:
A renal nerve ablation device may include an elongate tubular member having a distal region. An expandable member may be coupled to the distal region. An electrode support may be coupled to the distal region of the elongate tubular member and extend over a body of the expandable member. The electrode support may be free of connection to the body of the expandable member. One or more electrodes may be coupled to the electrode support.
Abstract:
Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include a system for nerve modulation. The system may include an elongate shaft and a nerve modulation assembly disposed at the distal end of the shaft. The nerve modulation assembly may have a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The nerve modulation assembly may include an inner basket and an outer basket. The inner basket may include a plurality of electrode struts. Each electrode strut may include an electrode. The outer basket may include a plurality of spacer struts.
Abstract:
A catheter including an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, where the catheter includes a thermal element at the distal end thereof. The thermal element may be used in an ablation procedure or other procedure to heat a tissue adjacent a vessel. In some instances, the thermal element may be positioned in a first vessel and may operate to heat tissue adjacent a second vessel or adjacent an ostium between the first vessel and the second vessel. Further, the catheter may include an expandable portion on which the thermal element may be connected or positioned. The expandable portion(s) may comprise a basket or cage, a balloon, a memory shape and formable portion, and/or other mechanical expanders.