摘要:
A surgical method and apparatus for positioning a diagnostic or therapeutic element within the body. The apparatus may be catheter-based or a probe including a relatively short shaft.
摘要:
A probe that may be used to create circumferential lesions in body tissue and, in some implementations, may also be used to perform mapping functions. The probe includes a collapsible/expandable structure that supports electrodes or other operative elements against the body tissue.
摘要:
A probe that facilitates the creation of circumferential lesions in body tissue. The probe includes a elongate body and a loop structure that supports electrodes or other operative elements against the body tissue.
摘要:
A probe that may be used to create circumferential lesions in body tissue and, in some implementations, may also be used to perform mapping functions. The probe includes a collapsible/expandable structure that supports electrodes or other operative elements against the body tissue.
摘要:
A probe that facilitates the creation of circumferential lesions in bodily tissue. The probe includes a relatively short shaft and a loop-like structure that supports electrodes or other operative elements against the bodily tissue.
摘要:
A catheter assembly having a sheath, which includes a side wall enclosing an interior bore, and a distal region. The assembly also has a bendable catheter tube, which is carried for sliding movement in the interior bore. A pull wire also runs through the interior bore of the sheath, preferably within a lumen. The catheter tube has a distal portion with a coupling which joins the distal portion of the catheter tube and the distal portion of the pull wire. Relative movement of the pull wire and the sheath causes bending of the catheter tube outwardly through the opening, in response to sliding movement of the catheter tube within the interior bore toward the distal region of the sheath.
摘要:
A bidirectional catheter with a deflectable tip at a distal end includes a handle at a proximal end and a tubular member extending between the tip and the handle. The handle includes a first piston member slidably mounted in a handle base with proximal ends of steering wires secured in the handle. The steering wires extend through the tubular member with respective distal ends thereof secured to circumferentially spaced portions of the distal end tip. Axial displacement of the piston member in a second direction conversely urges deflection of the distal end tip in a second direction by tensioning the other wire relative to the first wire. The piston member can include another piston member slidable in the first piston member with the proximal ends of the steering wires secured in the first mentioned piston member and the handle member, respectively, and with the other piston member supporting a proximal end of the tubular member.
摘要:
A deflectable biopsy catheter for obtaining a tissue sample from a body cavity of a patient comprising: an axially elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal portions respectively terminating at proximal and distal ends, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced into a body cavity of a patient; a deflection wire coupled to the distal portion of the catheter shaft and extending within the catheter to the proximal end thereof; and a pair of biopsy jaws coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft and having first and second opposed free cutting surfaces exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's body cavity and movable with respect to each other to cut a tissue sample from the selected area of tissue. Schemes for obtaining samples from body cavities (e.g., the gastrointestinal tract, the heart, the intestines, the uterus, the muscles, the bile duct, and the esophagus) are disclosed. Schemes for treating tissue by ablation or by electro-coagulation are also disclosed.
摘要:
For achieving, e.g., an improved electrophysiology catheter for examination of the heart, or a catheter accessing the brain, the invention, in one aspect, features an elongated wound wire coil extending through the hollow catheter body of a steerable catheter, the coil constructed and arranged to enable the catheter body to withstand reactive compressive load without distortion during application of tension on the pull wire and to transmit torque from the proximal to the distal tip portion of the catheter to enhance fidelity of rotational positioning of the distal tip in response to rotational orientation of the proximal portion of the catheter. The coil is shown in frictional torque-transmitting relationship with the interior of the hollow shaft substantially along the common length of the catheter body when the catheter is bent. Steerable catheters with augmented throw for one-handed operation and important improvements in construction features are also shown.
摘要:
Devices and systems for ultrasonically imaging tissue and performing ablation therapy are disclosed. An ablation probe for treating and imaging body tissue includes an ablation electrode tip with a number of acoustic openings and a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors disposed within an interior lumen of the tip. The ultrasonic imaging sensors are supported within the interior lumen via an insert equipped with a number of recesses that receive the ultrasonic imaging sensors. An acoustically transparent shell disposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustic openings forms a fluid channel in the acoustic pathway of the sensors. During an ablation procedure, cooling fluid from an external fluid source is delivered through the fluid channel, providing an acoustic coupling effect between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the surrounding body tissue.