Abstract:
Porous electrode assemblies for tissue heating and ablation systems and methods enable ionic transport of electrical energy to occur substantially free of liquid perfusion.
Abstract:
Compound steering assemblies (28), usable in both diagnostic and therapeutic applications, enable a physician to swiftly and accurately steer the distal section (16) of the catheter (10) in multiple planes or complex curves to position and maintain ablation and/or mapping electrodes (18) in intimate contact with an interior body surface.
Abstract:
This invention is devices and methods for ablating body tissue which use wire (44) wound about a support body (12) in adjacent windings to form one or more elongated electrodes. A connection couples the wire to a source of ablation energy for transmission by the elongated electrode to ablate tissue. The adjacent windings are spaced apart to impart enhanced flexibility to the elongated electrode during use.
Abstract:
Systems and methods use an array (20) of multiple electrodes (24) supported for operative association with a region of heart tissue, in tandem with a roving second electrode (36) supported for movement relative to the multiple electrodes for operative association with selected different regions of endocardial tissue within the heart. An analog or digital processing element (32) conditions one of the multiple electrodes and the roving electrode to emit a pacing signal while the other one of the multiple electrodes and the roving electrode records paced electro-grams occurring as a result of the pacing signal. A template of cardiac event of known diagnosis sensed using the array of multiple electrodes is input. A sample of a cardiac event acquired by pacing from at least one roving electrode and sensed with the array of multiple electrodes is input. The processing element and method electronically compare the sample to a template and generate an output.
Abstract:
Systems and methods provide nonlinear, non-median filters (56) for signals derived from biological events. The systems and methods select a set of n sample values arranged with respect to time from the derived biological signal input. The systems and methods arrange the n sample values of the set into ordered positions following a predetermined permutation. The systems and methods select one of the ordered positions z within the permutation, where z is an odd positive integer greater or equal to one but less than or equal to n. The systems and methods generate a processed output (54) comprising the sample value occupying the ordered position z in the permutation.
Abstract:
Systems and methods employ an energy emitting electrode (16) to heat tissue. The systems and methods follow a prescribed temperature set curve in which a set point temperature changes over time to control the application of energy to the electrode (16).
Abstract:
This invention is systems and methods to examine heart tissue morphology using a pair of electrodes (38), at least one of which is located in contact with heart tissue (12). The systems and methods transmit electrical current in a path through the contacted heart tissue (12) between the pair of the electrodes to derive a tissue electrical characteristic based, at least in part, upon sensing the impedance of the tissue lying in the path. The system and methods also sense with at least one of the electrodes the timing of local depolarization events in the contacted heart tissue. The systems and methods make possible the use of multiple endocardial electrodes (30) for taking multiple measurements of the electrical characteristics of heart tissue. Multiplexing can be used to facilitate data processing. The systems and methods also make possible the identification of regions of low relative electrical characteristics, indicative of infarcted tissue, without invasive surgical techniques.
Abstract:
This invention is systems and methods to examine heart tissue morphology using three or more spaced electrodes (38), at least two of which are located within the heart in contact with endocardial tissue. The systems and methods transmit electrical current through a region of heart tissue lying between selected pairs of electrodes (224), at least one of the electrodes in each pair being located within the heart. The systems and methods derive the electrical characteristic of tissue between the electrode pairs (206) based, at least in part, upon sensing tissue impedances.
Abstract:
A device for creating lesions in body tissues includes a support element (98) having an electromagnetic energy emitting region (104). When caused to emit energy, the region (104) creates a single continuous lesion that is long and thin.
Abstract:
An electrode support for use in an intraventricular cardiac diagnosis and treatment includes at least one elongated spline (76) that carries at least one electrode (22). The spline has a rectangular cross section. It has a substantially greater width than thickness. The spline can be flexed in one vertical plane that passes through its longitudinal axis. The spline resists twisting and resists flexing in all other planes passing through the axis.