Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090222026 | SURGICAL FASTENING CLIPS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROXIMATING TISSUE - A surgical fastener clip for proximating tissue, the clip providing an undeflected state in which the clip comprises a center portion, a first leg, and a second leg. The center portion has a perimeter defining a circle-like shape. The legs project outwardly relative to the perimeter from a point of departure to a tip. Extension of each of the legs relative to the perimeter defines an identical wind direction that is either clockwise or counterclockwise. The clip optionally includes a linear cross-member extending across the perimeter. The surgical clip can be formed by a wire that is partially wound onto itself in a spiral-like fashion, with the center portion and the legs being co-planar in the undeflected state. During use, the clip is rotated, drawing tissue into the center portion. Systems incorporating the clip are also provided. | 09-03-2009 |
20100042110 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PLACEMENT OF ELECTRICAL LEAD INSIDE HEART - A method of placing an electrical lead of an implantable cardiac device inside a heart of a patient. The method includes securing a tool to an atrial appendage of the heart to hold onto the atrial appendage, piercing the atrial appendage, and creating an aperture in the atrial appendage while holding the atrial appendage with the tool. The method also includes moving a distal end of the electrical lead into the heart through the aperture in the atrial appendage and into a ventricle of the heart. Furthermore, the method includes coupling the distal end of the electrical lead to cardiac tissue in the ventricle and delivering an electrical signal to the cardiac tissue in the ventricle of the heart to maintain a predetermined heartbeat of the heart. | 02-18-2010 |
20100145361 | Methods and Devices for Occlusion of an Atrial Appendage - A novel occluder application and clip device for treatment of embolic stroke caused by atrial fibrillation uses multiple sutures in a non directional handle to affix the occlusion device to the applicator and manipulate the occluder from an open and receiving position to a closed and occluding position. The occluder is retained in place by a clamping means related to locks retainers, resilient material or otherwise. An actuator mechanism is used to manipulate the occluder to a locked or occluding position. The applicator with the occluder attached has a low profile and remote manipulations to allow the occluder to be delivered to the clamping location within a patient through a small incision or delivery port such as a trocar cannula or the like. | 06-10-2010 |
20100168740 | Heart Wall Ablation/Mapping Catheter and Method - Steerable electrophysiology catheters for use in mapping and/or ablation of accessory pathways in myocardial tissue of the heart wall and methods of use thereof are disclosed. The catheter comprises a catheter body and handle, the catheter body having a proximal section and a distal section and manipulators that enable the deflection of a distal segment of the distal tip section with respect to the independently formed curvature of a proximal segment of the distal tip section through a bending or knuckle motion of an intermediate segment between the proximal and distal segments. A wide angular range of deflection within a very small curve or bend radius in the intermediate segment is obtained. At least one distal tip electrode is preferably confined to the distal segment which can have a straight axis extending distally from the intermediate segment. The curvature of the proximal segment and the bending angle of the intermediate segment are independently selectable. The axial alignment of the distal segment with respect to the nominal axis of the proximal shaft section of the catheter body can be varied between substantially axially aligned (0° curvature) in an abrupt knuckle bend through a range of about −90° to about +180° within a bending radius of between about 2.0 mm and 7.0 mm and preferably less than 5.0 mm. The proximal segment curve can be independently formed in a range of about −180° through about +270° with respect to the axis of the proximal shaft section to provide an optimum angular orientation of the distal electrode(s). The distal segment can comprise a highly flexible elongated distal segment body and electrode(s) that conform with the shape and curvature of the heart wall. | 07-01-2010 |
20100198346 | Method for Guiding a Medical Device - A device and method for valve replacement or valve repair is disclosed comprising the steps of acquiring an anatomical image of a patient, correlating the image to the patient, guiding a valve replacement delivery member or a valve repair delivery member within the patient while tracking the position of the delivery member in the patient, positioning the valve replacement member or valve repair member in a desired position to place a valve or repair valve and removing the delivery member from the patient. In one aspect of the invention, a delivery system is provided for percutaneous delivery of a heart valve to a predetermined position in the heart of a patient, where the delivery system itself includes features that allow it to be accurately positioned in the heart. In another aspect of the invention, a delivery system is provided for percutaneous repair of a heart valve in the heart of a patient, where the repair system itself includes features that allow it to be accurately positioned in the heart. In another aspect of the invention, a method and device are provided that involve imaging a native root using an interoperative technique, then introducing a device that is easily visualized in a chosen imaging modality. | 08-05-2010 |
20100204692 | Ablation Catheter Assembly with Radially Decreasing Helix and Method of Use - A catheter assembly for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia. The catheter assembly includes a catheter body and an ablative energy source. The catheter body includes a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion. The intermediate portion extends from the proximal portion and defines a longitudinal axis. The distal portion extends from the intermediate portion and includes an ablation section and a tip. The ablation section forms a loop defining a diameter greater than an outer dimension of a pulmonary vein ostium. The tip extends distally from the ablation section and is configured to locate a pulmonary vein. Finally, the ablative energy source is associated with the ablation section. With this configuration, upon activation of the energy source, the ablation section ablates a desired lesion pattern. In one preferred embodiment, the ablation section forms a distally decreasing radius helix, whereas the tip includes a relatively linear leader section. With this one preferred configuration, the tip readily locates a pulmonary vein and guides the ablation section to a seated relationship about a pulmonary vein ostium (or extra-ostial). | 08-12-2010 |
20100217162 | METHODS OF USING HIGH INTENSITY FOCUSED ULTRASOUND TO FORM AN ABLATED TISSUE AREA CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF LESIONS - A device and method for ablating tissue is disclosed comprising the steps of acquiring an anatomical image of a patient, correlating the image to the patient, guiding an ablating member within the patient while tracking the position of the ablating member in the patient, positioning the ablating member in a desired position to ablate tissue, emitting ablating energy from the ablating member to form an ablated tissue area and removing the ablating member from the patient. | 08-26-2010 |
20100292749 | Sub-Xiphoid Ablation Clamp and Method of Sub-Xiphoid Ablation - Device and method for sub-xiphoid ablation of patient tissue. A sub-xiphoid access clamp has a handle, an elongate neck coupled to the handle and first and second opposing jaws. The first and second opposing jaws have first and second opposing relief segments being generally co-planar and concave with respect to one another to form a void therebetween, and first and second opposing elongate ablation elements positioned along the first and second opposing jaws and distal of the first and second opposing relief segments relative to the handle. The first and second opposing jaws are articulate between a closed position and an open position to admit, at least in part, a second portion of tissue of the patient within the void created by the first and second opposing relief segments while the first portion of tissue is positioned between the first and second ablation elements in the closed position. | 11-18-2010 |
20110028820 | MONO-PHASIC ACTION POTENTIAL ELECTROGRAM RECORDING CATHETER, AND METHOD - Catheters and methods for obtaining monophasic action potential (“MAP”) electrograms include a flexible catheter body defining a longitudinal axis, and a distal assembly affixed to the catheter body distal end defining a distal tip. The distal assembly has at least three MAP recording electrodes, and at least one reference electrode for determining reference potential. The recording electrodes are each positioned a radial distance from the longitudinal axis in at least three different radial directions, defining a recording geometry substantially having radial symmetry. The reference electrode is a longitudinal distance from the recording geometry. Optional features include a steerable catheter shaft, one or more radio-frequency ablation electrodes, and a dedicated pacing electrode. Different possible embodiments include a dome housing having the recording electrodes in a fixed spatial arrangement, and a distal loop assembly having an array of electrodes on at least three flexible loop elements. | 02-03-2011 |
20110028966 | MONO-PHASIC ACTION POTENTIAL ELECTROGRAM RECORDING CATHETER, AND METHOD - Catheters and methods for obtaining monophasic action potential (“MAP”) electrograms include a flexible catheter body defining a longitudinal axis, and a distal assembly affixed to the catheter body distal end defining a distal tip. The distal assembly has at least three MAP recording electrodes, and at least one reference electrode for determining reference potential. The recording electrodes are each positioned a radial distance from the longitudinal axis in at least three different radial directions, defining a recording geometry substantially having radial symmetry. The reference electrode is a longitudinal distance from the recording geometry. Optional features include a steerable catheter shaft, one or more radio-frequency ablation electrodes, and a dedicated pacing electrode. Different possible embodiments include a dome housing having the recording electrodes in a fixed spatial arrangement, and a distal loop assembly having an array of electrodes on at least three flexible loop elements. | 02-03-2011 |
20110190763 | Needle Design for Recording Monophasic Action Potential and Delivery of Therapy - A system and associated method measure monophasic action potential signals for identifying a targeted tissue location and delivering a therapy to the targeted tissue location. The system includes a hollow needle having a sharpened distal tip, a first electrode at the distal tip and a fluid delivery lumen extending through the needle from a proximal needle end to an opening in the sharpened distal tip. | 08-04-2011 |
20110208054 | ABLATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CREATING AN ELONGATE LESION USING SELECTIVELY ACTUATED TRANSDUCER CONTROLLED BY LESION COMPLETION SENSOR - Device, system and method for evaluating the effectiveness of tissue ablations of a heart of a patient. The tissue is clamped between a pair of opposing jaws. A portion of the tissue is ablated at a first generally linear position on the tissue by applying ablative energy to two of a plurality of elongate electrodes, each of the two of the plurality of elongate electrodes being coupled in opposing relationship to each other and the pair of opposing jaws, respectively. An effectiveness of the ablation is sensed at a second generally linear position on the tissue with at least one of the plurality of elongate electrodes positioned on one of the pair of opposing jaws. The second linear position on the tissue is laterally distal to the first linear position on the tissue with respect to the atrium of the heart. | 08-25-2011 |
20110230876 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSMURAL ABLATION - A method of applying ablation energy to achieve transmurality including applying ablation energy at a starting power to a tissue site and monitoring the impedance of the tissue site. A power applied to the tissue site can be reduced as a function of a rate of an increase in impedance according to some embodiments. | 09-22-2011 |
20110270237 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PERFORMING MEDICAL PROCEDURES - A medical method is provided, including a medical device having a distal assembly including at least one electrode and at least one treatment element, the medical device generating information regarding at least one of a physiological measurement and an operational parameter of the medical device; a plurality of surface electrodes affixable to a skin of the patient, wherein the surface electrodes are in electrical communication with the distal assembly to obtain position information of the medical device; and a processor pairing the position information and the at least one of a physiological measurement and an operational parameter of the medical device. | 11-03-2011 |
20120078076 | HEART WALL ABLATION/MAPPING CATHETER AND METHOD - A catheter suitable for use in applying ablation energy to body tissue or detecting electrical signals conducted within the body tissue is disclosed. The catheter has a deflectable distal tip section. At least one electrode is adapted to be disposed against body tissue for delivery of ablation energy thereto or for conduction of body tissue electrical signals. An actuation mechanism comprising first and second pull wires is adapted to curve a proximal segment in a first direction and to independently bend an intermediate segment in a second direction. | 03-29-2012 |
20120101434 | TRANS-SEPTAL CATHETER WITH RETENTION MECHANISM - A medical system for introduction through a septum separating a first heart chamber from a second heart chamber includes a guide catheter with a distal segment and a guide catheter lumen adapted to receive a mapping/ablation catheter. The guide catheter includes a deployable retention mechanism that engages the septum and inhibits advancement or retraction of the guide catheter through the septum. The system also includes an ablation device for delivering ablation energy to tissue. The ablation device is positioned in a heart chamber via the guide catheter lumen. | 04-26-2012 |
20120197243 | MULTI FREQUENCY AND MULTI POLARITY COMPLEX IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENTS TO ASSESS ABLATION LESIONS - A method of assessing a tissue ablation treatment, including positioning a medical device adjacent a target tissue; measuring a first impedance magnitude a first frequency with the medical device; measuring a first impedance phase at a second frequency with the medical device; ablating at least a portion of the target tissue with the medical device; measuring at second impedance magnitude at a third frequency with the medical device; measuring a second impedance phase at a fourth frequency with the medical device; comparing at least one of (i) the first and second impedance magnitudes and (ii) the first and second impedance phases; and providing an indication of the efficacy of the ablation treatment based at least in part on the comparison. | 08-02-2012 |
20120232374 | MULTI-ARRAY MONOPHASIC ACTION POTENTIAL MEDICAL DEVICE - A medical device including a catheter having a shaft with a distal portion; a first plurality of substantially hemispherical electrodes coupled to the distal portion; a second plurality of substantially hemispherical electrodes coupled to the shaft proximal of the first plurality, where the second plurality of electrodes are oriented substantially orthogonal to the first plurality of electrodes; and an additional electrode coupled to the shaft. A console may have a processor in electrical communication with the first and second plurality of electrodes and the reference electrode, the processor programmed to obtaining a monophasic action potential recording from at least one of the first and second plurality of electrodes. | 09-13-2012 |
20120265084 | ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNAL PROCESSING AND UTILIZATION - A method of mapping electrophysiological information, including receiving imaging information for a tissue region; receiving a monophasic action potential signal from the tissue region; assigning a value corresponding to a depolarization segment of the monophasic action potential signal; receiving location information associated with the monophasic action potential signal; and generating an image based on the imaging information, the assigned value, and the location information. | 10-18-2012 |
20120310239 | Ablation Catheters and Associated Systems and Methods - An ablation catheter assembly includes an elongate catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen therethrough. A helical structure associated with the catheter distal portion carries a plurality of independently operable electrodes and is transformable between a low-profile configuration wherein a straightening element is positioned in the lumen and an expanded configuration wherein the straightening element is at least partially retracted from the spiral structure. When the helical structure is in the expanded configuration, a laterally offset tip portion extends distally therefrom. | 12-06-2012 |
20130006082 | MONO-PHASIC ACTION POTENTIAL ELECTROGRAM RECORDING CATHETER, AND METHOD - Catheters and methods for obtaining monophasic action potential (“MAP”) electrograms include a flexible catheter body defining a longitudinal axis, and a distal assembly affixed to the catheter body distal end defining a distal tip. The distal assembly has at least three MAP recording electrodes, and at least one reference electrode for determining reference potential. The recording electrodes are each positioned a radial distance from the longitudinal axis in at least three different radial directions, defining a recording geometry substantially having radial symmetry. The reference electrode is a longitudinal distance from the recording geometry. Optional features include a steerable catheter shaft, one or more radio-frequency ablation electrodes, and a dedicated pacing electrode. Different possible embodiments include a dome housing having the recording electrodes in a fixed spatial arrangement, and a distal loop assembly having an array of electrodes on at least three flexible loop elements. | 01-03-2013 |
20130030425 | MESH-OVERLAYED ABLATION AND MAPPING DEVICE - A medical system, including a catheter body, an elongate body disposed in the catheter body; an expandable element having a proximal portion coupled to the catheter body and a distal portion coupled to the elongate body, the distal portion of the expandable element defining the distal-most portion of the medical device; a mesh or array of longitudinal splines substantially surrounding the expandable element, at least a portion of the mesh or splines being electrically conductive; and a coolant source in fluid communication with the expandable element. | 01-31-2013 |
20130030430 | INTRACARDIAC TOOLS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERY OF ELECTROPORATION THERAPIES - A medical system, including a medical device having a plurality of deployable arms, and at least one electrode on at least one of the plurality of arms; and an electric signal generator in communication with the medical device, the electric signal generator programmed to deliver pulsed energy to the medical device sufficient to induce irreversible electroporation ablation. | 01-31-2013 |
20130072926 | Systems and Methods for Transmural Ablation - A method of applying ablation energy to achieve transmurality including applying ablation energy at a starting power to a tissue site and monitoring the impedance of the tissue site. A power applied to the tissue site can be reduced as a function of a rate of an increase in impedance according to some embodiments. | 03-21-2013 |
20130296679 | IMPEDANCE DETECTION OF VENOUS PLACEMENT OF MULTI-ELECTRODE CATHETERS - Systems and methods for assessing electrode position, including positioning a plurality of electrodes within a heart and proximate a pulmonary vein; obtaining an impedance measurement from each of the plurality of electrodes; determining whether any of the plurality of electrodes is located within the pulmonary vein based at least in part on the obtained impedance measurements; and generating an indication if at least one of the plurality of electrodes is determined to be located within the pulmonary vein. | 11-07-2013 |
20130296839 | DETECTION OF MICROBUBBLE FORMATION DURING CATHETER ABLATION - A method and system for detecting microbubble formation during a radiofrequency ablation procedure. The method includes measuring an impedance of a pair of electrodes, at least one electrode in the pair of electrodes being coupled to a treatment assembly of a medical device. Radiofrequency ablation energy is transmitted between the pair of electrodes. The transmission of radiofrequency ablation energy between the pair of electrodes is terminated when after a predetermined period of time the measured impedance in either of the electrodes in the pair of electrodes is a predetermined percentage above a measured minimum impedance and a measured power is above a predetermined power threshold. An alert is generated indicating at least one of the formation and release of microbubbles proximate the pair of electrodes. | 11-07-2013 |
20130296840 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING TISSUE CONTACT DURING ABLATION - Systems and methods for assessing tissue contact, including positioning an electrode adjacent a tissue region; delivering radiofrequency energy to the electrode, wherein the delivered radiofrequency energy is sufficient to ablate at least a portion of the tissue region; obtaining a plurality of impedance measurements from the electrode during the delivery of the radiofrequency energy; calculating a change in the impedance measurements over a pre-determined time period; and generating an alert if the calculated change is less than a pre-defined value. | 11-07-2013 |
20130296880 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PLACEMENT OF ELECTRICAL LEAD INSIDE HEART - A method of placing an electrical lead of an implantable cardiac device inside a heart of a patient. The method includes securing a tool to an atrial appendage of the heart to hold onto the atrial appendage, piercing the atrial appendage, and creating an aperture in the atrial appendage while holding the atrial appendage with the tool. The method also includes moving a distal end of the electrical lead into the heart through the aperture in the atrial appendage and into a ventricle of the heart. Furthermore, the method includes coupling the distal end of the electrical lead to cardiac tissue in the ventricle and delivering an electrical signal to the cardiac tissue in the ventricle of the heart to maintain a predetermined heartbeat of the heart. | 11-07-2013 |
20140018791 | Systems and Methods for Transmural Ablation - A method of applying ablation energy to achieve transmurality including applying ablation energy at a starting power to a tissue site and monitoring the impedance of the tissue site. A power applied to the tissue site can be reduced as a function of a rate of an increase in impedance according to some embodiments. | 01-16-2014 |
20140047712 | METHODS OF MANUFACTURING MAPPING AND ABLATION CATHETERS - A method for manufacturing a distal portion of a mapping and/or ablation device with fewer components and manufacturing steps than are required for presently known devices. The method generally includes aligning one or more electrodes and electrode wires within a housing mold, overmolding a biocompatible material over the one or more wires and a portion of each of the one or more electrodes, creating a housing component that integrates a dome component and an insulation component. Alternatively, the method generally includes aligning one or more wires within a housing mold so that at least a portion of each wire protrudes from the mold, overmolding a biocompatible material over the one or more wires, thus creating a housing component that integrates a dome component and insulation component. The protruding wire portions are cleaved off and at least a portion of the housing component is coated with a layer of conductive material. | 02-20-2014 |
20140052119 | ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY CATHETER DESIGN - The present invention relates to a method, device, and system for improved mapping and/or ablation of a tissue. The device may generally include an elongate body and a distal assembly affixed to the elongate body that includes a treatment electrode having a conductive mapping region and a selectively conductive ablation region that is conductive of high-frequency current and substantially non-conductive of low-frequency current. Alternatively, the device may generally include a treatment electrode having a conductive mapping or ablation region and a region that is coated with an electrically insulated but thermally conductive layer. | 02-20-2014 |
20140148805 | ABLATION CATHETERS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An ablation catheter assembly including an elongate catheter body having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a lumen therethrough. A helical structure associated with the catheter distal portion carries a plurality of independently operable electrodes and is transformable between a low-profile configuration wherein a straightening element is positioned in the lumen and an expanded configuration wherein the straightening element is at least partially retracted from the spiral structure. When the helical structure is in the expanded configuration, a laterally offset tip portion extends distally therefrom. | 05-29-2014 |
20140163347 | MULTI- ARRAY MONOPHASIC POTENTIAL MEDICAL DEVICE - A medical device including a catheter having a shaft with a distal portion; a first plurality of substantially hemispherical electrodes coupled to the distal portion; a second plurality of substantially hemispherical electrodes coupled to the shaft proximal of the first plurality, where the second plurality of electrodes are oriented substantially orthogonal to the first plurality of electrodes; and an additional electrode coupled to the shaft. A console may have a processor in electrical communication with the first and second plurality of electrodes and the reference electrode, the processor programmed to obtaining a monophasic action potential recording from at least one of the first and second plurality of electrodes. | 06-12-2014 |
20140180003 | Sub-Xiphoid Ablation Clamp and Method of Sub-Xiphoid Ablation - Device and method for sub-xiphoid ablation of patient tissue. A sub-xiphoid access clamp has a handle, an elongate neck coupled to the handle and first and second opposing jaws. The first and second opposing jaws have first and second opposing relief segments being generally co-planar and concave with respect to one another to form a void therebetween, and first and second opposing elongate ablation elements positioned along the first and second opposing jaws and distal of the first and second opposing relief segments relative to the handle. The first and second opposing jaws are articulate between a closed position and an open position to admit, at least in part, a second portion of tissue of the patient within the void created by the first and second opposing relief segments while the first portion of tissue is positioned between the first and second ablation elements in the closed position. | 06-26-2014 |
20140364842 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PERFORMING MEDICAL PROCEDURES - A medical method is provided, including a medical device having a distal assembly including at least one electrode and at least one treatment element, the medical device generating information regarding at least one of a physiological measurement and an operational parameter of the medical device; a plurality of surface electrodes affixable to a skin of the patient, wherein the surface electrodes are in electrical communication with the distal assembly to obtain position information of the medical device; and a processor pairing the position information and the at least one of a physiological measurement and an operational parameter of the medical device. | 12-11-2014 |