Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090171337 | Photodynamic-Based Cardiac Ablation Device and Method Via the Esophagus - A method and system for ablation of cardiac tissue in a living being via the esophagus is provided. The method includes the step of introducing a photodynamic substance to the cardiac tissue. A deformable, elongated body defining a proximal end and a distal end is inserted into an esophagus of the living being. The distal end of the elongated body is located proximate the cardiac tissue. A first set of electromagnetic radiation is then directed from the distal end of the elongated body towards the cardiac tissue. Reflective and opaque surfaces at the distal end of the elongated body may be used to direct the electromagnetic radiation and an expandable membrane at the distal end may be used to urge the distal end of the elongated body to a predetermined position within the esophagus. | 07-02-2009 |
20090171349 | ADJUSTABLE LENGTH FLEXIBLE POLYMER ELECTRODE CATHETER AND METHOD FOR ABLATION - An ablation catheter includes a flexible elongated shaft having a flexible electrode at its distal end. The flexible electrode includes an inner, flexible, electrically-conductive element and an outer, flexible, electrically-conductive polymer layer in electrical contact with the inner, flexible, electrically-conductive element. The catheter further includes an electrically insulative sheath surrounding at least a portion of the flexible electrode and a linear displacement mechanism capable of adjusting at least one of the electrically insulative sheath and the flexible electrode to vary a length of the flexible electrode exposed at the distal end of the shaft. Also disclosed is an adjustable length ablation electrode and methods of ablating tissue. | 07-02-2009 |
20100168550 | MULTIPLE SHELL CONSTRUCTION TO EMULATE CHAMBER CONTRACTION WITH A MAPPING SYSTEM - A system for constructing multiple shells (electronic models) indicative of the geometry and/or volume of a bodily lumen, such as a heart chamber, is configured to collect a plurality of location data points as the electrode is swept within the chamber. Each of the collected data points has an associated measured cardiac phase at which such point was acquired. The system is configured to segregate the collected electrode locations into sets based on the phase. Each set is characterized by a particular, associated phase of its constituent electrode locations. The system is configured to generate, for each set, a respective shell that will represent the chamber at the associated phase. The shells, once constructed, may be used for or in connection with a variety of diagnostic, mapping, and/or therapeutic procedures. The system is also configured to verify that the electrode is in contact with the heart tissue before using the collected data point in the shell construction (e.g., using a phase angle parameter to verify contact). | 07-01-2010 |
20110028837 | Photodynamic-based myocardial mapping device and method - A photodynamic mapping device includes a shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, at least one optical electrode at the distal end of the shaft, and at least one optical fiber positioned inside the shaft. In embodiments, the at least one optical fiber extends from the distal end of the shaft and is coupled to the at least one optical electrode provided at or about an outer surface of the device. In an embodiment, at least one optical fiber is coupled, at or about the proximal end of the shaft, to a light source coupled and an optical sensor. An analyzer can be coupled to the optical sensor. Embodiments of such devices can be configured to deliver substances, such as photodynamic therapeutic substances. | 02-03-2011 |
20110118727 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING THE FORMATION OF A LESION IN TISSUE - A method and system for assessing lesion formation in tissue is provided. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to acquire magnitudes for a component of a complex impedance between an electrode and tissue, and the power applied to the tissue during lesion formation. The ECU is configured to calculate a value responsive to the complex impedance component and the power. The value is indicative of a predicted lesion depth, a likelihood the lesion has reached a predetermined depth, or a predicted tissue temperature. The method includes acquiring magnitudes for a component of a complex impedance between an electrode and tissue and the power applied during lesion formation. The method includes calculating a value responsive to the complex impedance component and the power, the value being indicative of a predicted lesion depth, a likelihood the lesion has reached a predetermined depth, and/or a predicted tissue temperature. | 05-19-2011 |
20110144524 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR REAL-TIME RF LESION DEPTH DISPLAY - A system for displaying characteristics of target tissue during an ablation procedure is provided that includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to receive data regarding electrical properties of the target tissue for a time period. The ECU is also configured to determine a value responsive to the data and indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period. The system further includes a display device operatively connected to the ECU. The display device is configured to receive the value and display a visual representation indicative of at least one of a predicted depth of a lesion in the target tissue, a predicted temperature of the target tissue, and a likelihood of steam pop of the target tissue for the time period. | 06-16-2011 |
20110144657 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING THE LIKELIHOOD OF ENDOCARDIAL BAROTRAUMA IN TISSUE DURING ABLATION - A method and system for determining a likelihood of barotrauma occurring in tissue during the formation of a lesion therein is provided. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU is configured to acquire at least one value of at least one component of a complex impedance between an electrode and the tissue. The ECU is further configured to calculate an index responsive to the at least one value of the at least one complex impedance component. The index is indicative of a likelihood of barotrauma occurring in the tissue. The method comprises acquiring at least one value of at least one component of a complex impedance between an electrode and the tissue. The method further comprises calculating an index responsive to the at least one value of the at least one complex impedance component. The calculating index is indicative of a likelihood of barotrauma occurring in the tissue. | 06-16-2011 |
20120059255 | CATHETER SYSTEMS - Catheter systems include direction-sensitive, multi-polar tip electrode assemblies for electroporation-mediated therapy, electroporation-induced primary necrosis therapy and electric field-induced apoptosis therapy, including configurations for producing narrow, linear lesions as well as distributed, wide area lesions. A monitoring system for electroporation therapy includes a mechanism for delivering electrochromic dyes to a tissue site as well as a fiber optic arrangement to optically monitor the progress of the therapy as well as to confirm success post-therapy. A fiber optic temperature sensing electrode catheter includes a tip electrode having a cavity whose inner surface is impregnated or coated with thermochromic/thermotropic material that changes color with changes in temperature. An optic fiber/detector arrangement monitors the thermochromic or thermotropic materials, acquiring a light signal and generating an output signal indicative of the spectrum of the light signal. An analyzer determines an electrode temperature based on the detector output and predetermined spectrum versus temperature calibration data. | 03-08-2012 |
20130041243 | USER INTERFACE DEVICES FOR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY LAB DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC EQUIPMENT - In an electrophysiology (EP) lab, a bedside interface device allows an EP physician to directly control various diagnostic and therapeutic systems, including an electro-anatomic mapping system. The bedside interface device can include a computer with wireless communication capability as well as a touch-responsive display panel and voice recognition. The bedside interface device can also be a hand-graspable wireless remote control device that is configured to detect motions or gestures made with the remote control by the physician, allowing the physician to directly interact with the mapping system. The bedside interface device can also be a motion capture camera configured to determine motion patterns of the physician's arms, legs, trunk, face and the like, which are defined in advance to correspond to commands for the mapping system. The bedside interface device may also include voice recognition capabilities to allow a physician to directly issue verbal commands to the mapping system. | 02-14-2013 |
20130338467 | Electrode catheter device with indifferent electrode for direct current tissue therapies - An electrode catheter device with indifferent electrode for direct current tissue therapies is disclosed. An example of the catheter device has a flexible tubing with at least one ablation electrode. The catheter device also may also be used with a sheath for introducing the flexible tubing inside a patient's body. An indifferent electrode on the sheath can provide a ground for a direct current (DC) pulse to deliver electrical energy and create an electrical field adjacent a tissue. Various other embodiments are also disclosed. | 12-19-2013 |
20140194867 | System and method for assessing the formation of a lesion in tissue - A method and system for assessing lesion formation in tissue is provided. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to acquire magnitudes for a component of a complex impedance between an electrode and tissue, and the power applied to the tissue during lesion formation. The ECU is configured to calculate a value responsive to the complex impedance component and the power. The value is indicative of a predicted lesion depth, a likelihood the lesion has reached a predetermined depth, or a predicted tissue temperature. The method includes acquiring magnitudes for a component of a complex impedance between an electrode and tissue and the power applied during lesion formation. The method includes calculating a value responsive to the complex impedance component and the power, the value being indicative of a predicted lesion depth, a likelihood the lesion has reached a predetermined depth, and/or a predicted tissue temperature. | 07-10-2014 |
20140358038 | AUTOMATIC MONITORING FOR AND DETECTION OF TISSUE POP - A system that automatically detects a myocardial barotrauma (i.e., tissue pop) event so that proper post-procedure care can be given includes an electronic control unit (ECU), a computer-readable memory coupled with the ECU, and detection logic stored in the memory configured to be executed by the ECU. The detection logic is configured to receive a signal generated by an electro-acoustic transducer related to acoustic activity within the patient, monitor the signal for a pre-determined indication of a barotrauma event, and output a notification when the pre-determined indication is detected. The transducer can be integrated with an extra-body patch that includes one or more electrodes for use with a medical device navigation system. | 12-04-2014 |