Medtronic Cryocath LP

Cryocath Technologies Inc.

Cyrocath Technologies, Inc.

Claudia Lueckge

Dan Wittenberger

Timothy G Laske

Jean-Pierre Lalonde

Ramin Sabbaghe-Kermani

Regina E Groves

Robert A Martin

Mahmoud Kabir-Seraj

Leonilda Capuano

Fredric L Milder

Sean Carroll

Domenic N Santoianni

Steven G Arless

Réal Ste-Marie

Miriam Lane

Kenneth A Spector

George D Mallin

Mahmoud Kabir Seraj

Daniel Nahon

John W Lehmann

Cristian Petre

George J Klein

Jean-Pierre LaLonde

Mihai-Alexandru Ionescu

Daniel Harvey-Poncelet

Margaret Yoklavich

Jean Pierre Lalonde

Ethel Rubin

Real Ste-Marie

A device and system for providing mapping and treatment capabilities without increasing stiffness of the device. An embodiment of a device may include a flexible elongate body and at least one mapping element on the distal portion of the elongate body. Each mapping element may be an area of thermally conductive material, such as metallic nanoparticles, that is embedded within, integrated with, or deposited on the elongate body. The flexibility of the areas of thermally conductive material is at least substantially the same as that of the elongate body so the device may include many electrodes without compromising flexibility and maneuverability of the device. Alternatively, the device may include a treatment element coupled to the elongate body, such as a balloon. The mapping elements may be embedded within, integrated with, or deposited on the balloon and may have at least substantially the same flexibility as that of the balloon.

Highly flexible mapping and treatment device

Systems and methods for controllably variable fluid flow are disclosed that provide the ability to modify the effective cross-sectional area of the fluid delivery conduit available for fluid flow. Accordingly, selective control of these configurations allows fluid flow to be regulated as desired while the fluid delivery pressure remains the same. Additional configurations provided herein allow for the selective manipulation of a footprint or therapeutic pattern achievable with the medical device during a single procedure, negating the need for the removal and insertion of multiple devices to achieve the same variations in treatment geometry or characteristics.

Systems and methods for variable injection flow

A system and method for creating radial-linear lesions in tissue. The system includes a cryoablation device having a first balloon, a second balloon disposed about the first balloon, and one or more splines disposed between the first balloon and second balloon, each spline defining a plurality of ports. The splines may be in communication with a coolant supply, and the first balloon may be in communication with a coolant supply or non-coolant inflation fluid supply. When the first balloon is in the uninflated configuration, the splines may have a substantially linear configuration. Each of the splines may be radially oriented about an elongate shaft and transitionable between the substantially linear configuration and an arcuate configuration when the first balloon is in the inflated configuration. Coolant expelled from the splines between the first and second balloons creates an ablation pattern on the outer surface of the second balloon.

Balloon catheter with fluid injection elements

A medical device includes a catheter body having a first injection lumen, a second injection lumen, and an exhaust lumen, where the first injection lumen provides a fluid flow rate greater than a fluid flow rate provided by the second injection lumen; an expandable element coupled to the catheter body in fluid communication with the first and second injection lumens; a cryogenic fluid source in fluid communication with the first and second injection lumens; a valve in fluid communication with the first and second injection lumens to selectively allow fluid flow to at least one of the first and second injection lumens; a pressure sensor in fluid communication with an interior defined by the expandable element; and a controller in communication with the pressure sensor programmed to regulate fluid flow through the first injection lumen based at least in part on a signal from the pressure sensor.

Dual injection tube cryocatheter and method for using same

A system and method for the delivery of a medical device to a treatment location. The device may include an elongate body, the elongate body including a plurality of annular segments and a jacket disposed about the plurality of annular segments and defining an interior space, and a vacuum source in fluid communication with the interior space of the jacket. When a vacuum is applied to the interior space of the jacket, the jacket may constrict about the plurality of annular elements, thereby increasing the frictional forces between the plurality of segments and between the plurality of segments and an inner surface of the jacket.

Medical device with adjustable flexibility

A medical device including an ablation element. A thermally insulative sheath is included disposed within the ablation element. A fluid injection tube is disposed within a portion of the thermally insulative sheath. The ablation element passively transitions from a substantially linear geometric configuration to a substantially circular geometric configuration as the sheath is retracted proximally from a first position in which the sheath substantially encloses the fluid injection tube to a second position in which a portion of the fluid injection tube extends a distance away from the sheath.

Large area cryoablation catheter with multi-geometry tip ECG/CRYO mapping capabilities

A medical device including a catheter body defining a proximal portion and a distal portion. An expandable element is included defining a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being coupled to the distal portion of the catheter body. A tip element coupled to the distal end of the expandable element is included, the tip element including a shaft slideably receivable within a portion of the catheter body. A tensioning element coupled to the shaft and disposed within the expandable element is included, the tensioning element being engageable with the distal end of the catheter body and biasing the expandable element toward a pre-determined longitudinal position. An electrode array defining a substantially closed loop affixed to and extending from the tip element is also included.

Balloon catheter

A method and device for treating tissue with temperature-sensitizing adjuvants to enhance the effects of ablation therapy. The method may comprise identifying tissue to receive ablation therapy, treating the tissue with a temperature-sensitizing agent, and activating an ablation therapy device proximate the treated tissue. The device may comprise a cryo-sensitizing adjuvant operable in association with a cryotherapy device, the cryo-sensitizing adjuvant enhancing the effectiveness of tissue destruction upon application of temperatures below 0&#xb0; C.

Cryo sensitizing agents for the enhancement of cryotherapy

A medical implement that employs a mechanically supported expandable element. In one embodiment, the mechanically supported expandable element is a balloon. In another embodiment, the mechanically supported expandable membrane is a balloon disposed within a cryogenic catheter usable to treat tissue. A variety of illustrative mechanical support schemes are possible.

Mechanical support for an expandable membrane

A catheter is attached to an elongated catheter body adapted for endovascular insertion with a balloon assembly at its distal end. Coolant injected through the catheter body may, in different embodiments, directly cool tissue contacting the balloon, or may cool a separate internal chamber. In the first case, the coolant also inflates the balloon, and spent coolant is returned to the handle via a return passage extending through the body of the catheter. A valve may regulate back pressure in the return passage to coordinate the flow of coolant into and out of the balloon so as to both inflate the balloon and achieve cryogenic cooling at the surface of the balloon. The coolant is biologically safe, and may be liquid carbon dioxide. Plural balloons may be provided adjacent the cooling segment, and one balloon may be shaped to treat the ostium of a vessel. Preferably, thermal conductivity of the balloon wall is enhanced by inclusion of thermally conductive material, such as metal, which may be introduced as a component of a composite elastomer material, or as a patterned metal layer that defines a pattern of thermally conductive treatment regions of the balloon surface. Patterns formed by printing, lithography or other means with copper, silver or other highly thermally conductive material enhance through-conduction characteristics of the wall so icing preferentially occurs to stimulate tissue destruction and vascular regeneration. Suitable patterns include spirals, dots, arrays of separated segments, or meandering curves which allow expansion of the balloon body without introducing delamination, localized stress cracking or separation of the balloon material. The conductive patterns may include patterns such as waffle-iron or other arrays of small lesions that are effective to treat the endovascular wall. When separate media are used for cooling and for balloon expansion, the cooling chamber may have a large diameter, and the balloon may form a thin shell or cuff. In that case, the balloon may be quickly inflated with a medium such as a saline to provide a quickly deployed and compliant contact structure of excellent conductivity.

Endovascular cryotreatment catheter

A cryogenic catheter includes an outer flexible member having a cryogenic fluid path defined by an injection tube disposed in the outer flexible member. The injection tube is slidably disposed within the outer flexible member. A guide member may be provided to support the injection tube within the outer flexible member. A wire is attached to the injection tube at one end and further attached to a spool to provide for take-up of the wire.

Growing community of inventors

L'Île-Bizard, Canada

Claudia Lueckge