Biosense Webster, Inc.

Other

Biosense Webster (israel) Ltd.

The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.

Therox, Inc.

Uptake Medical Technology Inc.

Robert Alan Mest

Seth Arnold Foerster

James M Gessert

Vincent Divino

Paul J Zalesky

James Richard Spears

Erik Henne

Hiroshi Nakagawa

Robert W Pike, Jr

John Lewis Sapp, Jr

William G Stevenson

Jeffrey William Schultz

Aharon Turgeman

Robert Lawrence Barry

James K Lee

Doron Moshe Ludwin

Irma P Hill

Ryan D Welty

Dror Levy

Daniel Lawrence Reddy

Pierre Jais

Joshua Pieter Kroon

A method for the in vivo re-calibration of a force sensing probe such as an electrophysiology catheter provides for the generation of an auto zero zone. The distal tip of the catheter or other probe is placed in a body cavity within the patient. Verification that there is no tissue contact is made using electrocardiogram (ECG) or impedance data, fluoroscopy or other real-time imaging data and/or an electro-anatomical mapping system. Once verification that there is no tissue contact is made, the system recalibrates the signal emanating from the force sensor setting it to correspond to a force reading of zero grams and this recalibrated baseline reading is used to generate and display force readings based on force sensor data.

In-vivo calibration of contact force-sensing catheters using auto zero zones

A medical vapor system and method is provided. The medical vapor system can include a fluid conduit having an inlet, an outlet and a heating section, the inlet being adapted and configured to be connected to a source of liquid water, a resistance heater disposed and configured to generate heat and conduct the heat to the heating section of the fluid conduit to vaporize liquid water flowing through the heating section, a power supply operatively connected to the heater, and a controller adapted to control production of water vapor by the system. Methods of use are also provided.

Medical vapor generator

Systems and methods for treating a lesion in a lung of a patient are described. Embodiments can include navigating a vapor exit port of a vapor delivery catheter to an airway point near a lung region in which the lesion resides, delivering condensable vapor from the vapor delivery catheter along anatomic boundaries of the lung region, and creating a uniform field of necrosis in tissue around the lesion by allowing the condensable vapor to condense.

Vapor treatment of lung nodules and tumors

A method for ablating tissue in or around the heart to create an enhanced lesion is provided. The distal end of a catheter including a needle electrode at its distal end is introduced into the heart. The distal end of the needle electrode is introduced into the tissue. An electrically-conductive fluid is infused through the needle electrode and into the tissue. The tissue is ablated after and/or during introduction of the fluid into the tissue. The fluid conducts ablation energy within the tissue to create a larger lesion than would be created without the introduction of the fluid.

Method for ablating with needle electrode

Apparatus and method for detecting metal disturbance during a medical procedure has a probe having an insertion tube, a joint, and a joint sensor for sensing a position of the insertion tube. The joint sensor has first and second subassemblies as magnetic transducers. A processor is used for measuring force using the joint sensor, and a threshold field value stored therein. The processor receives and processes one or more signals output by either the first and second subassemblies responsive to a magnetic field so as to detect changes in a position of insertion tube. The processor compares the sensed field value to the threshold field value and identifies a presence of a metal object when the sensed field value is below the threshold field value.

System and method for detection of metal disturbance based on contact force measurement

An irrigated ablation catheter provides improved distribution of irrigation fluid across its tip electrode surface resulting in improved cooling and flushing of blood and proteins from the tip region. An axially directed flow of irrigation provides improved heat transfer from the tip electrode to the irrigation fluid allowing for a cooler tip electrode and larger lesions. The irrigation fluid is introduced to the catheter with improved flow by means of a standard constant flow pump. A lumen or tube within a shaft of the catheter transfers the irrigation fluid to a proximal end of the tip electrode where it exits the catheter via a flow directing member mounted on the tip electrode. In one embodiment, the flow directing member is a thin walled tube that surrounds the proximal end of the tip electrode and directs the irrigation fluid distally along an outer surface of the tip electrode.

Irrigated catheter with improved irrigation flow

The invention is directed to a catheter that creates enhanced lesions using a needle electrode and can simultaneously map electrical activity at a plurality of points using an enhanced mapping assembly. The catheter comprises an elongated catheter body having at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. A needle control handle is provided at the proximal end of the catheter body. A needle electrode assembly extends through the catheter body and needle control handle and has a proximal end attached to the needle control handle and a distal end within the distal end of the catheter body. A mapping assembly is mounted at the distal end of the catheter body and comprises at least two flexible spines. Each spine has a proximal end attached at the distal end of the catheter body and a free distal end. Each spine carries at least one electrode. The distal end of the needle electrode assembly is extendable past the proximal end of the mapping assembly upon manipulation of the needle control handle.

Catheter with ablation needle and mapping assembly

A catheter adapted for mapping near a tubular region of a heart, has an elongated tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends, an intermediate section distal of the catheter body, and a mapping assembly at the distal end of the intermediate section. The electrode-carrying mapping assembly has a generally circular main segment with a support member having shape-memory, and a generally linear proximal segment which has greater flexibility than either the intermediate section or the generally circular main segment. The generally circular main segment is adapted to releasably anchor itself in the tubular region and to map circumferentially around the tubular region and the generally linear segment is adapted to contact generally along its length heart wall tissue near an ostium of the tubular region. In another embodiment of the present invention, the mapping assembly extends from the distal end of the catheter body, where the generally linear proximal segment of the mapping assembly has greater flexibility than either the catheter body or the generally circular main segment.

Soft linear mapping catheter with stabilizing tip

A gas-enriched fluid is provided by the combination of a first fluid, such as a patient's blood, with a second gas-supersaturated fluid, such as an oxygen supersaturated fluid. In this example, a catheter assembly includes a portion that receives the patient's blood from a pump and that receives the oxygen supersaturated fluid from an appropriate fluid source. The oxygen supersaturated fluid is advantageously combined with the blood in an area of laminar flow, and then this gas-enriched fluid is delivered to the patient through an appropriate lumen coupled to the portion of the catheter assembly.

Method for the preparation and delivery of gas-enriched fluids

A method for regulating the heart rate of a patient comprises inserting into a blood vessel of the patient a catheter having an electrode assembly at its distal end. The electrode assembly comprises a generally circular main region that is generally transverse to the axis of the catheter and on which is mounted at least one electrode. The catheter is directed to an intravascular location wherein the at least one electrode on the electrode assembly is adjacent a selected cardiac sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve. The at least one electrode is stabilized at the intravascular location. A stimulus is delivered through the at least one electrode, the stimulus being selected to stimulate the adjacent sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve to thereby cause a regulation of the patient's heart rate.

Method and system for treatment of tachycardia and fibrillation

A catheter for mapping and ablating comprises an elongated flexible body having a distal region and at least one lumen extending therethrough. A tip electrode is mounted on the distal region. The tip electrode has an exposed distal region having proximal and distal ends and an isolated region proximal to the exposed distal region. The isolated region has an outer surface provided with an electrically insulating and thermally conductive layer. A second electrode is mounted on the isolated region of the tip electrode. This mapping and ablation electrode arrangement provides discrete recording of electrical signals due to the relatively small exposed distal region while allowing the creating of larger lesions due to the large thermal mass provided by the isolated region.

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Long Beach, CA, United States of America

Robert Alan Mest