C. R. Bard, Inc.

Cardiofocus Corporation

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Stephen W Sagon

Gary S Falwell

Gerald Melsky

Charles A Gibson

Eric Bene

Ding Sheng He

Steven J Burns

Donald F Patterson

Denyse M Collins

Russell F Collins

Paul E LeClair

Pierre Jais

Edward L Sinofsky

Norman Erwin Farr

Lincoln S Baxter

David P MacAdam

Jeffrey M Arnold

Alfred Stancampiano

Eric A Bene

David Macadam

Charles E Iii Brown

Amedeo J Chiavetta

The present disclosure relates to ablation instruments and methods of use thereof, in particular to ablation catheters and methods for providing visual confirmation of pulmonary isolation during an ablation procedure and preferably, in real-time.

System and method for visual confirmation of pulmonary vein isolation during abalation procedures

Systems for visualizing cardiac tissue during an ablation procedure are provided. In general, the systems include an imaging module configured to measure absorbance data at first and second wavelengths wherein the ratio of these absorbance values identifies the nature of the tissue (e.g., lesion, de novo tissue, etc.). The imaging module can also include a video system having at least two chips with corresponding bandpass filters centered at the first and second target wavelengths. The system can also include a processor and/or video monitor for combining the images produced by the various chips, determining treated and non-treated tissue based on the ratio of absorbance values at the target wavelengths, and displaying images of the treatment area. Methods of visualizing cardiac treatment areas during ablation procedures are also provided herein.

System and method for visualizing tissue during ablation procedures

Methods and instruments are disclosed for creating lesions in tissue, especially cardiac tissue, for treatment of arrhythmias and the like, by employing an elastic balloon and an energy emitter, which is independently positionable within the lumen of the instrument and adapted to project a series of spots of ablative energy through a transmissive region of the balloon to a target tissue site. The energy emitter preferably is configured such the spots of energy result in a series of lesions formed in the target tissue region when the emitter is activated, the lesions having an average area ranging from about 5 mmto about 100 mm. In one aspect of the invention, percutaneous ablation instruments are disclosed in the form of catheter bodies having one or more balloon structures at the distal end region of the instrument and an energy emitting element, which is independently positionable and rotatable within a lumen of the instrument and adapted to project ablative energy through a transmissive region of the balloon to a target tissue site in contact with, or proximal to, the balloon surface.

Cardiac ablation catheters for forming overlapping lesions

Embodiments described herein relate to methods of using a catheter having a braided conductive member. One embodiment relates to a method for treating a condition of a patient that involves contacting an exterior wall of a blood vessel with the braided conductive member. Another embodiment relates to a method that involves contacting a wall of a blood vessel with the braided conductive member and controlling energy delivery to the braided conductive member based on at least one sensed temperature.

Methods of using a catheter having a braided conductive member

An electrophysiology catheter and method of use for mapping and ablation procedures. The catheter includes a braided conductive member at its distal end that can be radially expanded. The catheter can be used in endocardial and epicardial mapping and ablation procedures.

Apparatus and methods for mapping and ablation in electrophysiology procedures

Methods for conducting an electrophysiology procedure using a programmed machine are described, including methods for managing discrete data capture requests received throughout the course of an electrophysiology procedure and for discretizing the display of independent data capture events that occur during the course of the electrophysiology procedure. These methods enable an operator to review location maps of sites visited during the course of a procedure and to review data from discrete moments in the procedure and to play back data over a sequence of times throughout the procedure, one moment at a time. The invention further includes software constructs that enable data management.

Software controlled electrophysiology data management

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Amherst, MA, United States of America

Stephen W Sagon