Irvine Biomedical, Inc.

Smith International, Inc.

Other

Weng-Kwen Raymond Chia

Hosheng Tu

Alan De La Rama

Cary K Hata

George F Anderson

Michael S Oliver

Richard D Smith

Robert S Forrest

Richard D Crouse

A flexible catheter shaft with a balloon on the distal section suitable for inserting into a body of a patient comprising a deflectable, high torque transmission assembly of a slit tubular element that has either a plurality of rows of slits with anchors or at least one continuously spiraling slit on said slit tubular element and has sufficient bending and torque properties ensuring that a substantial fraction of the bending, rotational and displacement forces provided along said flexible catheter shaft are translated to bending, rotational and displacement forces at a distal end of said flexible catheter shaft, facilitating the placement of the catheter distal section and using the balloon for blocking the vessel ostium and injecting contrast medium through an open distal tip.

High torque balloon catheter possessing multi-directional deflectability and methods thereof

A flexible catheter shaft suitable for inserting into a body of a patient comprising a deflectable, high torque transmission assembly of a slit tubular element that has either a plurality of rows of slits with anchors or at least one continuously spiraling slit on said slit tubular element and has sufficient bending and torque properties ensuring that a substantial fraction of the bending, rotational and displacement forces provided along said flexible catheter shaft are translated to bending, rotational and displacement forces at a distal end of said flexible catheter shaft.

High torque catheter possessing multi-directional deflectability and methods thereof

An improved guiding catheter system having inflated balloon at its tip section, wherein the inflated balloon having a plurality of electrodes is heated to a predetermined temperature as an ablation means for delivering the thermal energy to a tissue by deploying the balloon to contact the tissue to cause a circular ablation lesion, the plurality of electrodes using RE energy as a heat source for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation indications.

Self-guiding catheter system for tissue ablation

An improved catheter system having intravascular ultrasound locating capabilities comprising a locator catheter and an ultrasound receiver catheter resulting in an effective electrophysiology procedure without undesired side effects of using a conventional x-ray imaging system. Said catheter system comprising a locator catheter, a reference catheter and a data acquisition computer; the locator catheter comprises at least one electrode at its distal tip section and an ultrasound crystal secured on the catheter shaft proximal to the distal end. The reference catheter comprises at least three ultrasound crystal beacons, a first ultrasound crystal beacon of said at least three ultrasound crystal beacons being located at the distal end of the reference catheter and being spaced apart from the remaining ultrasound crystal beacons, wherein the first ultrasound crystal beacon is adapted to be inserted into a vascular vessel, the reference catheter having pre-determined locations with reference to an external locating calibration system, wherein said ultrasound beacons can emit and receive ultrasound signals.

Intravascular ultrasound locating system

An ablation catheter comprising a delivery catheter and an inner insert having a retractable tip section, wherein a deployable two-piece electrode means is mounted on the retractable tip section and wherein the second piece of the two-piece electrode means is in a circular shape which plane is essentially perpendicular to the delivery catheter, adapted for delivering RF ablative energy to the electrode means.

Ablation device and methods having perpendicular electrodes

An improved catheter system having ultrasound locating and ablation capabilities comprising a locator catheter and an ultrasound receiver catheter, the locator catheter consisting of a catheter shaft having an ultrasound crystal secured on the catheter shaft; and a reference catheter comprising three or more ultrasound crystal beacons which have pre-determined locations with reference to an external locating calibration system, wherein said ultrasound beacons can emit and receive ultrasound signals, and the crystals used in ultrasound imaging means can also be used for ultrasound ablation by connecting to an external ultrasound ablative energy generator.

Ultrasound locating system having ablation capabilities

A catheter system having a tip section with fixation means for use in treatment of tissues, such as mapping pulmonary veins or ablating tumors in a natural body conduit or cavity by applying RF energy, wherein the catheter system passes through a natural body opening to reach the target tissue, wherein the catheter system stays at a desired position via its fixation means having needle-like attachments, and delivers therapeutic RF energy to the target tissue for improved tissue treatment.

Catheter system having a tip section with fixation means

An improved catheter system having ultrasound locating capabilities comprising a locator catheter and an ultrasound receiver catheter resulting in an effective electrophysiology procedure without undesired side effects of using a conventional x-ray imaging system. Said catheter system comprising a locator catheter consisted of at least one electrode and an ultrasound crystal secured on the locator catheter; and a reference catheter comprising three or more ultrasound crystal beacons which have pre-determined locations with reference to an external locating calibration system, wherein said external locating calibration system constantly calibrates the coordinates of the beacons on the reference catheter, having at least one ultrasound beacon is movable/controllable by a beacon deployment means.

Catheter system having controllable ultrasound locating means

An improved catheter system having at least one electrode at its tip section can be used in ablating the arrhythmogenic point of a patient. A catheter suitable for radiofrequency ablation of cardiac tissues comprises a catheter shaft having a distal section, a distal end, a proximal end and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein a rotatable movable ball electrode is disposed at the tip section of said catheter. In one embodiment, the ablation catheter has a temperature sensor and a closed-loop temperature control mechanism. In another embodiment, the ablation catheter has fluid infusion and irrigation means at its distal tip section for creating a deep and large lesion by applying radiofrequency energy and cooled fluid to said rotatable movable ball electrode.

Catheter system having a ball electrode and methods thereof

A steerable ablation catheter system suitable for radiofrequency ablation of intracardiac tissue comprises two parts: a disposable catheter shaft with a deflectable tip at the distal end of the shaft; and a handle with steering mechanisms, wherein the two parts are engaged and disengaged through a pair of the quick coupling and locking connecting units.

Steerable ablation catheter system having disposable shaft

An improved catheter system and methods for ablating cardiac tissues via a steerable ablation catheter having a liquid-permeable shaft, a liquid-permeable electrode, or a distal opening at its tip section with fluid infusion and irrigation for ablating intracardiac tissues by applying radiofrequency energy along with irrigated fluid in a pulmonary vein resulting in a controlled lesion for treating focal atrial fibrillation.

Catheter probe for treating focal atrial fibrillation in pulmonary veins

An improved ablation catheter with a plurality of needles on at least one electrode suitable for radiofrequency ablation of cardiac tissues includes a delivery catheter and an inner catheter. The ablation catheter has a temperature sensor and a closed-loop temperature controller. The steerable catheter having at least one electrode includes a plurality of needles, wherein a longitudinal length of said at least one electrode is 4 mm or longer, a distance of the needles of the plurality of needles on the at least one electrode is 2 mm or less, a height of the plurality of needles is 1 mm or less, and wherein the plurality of needles on the at least one electrode faces a target tissue side.

Ablation catheter having electrode means and methods thereof

A catheter system suitable for electrophysiology mapping and radiofrequency ablation of cardiac tissue comprises a catheter shaft having a distal end, a proximal handle, and at least a lumen extending therebetween, wherein a distal section of the shaft is either a fixed curve type or a deflectable type; and safety means being provided to maintain the integrity of the catheter by holding the long tip electrode in place, wherein the safety means is a long tip electrode with an extended flexible stem having at least one open groove or slot on the stem.

Catheter system having closely spaced distal bipolar electrodes

The method for using a catheter system suitable for electrophysiology mapping and radiofrequency ablation of cardiac tissue comprises a catheter shaft having a distal end, a proximal handle, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein a distal section of the shaft is either a fixed curve type or a deflectable type; and a safety means provided to maintain the integrity of the catheter, by anchoring the tip electrode in place. In one embodiment, the safety means is a tip electrode with safety anchoring pins. In another embodiment, the safety means is a long tip electrode with an extended flexible stem having at least one open slot or groove or groove on the stem.

Catheter system having safety means and methods thereof

An improved catheter system having ultrasound locating capabilities comprising a locator catheter and an ultrasound receiver catheter resulting in an effective electrophysiology procedure without undesired side effects of using a conventional x-ray imaging system. Said catheter system comprising a locator catheter consisted of a catheter shaft having a distal tip section, a distal end, a proximal end and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein at least one electrode is secured at said distal tip section; a handle attached to the proximal end of said catheter shaft; an ultrasound crystal secured on the catheter shaft proximal to the distal end; a connector secured to the proximal end of said handle; and a reference catheter comprising three or more ultrasound crystal beacons which have pre-determined locations with reference to an external locating calibration system, wherein said ultrasound beacons can emit and receive ultrasound signals, and the crystals used in ultrasound imaging means can be shaped as a cylinder, a donut, or a ring shape.

Growing community of inventors

Irvine, CA, United States of America

Weng-Kwen Raymond Chia