Catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for achieving renal neuromodulation by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed to a treatment device having a multi-electrode array configured to be delivered to a renal blood vessel. The array is selectively transformable between a delivery or low-profile state (e.g., a generally straight shape) and a deployed state (e.g., a radially expanded, generally spiral/helical shape). The multi-electrode array is sized and shaped so that the electrodes or energy delivery elements contact an interior wall of the renal blood vessel when the array is in the deployed (e.g., spiral/helical) state. The electrodes or energy delivery elements are configured for direct and/or indirect application of thermal and/or electrical energy to heat or otherwise electrically modulate neural fibers that contribute to renal function.

A catheter with basket-shaped electrode assembly with spines configured for hyper-flexing in a predetermined, predictable manner when a compressive force acts on the assembly from either its distal end or its proximal end. At least one spine has at least one region of greater (or hyper) flexibility that allows the electrode assembly to deform, for example, compress, for absorbing and dampening excessive force that may otherwise cause damage or injury to tissue wall in contact with the assembly, without compromising the structure and stiffness of the remaining regions of the spine, including its distal and proximal regions. The one or more regions of greater flexibility in the spine allow the spine to flex into a generally V-shape configuration or a generally U-shape configuration.

An end effector for operating on tissue comprises an upper jaw, a lower jaw, a flexible member, and a pair of conductive members. The upper jaw and the lower jaw are configured to receive tissue when in an open position and the upper jaw is movable toward the lower jaw. The flexible member is coupled to either the upper jaw or the lower jaw, and is configured to deform in response to compression of tissue between the jaws. One of the conductive members is associated with the flexible member and is configured to move with the flexible member in response to compression of tissue between the jaws. The end effector may be configured to manipulate the position of muscle within tissue in response to compression of tissue between the jaws.

Tumors in portions of a subject's body that have a longitudinal axis (e.g., the torso, head, and arm) can be treated with TTFields by affixing first and second sets of electrodes at respective positions that are longitudinally prior to and subsequent to a target region. An AC voltage with a frequency of 100-500 kHz is applied between these sets of electrodes. This imposes an AC electric field with field lines that run through the target region longitudinally. The field strength is at least 1 V/cm in at least a portion of the target region. In some embodiments, this approach is combined with the application of AC electric fields through the target region in a lateral direction (e.g., front to back and/or side to side) in order to apply AC electric fields with different orientations to the target region.

A device configured to cut leaflet tissue at a cardiac valve may comprise a guide catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the guide catheter being positionable at a cardiac valve. The device may further include a cutting mechanism routable through the guide catheter and configured to extend from the distal end of the guide catheter, the cutting mechanism configured to cut a portion of leaflet tissue of the cardiac valve. Finally, the device may comprise a handle coupled to the proximal end of the guide catheter, the handle comprising at least one control operatively connected to the cutting mechanism such that the at least one control is configured to provide selective actuation of the cutting mechanism.

An apparatus includes a catheter assembly and an end effector. The catheter assembly includes an outer sheath with a distal end. The end effector is associated with a distal end of the catheter assembly. The end effector includes a panel assembly with microelectrodes for electrophysiological (EP) mapping. The microelectrodes are configured in a matrix within the panel assembly and provide multiple points of contact with the target tissue for EP mapping. The panel assembly can transition between a first contracted state and a second expanded state. The panel assembly can fit within the outer sheath in the first state. The panel assembly can expand outwardly away from a longitudinal axis defined by the catheter assembly in the second state once exposed distally relative to the distal end of the outer sheath.

A device for microwave treatment to treat SMAS comprises an applicator configured to be in contact with a skin of the subject's body, wherein the applicator comprises a treatment array configured to radiate a microwaves to a tissue of the subject's body comprising SMAS causing a heating of the subject's body SMAS, and a cooling unit comprising a circulating cooling fluid configured to cool the skin of the subject's body and create a reverse thermal gradient in the tissue of the subject's body.

A skin care device using an RF needle is disclosed. According to an embodiment, a skin contact part having a plurality of needles and a vacuum pressure formation unit for applying a suction force to the skin contact part are included, and thus a needle can be inserted into the skin by pulling the skin with vacuum pressure. Therefore, the skin is pulled with suction so that an equipment contact surface accurately comes into contact with the skin, and thus a needle can be correctly inserted into the inner layer of the skin.

The present disclosure provides a method for treatment of atrial fibrillation of the heart, the method including: inserting a guidewire from the superior vena cava or inferior vena cava into the vein of Marshall via a coronary sinus; placing a RF ablation catheter, which has an ablation electrode formed on a distal part, in the vein of Marshall according to guidance of the guidewire; and performing RF ablation around the vein of Marshall after connecting the RF ablation catheter to a RF generator.

An apparatus includes a shaft and an inflatable sleeve catheter. The shaft is configured for insertion through a sheath into a cavity of an organ of a patient. The inflatable sleeve catheter is fixed to a distal end of the shaft, with the inflatable sleeve catheter including (i) a resilient inner end section, which is fixed to the distal end of the shaft and is formed so as to assume a predefined shape when unconstrained, (ii) an inflatable sleeve that envelopes the inner end section, and a plurality of electrodes that are disposed over the inflatable sleeve and are configured to contact tissue.