An end effector structure provided for an ablation apparatus, optionally having a covering balloon structure made from a compliant material such as rubber like materials, as for example silicone, including an antenna to emit microwave energy for cavity ablation that is covered with microwave energy absorbing and heat radiating material so that when end effector inserted into the body cavity, the balloon is filled up with liquid and balloon stretches to conform to a profile of the cavity to be ablated, and the applied microwave energy heats the liquid inside the balloon and heat energy to ablate or otherwise treat the body cavity tissue contacted with the compliant end effector. Other embodiments without the covering balloon apply heat directly to the cavity with the heated liquid.

A deployable invasive device includes a transducer with a plurality of elements with linked by at least one shape memory material, the at least one shape memory material configured to move the plurality of the elements relative to one another between a first configuration and a second configuration in response to the thermal stimulus. The shape memory material comprises at least one active region configured to change shape to facilitate transition between the first configuration and the second configuration. The deployable invasive device further includes at least one integral heating resistor on or within the at least one active region and configured to heat the shape memory material surrounding the integral heating resistor to provide the thermal stimulus.

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 RF ablation catheter for treatment of atrial fibrillation of the heart, the RF ablation catheter including: a body part which has one or more ablation electrodes formed on a distal part and which constitutes a catheter body made of a soft material; and a tapered tip which is connected to the body part and becomes thinner toward an end thereof, wherein a guidewire lumen into which a guidewire is inserted is formed to be connected to the tip and the body part.

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.

A medical material needle, applicable for detection and positioning by an ultrasound, includes a needle body having a three-layer structure. The three-layer structure includes an outer structure, an inner structure, and a middle structure disposed between the outer structure and the inner structure. The outer structure and the middle structure have different characteristic acoustic impedance with respect to the ultrasound, the inner structure and the middle structure have different characteristic acoustic impedance with respect to the ultrasound, and at least one of the outer structure, the middle structure and the inner structure is provided with a dimension in at least one direction less than a wavelength at a frequency of the ultrasound in water.

A drive device includes: a drive signal generator configured to generate a pair of drive signals, a pair of buffer circuits, a pair of switching elements configured to repeatedly turn on and off the pair of drive signals, a first radiation material that has a longitudinal axis and that is arranged to face one of the pair of switching elements, a second radiation material that has a longitudinal axis and that is arranged to face an other one of the pair of switching elements, a fan and a casing. The switching elements, the first radiation material, and the second radiation material are positioned within a projection plane of the fan viewed along the longitudinal axes of the first radiation material and the second radiation material.

Provided are a system and a method for determining the temperature of a body by imaging a hydrogen proton-rich material positioned within the body using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. A method to increase changes in the MRI signal strength as a function of temperature, thus improving temperature sensitivity, is also provided. The system and method employ polymers having mechanical stability and magnetic image brightness at low temperatures of between 0° C. and −65° C. or high temperatures of between +37° C. and +80° C.

RF tissue ablation devices are provided. Aspects of the RF tissue ablation devices include an elongated member having a proximal and distal end, first and second jaws at the distal end, wherein the first and second jaws are configured to apply intra and inter RF energy to tissue disposed between the jaws during use, and a connector at the proximal end for operatively connecting to a RF energy source. Also provided are systems that include an RF tissue ablation device operatively coupled to a RF energy source, as well as kits that include the devices and methods of using the devices in RF tissue ablation applications, including cardiac applications.

A medical microwave delivery system comprises a microwave generator for providing microwave energy, wherein the microwave generator is electrically isolated from an electrical earth of the medical microwave delivery system, a coaxial cable configured to transfer microwave energy from the microwave generator, and a ferrite element configured to at least partially surround at least part of the coaxial cable.

An elongate medical device shaft may comprise an elongate body and an annular electrode disposed on the elongate body. The annular electrode may define a longitudinal axis and have an outer diameter. The outer diameter may be greater at an axial center of the electrode than at an axial end of the electrode. Additionally or alternatively, the elongate body may comprise three longitudinal sections having three wall thicknesses. The middle wall thickness may be less than the proximal and distal wall thicknesses and the distal wall thickness may be less than the proximal wall thickness. Additionally or alternatively, the shaft may comprise an inner cylindrical structure and an outer tube. The outer tube may comprise a first radial layer and a second radial layer that is radially-outward of the first radial layer, the first radial layer, second radial layer, and inner structure having different stiffnesses.