A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) includes an energy source (124), a balloon (104), an energy guide (122A), and a balloon integrity protection system (142). The energy source (124) generates pulses of energy. The balloon (104) is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site (106). The balloon (104) has a balloon wall (130) that defines a balloon interior (146). The balloon (104) is configured to retain a balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The energy guide (122A) is configured to receive the energy from the energy source (124) and guide the energy into the balloon interior (146) so that plasma is formed in the balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The balloon integrity protection system (142) is operatively coupled to the balloon (104). The balloon integrity protection system (142) is configured to inhibit temperature-induced rupture of the balloon (104) due to the plasma formed in the balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146) during use of the catheter system (100).

The present disclosure relates to methods, devices, kits and systems for enhancing the efficacy and longevity of denervation procedures.

A heat exchanger is disclosed for causing cryolysis of adipose tissue of a human tongue. The heat exchanger includes a body having cooling channels for circulating fluids therein. The body forms a contact surface that contacts a portion of the dorsal surface of the tongue and a portion of the base of the tongue. The heat exchanger includes a pair of side walls extending from the body and forming a pair of side contact surfaces that are dimensioned so that they contact the dorsal and lateral surfaces of the tongue in a manner so as to constrict the tongue when the contact surface is in contact with the tongue. A method of treatment for apnea using the heat exchanger and/or administering a chemical adipolysis formulation/vasoconstriction agent is also disclosed.

The subject of this disclosure is devices, systems, and uses thereof to treat a plurality of patients for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The solution can include delivering a multi-electrode radiofrequency balloon catheter and a multi-electrode diagnostic catheter to one or more targeted pulmonary veins; ablating tissue of the one or more targeted pulmonary veins using the multi-electrode radiofrequency balloon catheter; diagnosing the one or more targeted pulmonary veins using the multi-electrode diagnostic catheter; and achieving at least one of a predetermined clinical effectiveness and acute effectiveness of the method or use based on use of the multi-electrode radiofrequency balloon catheter and the multi-electrode diagnostic catheter in the isolation of the one or more targeted pulmonary veins.

Sinusitis and other disorders of the ear, nose and throat are diagnosed and/or treated using minimally invasive approaches with flexible or rigid instruments. Various methods and devices are used for remodeling or changing the shape, size or configuration of a sinus ostium or duct or other anatomical structure in the ear, nose or throat; implanting a device, cells or tissues; removing matter from the ear, nose or throat; delivering diagnostic or therapeutic substances or performing other diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Introducing devices (e.g., guide catheters, tubes, guidewires, elongate probes, other elongate members) may be used to facilitate insertion of working devices (e.g. catheters e.g. balloon catheters, guidewires, tissue cutting or remodeling devices, devices for implanting elements like stents, electrosurgical devices, energy emitting devices, devices for delivering diagnostic or therapeutic agents, substance delivery implants, scopes etc.) into the paranasal sinuses or other structures in the ear, nose or throat.

A medical system may comprise a catheter (101) for ablating tissue including a flexible longitudinal body including a distal end; and a distal portion extending distally from the distal end of longitudinal body. The distal portion may include a plurality of electrodes (103). The medical system may also comprise one or more control units (112) coupled to the catheter and configured to (1) control a supply of electrical energy to each of the plurality of electrodes and (2) automatically control a position of the distal portion of the catheter.

Systems, methods, and devices having improved conformal properties for biomedical signal measurement are disclosed. A device can have a first polymer substrate coupled to a conductive layer forming a conductive trace electrically coupled to a conductive pad exposed via an opening. The device can have a second polymer substrate forming a first cavity between the first polymer substrate and the second polymer substrate. The device can have a first inlet portion that receives a fluid that expands the first cavity causing the device to conform to an anatomical structure. The structure can be an atrium, such as the left atrium, of the heart of a patient. The device can conform to the walls of the tissue structure, and the conductive pad exposed via the opening can detect a signal from the wall of the tissue structure. The signal can be provided to an external measurement device for processing.

Damaged, diseased, abnormal, obstructive, cancerous or undesired neural tissue treated by delivering specialized pulsed electric field (PEF) energy to target tissue areas. In some instances, the target tissue includes a tumor, a benign tumor, a malignant tumor, a cyst, or an area of diseased tissue. Most brain and spinal cord tumors develop from glial cells. These tumors are sometimes referred to as a group called gliomas. They arise from the supporting cells of the brain, called the glia. These cells are subdivided into astrocytes, ependymal cells and oligodendroglial cells (or oligos). One difficulty in the treatment of gliomas is that they are behind the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-tumor barrier (BTB) which leads to poor delivery of anti-cancer drugs or immune agents to the tumor-infiltrated brain. Devices, systems and methods are provided that treat the tumor directly, such as by ablation, and optionally transiently disrupt the BBB coupled with adjuvant antibody, biologic, or other pharmaceutical interventions.

A catheter system (100) for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to a vessel wall (108A) or a heart valve includes a light source (124), a first light guide (122A), a second light guide (122A), and an optical alignment system (257). The light source (124) generates light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B). The first light guide (122A) receives the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) from the light source (124). The first light guide (122A) has a guide proximal end (122P). The second light guide (122A) receives the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) from the light source (124). The second light guide (122A) has a guide proximal end (122P). A multiplexer (223) directs the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) toward the guide proximal end (122P) of the first light guide (122A) and the guide proximal end (122P) of the second light guide (122A). The optical alignment system (257) determines an alignment of the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) relative to at least one of the guide proximal ends (122P). The optical alignment system (257) adjusts the positioning of the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends (122P) based at least partially on the alignment of the light energy (224A, 224B, 324A, 324B, 424B) relative to the at least one of the guide proximal ends (122P).

A catheter system includes a catheter having an elongate shaft, a balloon and a light guide. The balloon expands from a collapsed configuration to a first expanded configuration. The light guide is disposed along the elongate shaft and is in optical communication with a light source and a balloon fluid. A first portion of the light guide extends into a recess defined by the elongate shaft. A protection structure is disposed within the recess and is in contact with the first portion of the light guide. The light source provides pulses of light to the balloon fluid, thereby initiating plasma formation and rapid bubble formation within the balloon, thereby imparting pressure waves upon a treatment site. The protection structure can provide structural protection from the pressure waves to the first portion of the light guide.