Apparatuses and methods utilizing tactile transducers to create mechanical waves that travel through an individual's body to the kidneys to dislodge kidney stones. Embodiments include a structural member with at least one tactile transducer, an amplifier, and a controller. The tactile transducer(s) produce mechanical waves, and the structural member enables projection of the mechanical waves produced by the tactile transducer(s) toward at least one kidney to dislodge kidney stones. The amplifier is electronically coupled to the at least one tactile transducer, and the controller is electronically coupled to the amplifier and configured to determine the mechanical waves produced by the at least one tactile transducer.

An intravascular catheter for nerve activity ablation and/or sensing includes one or more needles advanced through supported guide tubes (needle guiding elements) which expand to contact the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the needles to be advanced though the vessel wall into the extra-luminal tissue including the media, adventitia and periadvential space. The catheter also includes structures which provide radial and lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes open uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall. Electrodes at the distal ends of the guide tubes allow sensing of nerve activity before and after attempted renal denervation. In a combination embodiment ablative energy or fluid is delivered to ablate nerves outside of the media.

A medical laser system for outputting laser pulses includes at least one laser cavity, a rotating mirror, a user interface, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive at least one laser parameter associated with a laser pulse output by the system. The controller is configured to determine an average power level of the laser pulse based on the at least one laser parameter associated with the laser pulse. The controller is configured to determine a pulse width modulation (PWM) control signal based on at least one laser parameter. The controller is configured to generate the laser pulse based on the average power level and the PWM control signal, the laser pulse comprising at least one of a first shape, a second shape, or a third shape. Each of the first shape, the second shape, and the third shape of the laser pulse includes different pulse widths.

Systems and methods for controlled sympathectomy procedures for neuromodulation are disclosed. A system for controlled micro ablation procedures is disclosed. A guidewire including one or more sensors or electrodes for accessing and recording physiologic information from one or more anatomical sites within the parenchyma of an organ as part of a physiologic monitoring session, a diagnostic test, or a neuromodulation procedure is disclosed. A guidewire including one or more sensors and/or a means for energy delivery, for performing a neuromodulation procedure within a small vessel within a body is disclosed.

A catheter device for renal denervation ablation includes a flexible catheter shaft having an electrically insulating expandable member in its distal portion with at least one electrode located proximal to the member, at least one electrode located distal to the member, and with openings in the distal shaft with at least one opening proximal to the proximal electrode and one opening distal to the distal electrode of said electrode pair, said openings connected through an inner lumen in the catheter that provides a path for blood to flow through the expandable member. In one embodiment, the device comprises a flexible catheter shaft with a multiplicity of recessed paired electrodes disposed in recessed spaces in its distal portion, such that an electrically conducting portion of each electrode is exposed to the exterior of the catheter within a recessed space, and with an electrical insulator separating the electrodes of each pair.

Apparatus, systems, and methods of controlling energy delivered to electrodes used in electrically and/or thermally induced neuromodulation are provided to improve neuromodulation. In particular, a catheter treatment device having a control algorithm that regulates current or current density delivered to an electrode is provided. The electrode may maintain a known and consistent electrode contact surface area with the vessel. The control algorithm controls energy delivery to provide consistent current or current density to the treatment site, even though the tissue impedance Z may vary from patient to patient and vessel to vessel, and despite changes in impedance of the treatment, site during the course of the treatment. The controlled delivery of energy can be used to control and maintain placement of the zone of thermal treatment and reduce undesirable energy delivery to unwanted locations near the treatment site.

One aspect relates to a catheter system, a use of such catheter system and a manufacturing method for such catheter system. The catheter system includes an at least partially flexible catheter body, at least a ring electrode, and at least a strain gauge. The ring electrode surrounds at least a portion of the flexible catheter body. The strain gauge is allocated to the ring electrode and the strain gauge is configured to measure a deformation of the flexible catheter body at a position allocated to the ring electrode to detect a contact between the ring electrode and tissue.

The present disclosure provides an endoscopic surgery apparatus that includes an insertion tube having a passage formed inside, and that is to be inserted into a patient's urethra; a laser part that is installed such that it can reciprocate in the passage, and that separates a prostate adenoma from a patient's prostatic capsular surface; a hemostasis part that is installed such that it is spaced apart from the laser part and can reciprocate in the passage, and stops bleeding of a bleeding blood vessel of the patient's prostatic capsular surface; a camera part that is located in the passage and that photographs inside of the patient's prostate; and a transfer part that selectively transfers the laser part and the hemostasis part.

This invention is directed to compositions and methods for treating a condition of the heart. In an embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of treating a subject in need thereof, wherein the method comprises ablating at least one nerve of the renal artery of the subject; and administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of cells.

A sheath assembly for use with an endoscope and an endoscope that includes the sheath assembly. The sheath assembly can include an elongate tubular sheath configured to thread onto a shaft of the endoscope. The sheath can include a pliable segment at a distal end of the sheath, and a tensile filament extends along a circumference of the pliable segment. The tensile filament can form a cinching loop at a distal end of the pliable segment. The sheath can be displaceable along the endoscope between a retracted position and an extended position. The pliable segment can extend distally beyond a distal end of the endoscope to form a chamber, and proximal displacement of the tensile filament tightens the cinching loop to convert the chamber from an open configuration to a closed configuration.