Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to, for example, a high-thermal-sensitivity ablation catheter tip. More specifically, various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to improved thermocouple response to temperature changes associated with an ablation electrode and/or tissue in contact therewith. Such an ablation catheter tip facilitates reduced lag in an ablation control system's response to the sensed temperature changes.

Pursuant to embodiments of the present invention, a method of performing electronically controlled electrotherapy may include modifying or killing target cells and simultaneously modifying a secondary outcome by delivering electrical pulses and dynamically adjusting an energy delivery profile of the electrical pulses in response to a measurement. The secondary outcome may be a physical outcome, a biological outcome, and/or a systemic outcome.

A system for modulating bladder function is disclosed. A system for evaluating the electrophysiological function of a bladder is disclosed. Methods for performing a controlled surgical procedure on a bladder are disclosed. A system for performing controlled surgical procedures in a minimally invasive manner is disclosed. An implantable device for monitoring and/or performing a neuromodulation procedure on a bladder is disclosed.

A system for ablating or monitoring a zone of the heart, includes a system to measure the heart electrical activity; a phased array for generating a beam of focussed ultrasound signals on a targeted zone of the heart; an imaging system determining an image of a transcostal wall projected in an image plane of the phased array by taking into consideration a position and direction of the phased array and making it possible to deactivate elements of the phased array in accordance with the position of the elements with regard to the position of the projected image of the transcostal wall; a positioning system to control the position of a focussed zone of a beam of focussed ultrasound signals on the targeted zone, a monitoring system to measure a temperature and tissue deformation in the targeted zone; and a device for measuring a level of cavitation in the targeted zone.

A multiple-point basket-type or crown-shaped catheter device provides simultaneously mapping over a three-dimensional (3D) region of a subject, such as, one or more chambers of a subject's heart. The catheter device may include a series of splines each having a wave-like profile formed of a periodic series of peaks and troughs, with electrodes located at the peaks and troughs for mapping purposes.

A catheter has a body including a proximal region, a neck region, and a distal region. A shaping wire is disposed within the distal region to predispose it into at least a partial loop, which may have a fixed or variable radius of curvature. The shaping wire includes a distal portion having a circular transverse cross-sectional shape and a proximal portion having a non-circular (e.g., rectangular) transverse cross-sectional shape. The proximal portion of the shaping wire can have a width-to-thickness ratio of at least about 4, such as about 4.67. A transition portion can promote a gradual transition from the circular to the non-circular transverse cross-sectional shape, for example by increasing a width of the shaping wire by about 0.001″ and/or by decreasing a thickness of the shaping wire by about 0.001″ for every about 0.004″ in length through the transition portion.

The invention relates to ultrasound imaging method and apparatus suitable for minimally invasive ultrasound diagnostic devices in cardiac ablation monitoring and in tumor ablation monitoring. The present invention proposes an assembly of forward and side-facing transducers and a system of embedded forward and side-facing transducers in apertures on surfaces of the assembly. This provides control of the acoustic properties of the transducer and improved ablation monitoring when the assembly is incorporated in a medical device.

An ultrasound cardiac stimulation system includes: a system for measuring the heart electrical activity; a system for generating a beam of focussed ultrasound signals focussed on a targeted zone, the signals being calibrated to generate electrical stimulation in a zone of the heart, the beam generation being synchronised with a first selected time of the electrocardiogram, the generation of the beam corresponding to a pulse with a duration of less than 80 ms; a system for locating the targeted zone coupled with a system for positioning the system for generating the focussed beam to control the beam of focussed ultrasound signals in the targeted zone, the location system being synchronised with the system for generating the beam of focussed signals; a single monitoring system following in real time a temperature and tissue deformation in the targeted zone, the monitoring system taking measurements in synchronisation with the rhythm of the electrocardiogram.

A catheter configured to deliver therapeutic energy to a tissue can include can include an elongate shaft extending along a shaft longitudinal axis and comprising a shaft proximal end and a shaft distal end. The catheter can include a flexible tip assembly comprising a tip assembly outer surface, wherein the flexible tip assembly is connected to the shaft distal end and is configured to deliver therapeutic energy to the tissue, and wherein the flexible tip assembly further includes. The flexible tip assembly can include an insulative layer comprising an insulative layer outer surface, wherein the insulative layer is disposed on the tip assembly outer surface and a mapping electrode disposed on the insulative layer outer surface.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods for electroporation ablation. The electroporation catheter may include an electrode assembly comprising one or more ablation electrodes configured to generate electric fields proximate to target tissue in response to a plurality of electrical pulse sequences delivered in a plurality of therapy sections, and one or more mapping electrodes configured to measure cardiac electrical signals. In some embodiments, the measured electrical signals are used to create an electro-anatomical map.