A method for assembling a catheter is disclosed. The method includes printing conductive traces on at least one flexible substrate and encapsulating the at least one flexible substrate to provide for environmental protection. The at least one encapsulated flexible substrate is inserted into a shaft of a catheter. Then, connectors are attached to each end of the at least one encapsulated flexible substrate. One set of the connectors are further attached to sensors located at a distal end of the catheter and another set of the connectors are further attached to electronics in a handle of the catheter.

Apparatus, consisting of a probe, containing a lumen and having a distal end configured to contact tissue of a living subject. A temperature sensor is located at the distal end, and a pump, having a pump motor, is coupled to deliver a cryogenic fluid through the lumen to the distal end of the probe and to receive the cryogenic fluid returning from the probe. There is a separator, coupled to separate the returning cryogenic fluid into a returning cryogenic liquid and a returning cryogenic gas, and a flow meter, coupled to measure a rate of flow of the returning cryogenic gas. A processor is configured to control a rate of pumping of the pump motor in response to a temperature measured by the temperature sensor and the rate of flow of the returning cryogenic gas.

Systems and methods for controlling an irrigation flow rate during a lithotripsy procedure are provided. The system includes a laser configured for lithotripsy procedure, a lithotripsy irrigation system, and a temperature sensor configured to provide input to enable control of a flow of the lithotripsy irrigation system in response to a change in temperature from the operation of the laser.

An apparatus includes a flexible electrically-insulating substrate including an inner surface and an outer surface. The substrate is shaped to define multiple channels passing between the inner surface and the outer surface, at least some of the channels being concave channels. The apparatus further includes an outer layer of an electrically-conducting metal covering at least part of the outer surface, an inner layer of the electrically-conducting metal covering at least part of the inner surface, and respective columns of the electrically-conducting metal that fill the channels such as to connect the outer layer to the inner layer.

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.

An ablation instrument comprises an elongate shaft having a cannula channel and a scope channel, and an electrode disposed in the cannula channel. The electrode is slidable between a first position in which a distal end of the electrode is contained within the cannula channel, and a second position in which the distal end of the electrode extends out of a distal opening of the cannula channel. The ablation instrument further comprises a distal head coupled to the elongate shaft and configured for engaging tissue.

The present invention relates to a system for skin cancer treatment using low intensity ultrasound. The system comprises an ultrasound transducer, a temperature sensing unit, and a control unit. The temperature sensing unit measures the temperature of the skin being exposed to ultrasound and provides temperature data to the control unit, which controls the ultrasound transducer accordingly.

Described herein is a catheter and method for catheter assembly. The flexible substrate includes a number of layers, where each layer has a number of printed wires. The printed substrate is environmentally protected. The printed substrate is rolled and inserted into the catheter. Connectors are attached to each end of the rolled substrate. The connectors are connected to sensors at a distal end of the catheter and with electrical cards or a cable connector at a proximate end of the catheter. At least one layer of the substrate is connected to a coil in a magnetic sensor. A layer in which the traces are shorted in the distal end is used to measure a magnetic interference. These measurements are used by a processor or hardware to cancel out the magnetic interference effect on the other layers. In an implementation, another printed substrate can be wrapped within the catheter shaft and used for non-magnetic type sensors.

A vapor ablation handpiece for assisting a physician perform vapor ablation with a vapor ablation catheter includes a vapor generating element arranged in a coil shape. A mandrel seated in the body of the handpiece affixes the vapor generating element in the coiled arrangement. A voltage difference is supplied across the length of the vapor generating element when activated, causing the vapor generating element to heat liquid therein converting the liquid to vapor. The heated condensable vapor is delivered to a target tissue through the catheter.

A vapor ablation handpiece for assisting a physician perform vapor ablation with a vapor ablation catheter includes a vapor generating element arranged in a coil shape. A mandrel seated in the body of the handpiece affixes the vapor generating element in the coiled arrangement. A voltage difference is supplied across the length of the vapor generating element when activated, causing the vapor generating element to heat liquid therein converting the liquid to vapor. The heated condensable vapor is delivered to a target tissue through the catheter.