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.

A catheter includes, a shaft for insertion into an organ, an expandable distal-end assembly coupled to the shaft and includes splines, at least one of the splines includes a flexible substrate, configured to conform to tissue of the organ, and a sensing electrode, configured: (a) to be coupled to the flexible substrate, and (b) when in contact with the tissue, to produce a electrically signal indicative of an electrocardiogram signal sensed in the tissue, the sensing electrode including: (i) a gold substrate, formed over the flexible substrate and configured to conduct the electrically signal, (ii) a first polymer layer, formed over a first section of the gold substrate and configured to electrically isolate between the tissue and the gold substrate, and (iii) a second polymer layer, formed over a second, different, section of the gold substrate, and configured to conduct the electrocardiogram signal between the tissue and the gold substrate.

A catheter includes: (i) a shaft for insertion into an organ of a patient, (ii) an expandable distal-end assembly, which is coupled to the shaft and includes multiple splines, (iii) at least an ablation electrode, which is configured: (a) to be coupled to a spline of the splines, and (b) when placed in contact with tissue of the organ, to apply an ablation signal to the tissue, and the ablation electrode includes a slot, and (iv) a temperature sensor, which is contained within the slot and is configured, when the ablation electrode is placed in contact with the tissue, to produce a thermal signal indicative of a temperature of the tissue.

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.

Methods and systems for modulating intraosseous nerves (e.g., nerves within bone) are provided. For example, the methods and systems described herein may be used to modulate (e.g., denervate, ablate) basivertebral nerves within vertebrae. The modulation of the basivertebral nerves may facilitate treatment of chronic back pain. The modulation may be performed by a neuromodulation device (e.g., an energy delivery device).

A cooling radiofrequency ablation probe for delivering electrical and thermal energy to tissue of a patient's body is provided. The probe comprises a handle having an upper portion, a lower portion, and a Luer connector. The probe further comprises an extended electrocap assembly interfacing with one end of the handle, and a cable-tubing assembly interfacing with another end of the handle. The cable-tubing assembly includes an electrical cable that terminates at an electrical connector and a dual-lumen fluid tubing that terminates at inlet and outlet fluid connectors. An active tip of the extended electrocap assembly is configured to deliver the electrical and thermal energy to the tissue of the patient's body.

A medical apparatus includes a probe configured for insertion into a body of a patient. The probe includes a plurality of electrodes configured to contact tissue within the body. The medical apparatus further includes an electrical signal generator configured to apply between one or more pairs of the electrodes signals of first and second types in alternation. The signals of the first type include a sequence of bipolar pulses having an amplitude sufficient to cause irreversible electrophoresis (IRE) in the tissue contacted by the electrodes. The signals of the second type include a radio-frequency (RF) signal having a power sufficient to thermally ablate the tissue contacted by the electrodes.

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 needle device can maintain flexibility of an injection needle even when the length of an electrode constituted at a distal end portion thereof is increased and can perform cooling with small nonuniformity in the electrode during ablation. The ablation needle device includes: a hollow needle that is composed of a proximal end portion that is insulation-coated and a distal end portion constituting an electrode; a hub that includes a liquid injection port and a discharge port; an electric connector; a thermocouple; and cooling liquid introducing pipes each of which extends in the inside of the hollow needle, each of which has a distal end positioned in the inside of the distal end portion of the hollow needle, and each of which ejects liquid injected from the injection port from a distal end opening thereof.

An energy-delivery device (10) includes a handle body (12), an antenna assembly (14) extending distally from the handle body (12), and a transmission line (16) configured to be detachably coupled to the antenna assembly (14).