A medical probe includes a shaft and a basket assembly. The shaft is configured for insertion into a cavity of an organ of a patient. The basket assembly, which is connected at a distal end of the shaft, includes (a) multiple electrically-conductive spines that are electrically-connected to one another so as to form a distributed electrode, and (b) a plurality of spine mounted electrodes, which are disposed along the spines and are configured to (i) sense electrical activity in the cavity, (ii) ablate and (iii) prevent the distributed electrode from indenting tissue in the cavity.

A system for use with performing a medical procedure is provided which comprises a balloon catheter and a processing device. The balloon catheter comprises a plurality of ablation electrodes configured to ablate tissue of patient anatomy, a stem electrode and an edge electrode. The processing device comprises a processor configured to acquire first impedance measurements between each of the ablation electrodes of the balloon catheter and an edge electrode of the balloon catheter, acquire second impedance measurements between each of the ablation electrodes of the balloon catheter and a stem electrode of the balloon catheter, determine, during ablation of the tissue, changes to at least one of the first and second impedance measurements, and indicating lesion formation based on the changes to at least one of the first and second impedance measurements.

Various catheters are provided herein for recording, mapping, and/or ablating target tissue to reduce or eliminate unwanted electrical impulses. In one embodiment, a catheter can have a handle, an elongate body, and an end effector. The end effector has expanded and contracted configurations and can rotate about the elongate body. A plurality of electrodes can also be disposed on the end effector for recording, mapping, and/or ablating target tissue surrounding the catheter. The handle can guide the end effector through transitioning between the configurations and rotating about the elongate body.

A system includes a pulse waveform generator and an ablation device coupled to the pulse waveform generator. The ablation device includes at least one electrode configured for ablation pulse delivery to tissue during use. The pulse waveform generator is configured to deliver voltage pulses to the ablation device in the form of a pulsed waveform. The pulsed waveform can include multiple levels of hierarchy, and multiple sets of electrodes can be activated such that their pulsed delivery is interleaved with one another.

Transducer-based systems and methods may be configured to display a graphical representation of a transducer-based device, the graphical representation including graphical elements corresponding to transducers of the transducer-based device, and also including between graphical elements respectively associated with a set of the transducers and respectively associated with a region of space between the transducers of the transducer-based device. Selection of graphical elements and/or between graphical elements can cause activation of the set of transducers associated with the selected elements. Transducer activation characteristics, such as initiation time, activation duration, activation sequence, and energy delivery characteristics, can vary based on numerous factors. Visual characteristics of graphical elements and between graphical elements can change based on an activation-status of the corresponding transducers. Activation requests for a set of transducers can be denied if it is determined that a transducer in the set of transducers is unacceptable for activation.

An arthroscopic cutting probe includes an elongated shaft assembly having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween. A working end at the distal end of the elongated shaft assembly includes a first active electrode and a second active electrode The shaft assembly is rotates the first electrode relative to the second electrode about the longitudinal axis, and a return electrode is carried on the shaft assembly proximal of the working end. The first and second active electrodes are electrically coupled to each other and electrically isolated from the return electrode.

A catheter system (100) used for treating a treatment site (106) within or adjacent to the heart valve (108) includes an energy source (124), an energy guide (122A), and a balloon assembly (104). The energy source (124) generates energy. The energy guide (122A) is configured to receive energy from the energy source (124). The balloon assembly (104) is positionable substantially adjacent to the treatment site (106). The balloon assembly (104) includes an outer balloon (104B) and an inner balloon (104A) that is positioned substantially within the outer balloon (104B). Each of the balloons (104A, 104B) has a balloon wall (130) that defines a balloon interior (146). Each of the balloons (104A, 104B) is configured to retain a balloon fluid (132) within the balloon interior (146). The balloon wall (130) of the inner balloon (104A) is positioned spaced apart from the balloon wall (130) of the outer balloon (104B) to define an interstitial space (146A) therebetween. A portion of the energy guide (122A) that receives the energy from the energy source (124) is positioned within the interstitial space (146A) between the balloons (104A, 104B) so that a plasma-induced bubble (134) is formed in the balloon fluid (132) within the interstitial space (146A).

Provided are devices, systems, and methods for treating or preventing heart failure or a symptom of heart failure through coordinated nerve activity interruption for one or more target nerves. Devices disclosed herein may comprise a vascular catheter comprising a telescopic needle assembly configured to puncture vascular tissue in contact with the catheter, wherein the needle assembly comprises one or more electrodes configured to deliver electrical energy to a tissue in contact with the one or more electrodes. Methods may include treating or preventing heart failure or a symptom of heart failure by inserting a catheter into a vascular tissue of the subject; guiding the catheter towards the greater splanchnic nerve; piercing the vascular tissue of the subject with a telescopic needle assembly extending outwards from the catheter towards the target nerve; and ablating the target nerve by delivering a stimulation energy to the target nerve with one or more electrodes.

Radiofrequency (RF) skin treatment devices and methods are provided herein. RF energy is delivered via electrodes in a phase-controlled manner which heats skin volumes below the surface more than the skin surface itself. At least one electrode at least partially encloses at least one other electrode. The combination of controlling the phases of the RF energy delivered to different electrodes and the enclosing configuration of the electrodes allows concentrating the delivered energy in specific regions below the skin surface at a particularly high efficiency. Configurations of the enclosing and the enclosed electrodes, their forms and combinations with other electrodes and the phase polarities applied to the electrodes are also provided.

Approaches for percutaneous blepharoplasty are provided. An electrosurgical device includes: a hand-piece; a tip connected to the hand-piece; and two needles extending from a distal end of the tip. The hand-piece is structured and arranged to connect to an electrical energy source, and to convey electrical energy from the electrical energy source to the needles in a percutaneous blepharoplasty procedure.