An arthroscopic tissue resecting probe includes an elongated shaft having outer and inner sleeves which are formed from an electrically conductive material extending about an axis to a working end. Outer and inner resecting windows are formed in the sleeves in the working end. The working end includes a ceramic body having a collar portion extending fully around a region of the outer sleeve proximal to outer resecting window. A radiofrequency (RF) electrode is disposed on an outer surface of the ceramic body and is spaced-apart from the outer resecting window.

An electrode catheter for use with an endocardial ablation catheter, wherein the electrode catheter receives the transmitted energy for ablating a portion of the heart. The electrode catheter comprises a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a longitudinal structure there between; and an electrode in communication with said electrode catheter, wherein said electrode receives the transmitted energy from the endocardial ablation catheter, or alternatively an epicardial ablation catheter.

Systems and methods for treating a patient's mucus hypersecretion condition are disclosed herein. Certain implementations may involve a method for reducing mucus secretion in an upper airway of a patient to treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough. The method may include advancing a treatment delivery portion of an energy-based treatment device into a nostril of the patient. The treatment delivery portion may contact mucosal tissue of the upper airway without piercing the mucosal tissue. The treatment delivery portion may deliver treatment to at least one tissue selected from the group of the mucosal tissue and another tissue underlying the mucosal tissue to modify a property of the at least one tissue and thus treat at least one of post nasal drip or chronic cough in the patient.

Apparatus comprises: (a) a longitudinal member (32), having a distal portion (34); (b) a plurality of electrodes (38) disposed on the distal portion of the longitudinal member, such that a first electrode (38a) of the plurality of electrodes is disposed distally along the longitudinal member from a second electrode (38b) of the plurality of electrodes; and (c) a controller (40). The controller comprises an actuator, and circuitry (42) electrically connected to the electrodes via the longitudinal member. The actuator is configured to move the longitudinal member in discrete incremental movements such that for each incremental movement, (i) before the incremental movement the first electrode is disposed in a starting position, (ii) during each incremental movement the actuator moves second electrode toward the starting position, and (iii) at the end of each incremental movement the second electrode is stationary at the starting position.

An irrigated balloon catheter for use in an ostium of a pulmonary vein, includes a flex circuit electrode assembly adapted for circumferential contact with the ostium when the balloon is inflated. Adapted for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications and procedures, the balloon catheter may be used with a lasso catheter or focal catheter. The flex circuit electrode assembly includes a substrate, a contact electrode on an outer surface of the substrate, the contact electrode having a fishbone configuration with a longitudinally elongated portion and a plurality of transversal fingers, and a wiring electrode on an inner surface of the substrate, and conductive vias extending through the substrate electrically coupling the contact electrode and the writing electrodes. Microelectrodes with exclusion zones are strategically positioned relative to the electrodes. The electrodes may also be split into electrode portions.

A dissection device for tissue includes a device body unit, a cauterization electrode, and a dissecting pressure injection tube provided in the device body unit. The dissection device applies a dissecting pressure to tissue layers having an anatomical plane, so as to easily and accurately find the anatomical plane of tissue to be dissected, and safely, easily and quickly dissect human tissue without a risk of tissue damage.

A method of constructing an electrophysiology catheter having a flex circuit electrode assembly includes: providing a flex circuit having a substrate, a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer; removing the first conductive layer to expose a first surface of the substrate; forming the wiring electrode in the second conductive layer with one exclusion zone; forming a first through-hole in the substrate to provide one conductive via and forming a second through-hole to provide an irrigation aperture in alignment with the exclusion zone; forming the contact electrode on first surface of the substrate; placing conductive material into the first through-hole to form the conductive via, the conductive via extending through the substrate and electrically coupling the wiring electrode and the contact electrode; and coupling a first conductor and a second conductor to the wiring electrode to form a thermocouple.

Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. An example electrophysiology medical device may include a catheter shaft including a distal end portion and a sensing assembly having three or more terminals. The sensing assembly includes one or more current-carrying electrodes and one or more sensing electrodes. The one or more current-carrying electrodes, the one or more sensing electrodes, or both includes a mini-electrode. The mini-electrode is disposed on one of the other electrodes. The medical device may also include a controller coupled to the sensing assembly.

A method of constructing an inflatable electrode assembly configured for irrigation, comprises: providing a flex circuit having a substrate with a pre-formed aperture, the substrate constructed of a material having a greater heat resistance or a first melting temperature; providing a balloon member with a membrane, the membrane constructed of a material having a lesser heat resistance or a second melting temperature lower than the first melting temperature of the substrate; affixing the substrate to the membrane wherein a surrounding portion of the substrate around the pre-formed aperture masks a surrounding portion of the membrane so as to expose a target portion of the membrane; and applying heat to the target portion of the membrane through the pre-formed aperture of the substrate, wherein the heat applied, without melting the substrate, melts the target portion of the membrane in forming an aperture in the membrane.

Methods and devices that displace bone or other hard tissue to create a cavity in the tissue. Where such methods and devices rely on a driving mechanism for providing moving of the device to form a profile that improves displacement of the tissue. These methods and devices also allow for creating a path or cavity in bone for insertion of bone cement or other filler to treat a fracture or other condition in the bone. The features relating to the methods and devices described herein can be applied in any region of bone or hard tissue where the tissue or bone is displaced to define a bore or cavity instead of being extracted from the body such as during a drilling or ablation procedure.