A fluid delivery catheter configured to allow optimal fluid distribution through each electrode by varying the diameter of a catheter lumen is disclosed. Uniform or different fluid flow rates through longitudinally spaced apart elution holes may be achieved. Exemplary fluids for use with the catheter include a cooling fluid, a therapeutic fluid, and a medication.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing forward fluid delivery through an electrosurgical device, while avoiding coring when energy is delivered to the electrosurgical device. The device has a distal face defining an opening, with the distal face including at least one cutting portion and at least one non-cutting portion. An embodiment of the electrosurgical device for puncturing tissue includes an elongate member defining a lumen for fluid; a distal portion including an electrode and the distal face which defines at least one aperture. The portion of the at least one cutting portion defines a leading portion partially surrounding a circumference of the at least one aperture wherein the outer diameter of the at least one of the distal portion of the electrosurgical device or the electrode decreases towards a distal tip of the electrosurgical device.

A catheter has a multifunctional virtual tip electrode with a porous substrate and a multitude of surface microelectrodes. The surface microelectrodes are in close proximity to each other and in a variety of configurations so as to sense tissue for highly localized intracardiac signal detection, and high density local electrograms and mapping. The porous substrate allows for flow of conductive fluid for ablating tissue. The surface microelectrodes can be formed via a metallization process that allows for any shape or size and close proximity, and the fluid weeping from the porous substrate provides more uniform irrigation in the form of a thin layer of saline. The delivery of RF power to the catheter tip is based on the principle of virtual electrode, where the conductive saline flowing through the porous tip acts as the electrical connection between the tip electrode and the heart surface. The substrate and the surface electrodes are constructed of MRI compatible materials so that the physician can conduct lesion assessment in real time during an ablation procedure. The surface electrodes include noble metals, including, for example, platinum, gold and combinations thereof.

Prostate treatment using fluid stream to resect prostate tissue, thereby relieving symptoms of conditions such as BPH, prostatitis, and prostatic carcinoma. A device having a fluid delivery element is positioned within a lumen of the urethra within the prostate. A fluid stream is directed outwardly from the fluid delivery element toward a wall of the urethral lumen. The fluid delivery element is moved to scan the fluid stream over the wall to remove a volume of tissue surrounding the lumen. The fluid may be combined with therapeutically active substances or with substances that increase resection efficiency. Fluid force may be adjusted to provide selective tissue resection such that soft tissue is removed while harder tissue is left undamaged. In order to gain a working space within the urethra, another fluid may be introduced to insufflate the urethra in the region of treatment.

Ablation catheter comprising an elongate member with proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end is arranged to apply a high energy electrical shock from a plurality of locations along the length of said distal end and wherein said distal end is curved. Preferably the distal end of the elongate member extends in a circle segment.

A medical device and a treatment method are disclosed which allow easy formation of a hole using energy and easy expansion of the formed hole without loss of tissue and allow an increase in working efficiency. A medical device is disclosed for forming a hole in a tissue in a living body and expanding the hole, the medical device including: a dilator having a first lumen formed inside and having a tip portion in which the first lumen opens on a distal side; and an output unit that outputs energy for denaturing the tissue and forming a hole, in which the output unit is disposed on a tip portion and formed discontinuously in the circumferential direction of the tip portion, and the outer diameter of the tip portion gradually decreases toward the distal side.

A device and method for cutting or ablating tissue in a human or veterinary patient includes an elongate probe having a distal end, a tissue cutting or ablating apparatus located adjacent within the distal end, and a tissue protector extending from the distal end. The protector generally has a first side and a second side and the tissue cutting or ablating apparatus is located adjacent to the first side thereof. The distal end is structured to be advanceable into tissue or otherwise placed and positioned within the patient's body such that tissue adjacent to the first side of the protector is cut away or ablated by the tissue cutting or ablation apparatus while tissue that is adjacent to the second side of the protector is not substantially damaged by the tissue cutting or ablating apparatus.

A medical device for directionally focusing energy to a treatment site, the medical device including a shaft having an elongated body defining a proximal portion and a distal portion opposite the proximal portion, the distal portion including at least one electrode having a contact portion and a permeable sheath at least partially surrounding the at least one electrode, the permeable sheath and the at least one electrode defining an insulation cavity, the permeable sheath being impermeable to an insulation material introduced to the insulation cavity from a fluid source configured to be coupled to the shaft.

A surgical device integrating a suction mechanism with a coagulation mechanism is provided for improving lesion creation capabilities. The device comprises an elongate member having an insulative covering attached about means for coagulating soft tissue. Openings through the covering expose regions of the coagulation-causing elements and are coupled to lumens in the elongate member which are routed to a vacuum source. A fluid source to passively transport fluid along the contacted soft tissue surface may be provided in order to push the maximum temperature deeper into tissue.

Provided is a bipolar electrode probe, which includes a conductive needle, an insulation layer, a conductive sleeve, and an insulation sleeve. The conductive needle has a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The insulation layer covers the conductive needle and has a first opening. The conductive sleeve covers the insulation layer and has a second opening. The insulation sleeve covers the conductive sleeve. When the bipolar electrode probe is turned on, a longitudinal electric field is formed from a front end of the conductive needle to the conductive sleeve along the longitudinal direction. A transverse electric field is formed from the conductive needle to the conductive sleeve via the first opening and the second opening along the transverse direction.