The present invention relates to a catheter (20) adapted for open-loop irrigated ablation, such as RF ablation, of a tissue (40). Said catheter has a distal tip (22) with an ablation entity (15) adapted for performing ablation of the tissue, an irrigation hole (21) and an ultrasound transducer (5) adapted for transmitting and/or receiving ultrasonic waves. The ultrasound transducer is disposed behind or in the irrigation hole of the catheter, so as to allow an irrigation fluid to flow out of the irrigation hole, and so as to allow transmitting and/or receiving the ultrasonic waves through the irrigation hole. The invention also relates to an imaging system and to a corresponding method for operating a catheter.

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.

A catheter includes an elongated body, a distal assembly with a shape-memory member defining a generally helical form, and a control handle. The control handle may be adapted to actuate a deflection puller wire for deflecting a portion of the elongated body and a contraction wire for contracting the generally helical form. The generally helical form carries irrigated ablation ring electrodes. A nitinol support member with shape memory extends through the distal assembly and into the elongated body to provide the helical form. The support member may have a varying stiffness along its length, for example, a decreasing stiffness toward a distal end of the support member. The support member can also be hollow so that it can receive a mandrel whose stiffness is greater than that of the support member.

A tissue ablation device is provided for use in soft tissue and/or in bone. It is configured to include an inner probe with a first electrode and a second electrode and an outer needle through which the inner probe extends. After the inner probe is directed therewithin to a target, the outer needle can be withdrawn to expose space between the first and second electrodes to form an RF or other energy field for tissue ablation therebetween upon actuation of an energy source. Such embodiments may include methods for tissue ablation and placement of stabilizing materials.

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.

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 electrosurgical dissection apparatus is disclosed, and includes a thermally insulating body, a thermally conductive insert, at least one active electrode, and at least one return electrode. The at least one active electrode is disposed on the thermally conductive insert, and the at least one return electrode is spaced from the at least one active electrode by a portion of the thermally insulating body. The thermally conductive insert is configured to cauterize tissue dissected by radiofrequency energy passing from the at least one active electrode to the at least one return electrode.

A method for manufacturing a distal portion of a mapping and/or ablation device with fewer components and manufacturing steps than are required for presently known devices. The method generally includes aligning one or more electrodes and electrode wires within a housing mold, overmolding a biocompatible material over the one or more wires and a portion of each of the one or more electrodes, creating a housing component that integrates a dome component and an insulation component. Alternatively, the method generally includes aligning one or more wires within a housing mold so that at least a portion of each wire protrudes from the mold, overmolding a biocompatible material over the one or more wires, thus creating a housing component that integrates a dome component and insulation component. The protruding wire portions are cleaved off and at least a portion of the housing component is coated with a layer of conductive material.

The invention relates to an ablation catheter for treatment of a patient's tissue by delivery of high-voltage pulses comprising a catheter shaft and an ablation portion being arranged at a distal end of the catheter shaft with a plurality of electrodes accommodated along the ablation portion, wherein the ablation portion forms a spiral and comprises a first loop section and a neighboring second loop section, wherein an inner diameter of the first loop section increases towards an inner diameter of the second loop section starting from a first end of the first loop section located opposite the second loop section, wherein the first loop section has a greater stiffness than the second loop section.

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.