Diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices and methods that include an elongate shaft, a balloon, a plurality of electrodes carried by the balloon, and electronics to electrically connect the electrodes to a proximal end of the shaft. The devices can include a visualization system within the balloon.

The present invention is a minimally invasive articulating configured to be advanced through tortuous anatomy, particularly within a lung, and subsequently deliver at least two separately deployable ablation devices to a target site located at a bifurcated section of the lung (i.e., at a bronchial airway bifurcation). The pair of ablation devices are separately steerable towards respective first and second pathways extending from the bifurcation, such that each of the ablation devices can be positioned on either side of a target tissue proximate the bifurcation. The first and second ablation devices include expandable distal tips configured to transition to a deployed configuration, in which each expands in diameter and is configured to apply a degree of compression and/or RF energy emission to target lung tissue (i.e., diseased tissue, such as cancer or emphysema-related damaged tissue) for subsequent ablation thereof.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods for applying ablation therapy to a tissue region. The apparatuses, systems, and methods may include a balloon structure and one or more electrodes arranged on or within the balloon structure and configured to deliver energy to the tissue region.

An intravascular catheter is provided, including a flexible elongate body; an expandable element positioned on the elongate body; a substantially linear thermal segment located proximally of the expandable element, the thermal segment defining a first flexibility, where the thermal segment is positioned between two portions of the catheter body each including a flexibility less than that of the thermal segment; a first fluid flow path in fluid communication with the expandable element; and a second fluid flow path in fluid communication with the thermal segment.

According to various embodiments, systems, devices and methods for modulating targeted nerve fibers (e.g., hepatic neuromodulation) or other tissue are provided. Systems, devices and methods for cooling energy delivery members are also provided. The systems may be configured to access tortuous anatomy of or adjacent hepatic vasculature. The systems may be configured to target nerves surrounding (e.g., within adventitia of or within perivascular space of) an artery or other blood vessel, such as the common hepatic artery.

Systems and methods for continuous infusion of a fluid, which may be heated, into a balloon catheter. A system for balloon inflation, the system comprising a catheter having an inflow lumen and an outflow lumen, a balloon positioned at a distal end of the catheter, the balloon being in fluid communication with the inflow and the outflow lumen, and an infusion device in fluid communication with the balloon through the inflow and outflow lumens, the infusion device configured for continuously circulating a fluid into and out of the balloon to maintain the balloon at a constant pressure and volume by matching a flow of the fluid into the balloon via the inflow lumen with a flow of the fluid out of the balloon via the outflow lumen in order to keep the balloon volume and pressure constant during an entire infusion.

A catheter has a balloon electrode assembly with at least one compliant balloon member and at least one electrode carried on an outer surface of the balloon member for accomplishing circumferential sensing or ablation in a tubular region of the heart, including a pulmonary vein or ostium. The catheter may also include an electrode assembly with a tip and/or ring electrode distal of the balloon electrode assembly adapted for focal contact.

An intravascular catheter is provided, including a flexible elongate body; an expandable element positioned on the elongate body; a substantially linear thermal segment located proximally of the expandable element, the thermal segment defining a first flexibility, where the thermal segment is positioned between two portions of the catheter body each including a flexibility less than that of the thermal segment; a first fluid flow path in fluid communication with the expandable element; and a second fluid flow path in fluid communication with the thermal segment.

A system for ablating surface tissue of a patient is provided. The system includes a console and an ablation catheter fluidly attached to the console. The console includes an ablative fluid supply, a neutralizing fluid supply, an injectate fluid supply, a pump assembly, and a vacuum supply. The ablation catheter includes an expandable functional assembly, a tissue expansion subsystem for expanding sub-surface tissue in the intestine of the patient, and a tissue ablation subsystem for ablating surface tissue in the intestine of the patient. Methods of ablating surface tissue are also provided.

A pressure inhibitor for an intravascular catheter system includes a check valve and/or a pressure relief valve. The intravascular catheter system includes a handle assembly, an inner balloon, an outer balloon and a low pressure fluid line. The inner balloon and the outer balloon define an inter-balloon space therebetween. The low pressure fluid line extends between the handle assembly and the inter-balloon spaced The low pressure fluid line is in fluid communication with the inter-balloon space. The pressure inhibitor is positioned on the low pressure fluid line. The pressure inhibitor inhibits flow of a fluid to the inter-balloon space. The pressure inhibitor can be positioned within the handle assembly or outside of the handle assembly. A method of inhibiting flow of a fluid to the inter-balloon space includes positioning a pressure inhibitor on the low pressure fluid of an intravascular catheter system.