Described herein is a system including a catheter, an optical circuit, a pulsed field ablation energy source, and a processing device. The catheter includes a proximal section, a distal section, and a shaft coupled between the proximal section and the distal section. The optical circuit is configured to transport light at least partially from the proximal section to the distal section and back. The pulsed field ablation energy source is coupled to the catheter and configured to transmit pulsed electrical signals to a tissue sample. The processing device is configured to analyze one or more optical signals received from the optical circuit to determine changes in polarization or phase retardation of light reflected or scattered by the tissue sample, and determine changes in a birefringence of the tissue sample based on the changes in polarization or phase retardation.

A medical device comprising an elongate body having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a distal end, a longitudinal axis, and a radius, a plurality of deployable arms, the deployable arms being movably coupled to the elongate body, and at least one arm from the plurality of deployable arms having at least one electrically conductive surface. The plurality of deployable arms being movable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. In the collapsed configuration, the plurality of deployable arms are approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis. In the expanded configuration, the at least one electrically conductive surface is distal facing and is positioned radially from the longitudinal axis by a distance that is greater than the radius of the elongate body.

An implant removal device having an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate body being resiliently flexible and configured to transmit torque from the proximal end to the distal end with a predetermined turning ratio, and a capture structure extending distally from the distal end and having a capture region, the capture structure being configured to selectively center a deployed implant in relation to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body and the capture region to aid with capture and subsequent removal.

Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for monitoring AF episodes, delivering ATP pulses, and/or achieving electrical isolation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) of a patient's heart and/or preventing thrombus formation after electrical isolation. For example, devices are provided that may implanted from within the left atrium, e.g., to isolate the LAA, prevent thrombus formation within the LAA, facilitate endothelialization, and/or deliver pacing.

Devices, systems, and methods for the selective positioning of an intravascular neuromodulation device are disclosed herein. Such systems can include, for example, an elongated shaft and a therapeutic assembly carried by a distal portion of the elongated shaft. The therapeutic assembly is configured for delivery within a blood vessel. The therapeutic assembly can include a pre-formed shape and can be transformable between a substantially straight delivery configuration: and a treatment configuration having the pre-formed helical shape to position the therapeutic assembly in stable contact with a wall of the body vessel. The therapeutic assembly can also include a mechanical decoupler operably connected to the therapeutic assembly that is configured to absorb at least a portion of a force exerted on the therapeutic assembly by the shaft so that the therapeutic assembly maintains a generally stationary position relative to the target site.

A probe device (50), for a resectoscope (10) or another microinvasive instrument for working or manipulating tissue, includes a probe shaft (60) with a cylindrical portion (66) for arrangement in an instrument shaft (20) and with a distal end for arrangement near a distal end of the instrument shaft (20), an effecting device at the distal end of the probe shaft (60), and a sealing device (70) with a probe shaft channel (76) in which the cylindrical portion (66) of the probe shaft (60) is arranged. The probe shaft (60) is movable relative to the sealing device (70) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe shaft (60) and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe shaft channel (76). The sealing device (70) is formed from metal or ceramic or from another non-elastic material and is connected permanently to the probe shaft (60).

An ablation apparatus for creating a lesion in target tissue, the ablation apparatus having an ablation shaft including a handle, a first portion, an ablation portion, distal tip, at least one ablation energy delivery lumen, at least one ablation energy return lumen, and a stylet lumen that extends substantially along a length of the ablation shaft from the handle to at least the ablation portion. The ablation apparatus also includes a stylet that is capable of being inserted into the stylet lumen where the stylet is made of a shape-memory material.

This invention provides methods for mapping and ablating renal nerves to treat disease caused by systemic renal nerve hyperactivity, e.g. hypertension, heart failure, renal failure and diabetes. Also provided are catheters for performing the mapping and ablating functions.

Systems and methods for measuring the magnetic fields generated by renal nerves before and/or after neuromodulation therapy are disclosed herein. One method for measuring the magnetic field of target nerves during a neuromodulation procedure includes positioning a neuromodulation catheter at a target site within a renal blood vessel of a human patient near the target nerves, and detecting a measurement of the magnetic field generated by the target nerves. The method can further include determining, based on the measurement of the magnetic field, a location of the target nerves, a location of ablation at the target nerves, and/or a percentage the target nerves were ablated by delivered neuromodulation energy.

Systems and methods for ablating tissue are provided. An ablation system includes a catheter having a plurality of electrodes, and a controller coupled to the catheter. The controller is configured to select at least one pair of non-adjacent electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, and sequentially apply bipolar stimulation using the at least one selected pair of non-adjacent electrodes.