Provided is a catheter including a shaft having a distal end and a loop disposed near the distal end and configured to curl around a tissue and receive, via the shaft, energy to denervate at least a portion of the tissue. The loop includes: a body capable of bending to curl around the tissue; an electrode disposed on the body; and a substrate embedded in the body and separated from the electrode.

Methods for using a surgical device integrating a suction mechanism with a coagulation mechanism 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 and a fluid source to passively transport fluid along the contacted soft tissue surface in order to push the maximum temperature deeper into tissue.

Methods for using a surgical device integrating a suction mechanism with a coagulation mechanism 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 and a fluid source to passively transport fluid along the contacted soft tissue surface in order to push the maximum temperature deeper into tissue.

This relates to methods and devices for achieving contact between the wall of a cavity or passageway and a medical device when used in tortuous anatomy.

The present invention concerns a system (100) for analyzing electrophysiological data, especially intracardial electrogram data, the system (100) comprising a data processing and control unit (15) for processing the electrophysiological data, a data output unit comprising a data output screen (324) for displaying results of electrophysiological data analysis, wherein the data processing and control unit (15) being configured to receive electrophysiological data obtained from a mapping catheter assembly (110, 111) that comprises an electrode assembly (120, 80) with a plurality of n electrodes (82), each electrode (82) configured for measuring electrophysiological data in the form of electrogram signals. The data processing and control unit (15) comprises an engine for performing an optical flow analysis of the electrophysiological data to generate series of vector data (40) representing the average speed and direction of movement of clusters of the electrophysiological data, the data output unit being configured to display the vector data on a data output screen (324) of the data output unit.

This relates to methods and devices for achieving contact between the wall of a cavity or passageway and a medical device when used in tortuous anatomy.

The invention is directed to a mapping catheter, more particularly to a high resolution mapping catheter for mapping the atrial endocardium in high resolution in order to provide information on the propagation of the electrical signals to treat atrial fibrillation. The catheter is mainly configured for mapping, butif requiredmay also be used for ablation, for stimulation and for cardioversion.

The invention relates to a mapping catheter comprising a catheter shaft having a proximal section and a distal section and at least one lumen and an electrode array being self-expandable from a collapsed structure to an expanded structure and being arranged at the distal section of the catheter shaft when expanded; the electrode array comprises a plurality of multi-pole coils being grouped around the central longitudinal axis of the electrode array, whereby each multi-pole coil has an electrical supply section and a sensing section, whereby the sensing section of each coil comprises a plurality of poles being arranged adjacent to each other, each coil has a lumen through which a pre-shaped wire made of shape memory metal runs; the pre-shaped wire has a distal and a proximal end; and whereby the expanded electrode array is shaped according to the pre-shaped wires so that in the use position the poles have close contact to the endocardial tissue.

This relates to methods and devices for achieving contact between the wall of a cavity or passageway and a medical device when used in tortuous anatomy.

An interior cooled ablation instrument includes a curved section adjoining its distal end in which the ablation instrument is bent relative to its axial direction. The amount of the angle is preferably defined to one-third up to two-thirds, and preferably half of the maximum angulation. The maximum angulation can significantly exceed an absolute value of 140. Due to the pre-bend in the curved section, a kinking of the hose of the ablation instrument and thus an impairment of the electrode cooling as well as the occurrence of high dam pressure can be effectively avoided. In doing so, the ablation instrument allows a freer work, even more considerably oriented at medical aspects and considerations compared to completely stretched ablation instruments.

A catheter configured to guide and support a balloon catheter for use in and around a pulmonary vein and its ostium, has an elongated shaft and a distal assembly, the elongated shaft including a proximal portion with a first flexibility and a distal portion including a second flexibility greater than the first flexibility, the distal assembly including an elbow portion and a generally circular portion generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, the generally circular portion including a third flexibility greater than the second flexibility. Single axis location sensors and sensing ring electrodes are carried on the generally circular portion.