24059results about "Electrotherapy" patented technology

A remotely deflectable electrophysiology / ablation catheter of the type intended for placing into an interior passage of the heart is disclosed. The distal end of this elongated tubular catheter has a pair of tension / compression members each with a flattened end portion connected to the distal electrode and extending through the catheter casing and attached to a user moveable actuator for effecting the tension / compression thereon for remotely curling the distal end of the catheter. Spaced ring electrodes are provided adjacent the distal electrode. A permanent bend is pre-formed in the casing and tension / compression members adjacent the ring electrodes about an axis perpendicular to the elongated tension / compression members. Movement of the remote actuator causes the distal portion of the catheter to curl into a lariat in a plane perpendicular to the axis along the elongated catheter casing, thus permitting electrical mapping or ablation with the distal and / or ring electrodes about the inner surface of the heart passage into which the lariat is formed and situated. The lariat can achieve a curvature greater than 360 degrees and at a significantly reduced radius to allow insertion of the catheter distal end into passages of reduced dimension.

An improved articulating device for use with a medical insertion instrument comprising in part a first tube having a plurality of ribs defining a plurality of bending segments, a second tube axially disposed within the first tube, and means for transmitting an axial deflecting pull load. Such device has improved controlled for positioning an end of the device at a selected position within the body. The articulating device has a generally constant moment of inertia and a polar moment of inertia that generally decreases from its proximal to distal end.

A medical system includes a body-contacting signal source adapted to transmit an oscillatory signal though a body to a transducer of a device implanted therein. A detector that is coupled to the transducer, upon detection of a response of the transducer to the signal, activates a radio-frequency (RF) telemetry component of the device.

The invention relates to a device for supplying electrical energy to an electro-pen with an electric drive unit for driving a tool. The device comprises a console with an energy supply unit having an accumulator for supplying the electrical drive unit with electrical energy. The console may be configure to be sterilized by steam having a housing and electrical components that are sealed liquid-tight. The accumulator may include a sterile covering for sterile introduction into the console. A coupling between the console and the electro-pen carries the supply of electrical energy from the console to the electro-pen. The coupling may be an electrical contact in the form of a sterilizable connector or an inductive coupling. The console may be configured to store energy and is thus mobile, or the console may include a connection for connecting to a mains or external power supply for charging the accumulator. The console may include a switch-mode power supply for charging the accumulator. The console may include a holder for receiving and charging the electro-pen. The electro-pen includes an electrical storage device and a coupling for receiving the electrical energy supply from the accumulator. The holder may include an electrical coupling between the console and the electro-pen in which at least two electrical contacts and at least one transformer are disposed about each the holder and the electro-pen. Alternatively, the holder may include an inductive coupling in which at least one transformer having at least one coil is disposed about each the holder and the electro-pen.

This invention relates to a surgical device and method. More particularly, it relates to a tissue ablation device assembly and method using a circumferential ablation member in combination with a position monitoring assembly in order to position the circumferential ablation member along a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from a left atrium.

An implanted medical device (e.g. infusion pump) and an external device communicate with one another via telemetry messages that are receivable only during windows or listening periods. Each listening period is open for a prescribed period of time and is spaced from successive listening periods by an interval. The prescribed period of time is typically kept small to minimize power consumption. To increase likelihood of successful communication, the window may be forced to an open state, by use of an attention signal, in anticipation of an incoming message. To further minimize power consumption, it is desirable to minimize use of extended attention signals, which is accomplished by the transmitter maintaining an estimate of listening period start times and attempting to send messages only during listening periods. In the communication device, the estimate is updated as a result of information obtained with the reception of each message from the medical device.

A system for transferring data into and out of medical devices wherein a personal data manager (PDM) is used in a web-based network is disclosed. The PDM co-operates with a programmer to enhance remote monitoring of implanted medical devices on a chronic basis to deliver clinical therapy in real time. The PDM is handheldable and mobile and expands the reach of the programmer by storing and forwarding data from the programmer to web-based network constituting a medical environment. The PDM is also implemented to store and forward information to PCs and similar peripheral equipment. In a specialized application, the PDM is configured to exchange data with the unregulated operational / functional segments of the IMD.

Systems and methods for discriminating and locating tissues within a body involve applying a waveform signal to tissue between two electrodes and measuring the electrical characteristics of the signal transmitted through the tissue. At least one of the electrodes is constrained in area so that localized electrical characteristics of the tissue are measured. Such localized electrical characteristics are determined over a portion of a body of the subject by using an array of electrodes or electrodes that can be moved over the body. A controller may implement the process and perform calculations on the measured data to identify tissue types and locations within the measured area, and to present results in graphical form. Results may be combined with other tissue imaging technologies and with image-guided systems.

A collapsible electrode catheter assembly (10) having a delivery system (12) for controlling a catheter guide tube (16) having a catheter distal end assembly (22) thereon. The catheter distal end assembly (22) has an electrode structure (28) on an expanding assembly (34) for enlarging the electrode structure (28) in an expanded condition. A balloon structure (48) is used to expand and contract the expanding assembly (34) when an inflation medium (64) is alternately introduced into and withdrawn from the balloon structure (48).

A system, method and program are disclosed for achieving rapid bit synchronization in low power medical device systems. Messages are transmitted via telemetry between a medical device and a communication device. The synchronization scheme uses a portion of a unique preamble bit pattern to identify the communication device allowing for economical communications with a minimum expenditure of energy. A special set of preamble bit patterns are utilized for their unique synchronization properties making them particularly suited for rapid bit synchronization. These unique preamble bit patterns further provide simplification to the preamble error detection logic.

A resection device includes an elongated probe shaft and a tissue resection member disposed at a distal end of the elongated probe shaft. The tissue resection member has a cutting surface configured for being placed in contact with tissue. In one aspect of the invention, at least one ejection port is located adjacent to the cutting surface of the tissue resection member, wherein the at least one ejection port is coupled to a source of a polymerizable hemostasis-promoting material that is delivered to the resection site of interest. In certain embodiments, polymerization of the hemostasis-promoting material may be accelerated by application of heat, radiofrequency energy, or ultra violet light.