557 results about "ExAblate" patented technology

Devices, systems, and methods for treating atherosclerotic lesions and other disease states, particularly for treatment of vulnerable plaques, can incorporate optical coherence tomography or other imaging techniques which allow a structure and location of an eccentric plaque to be characterized. Remodeling and/or ablative laser energy can then be selectively and automatically directed to the appropriate plaque structures, often without imposing mechanical trauma to the entire circumference of the lumen wall.

The invention provides a method of sensitising target cells to ultrasound energy using a stimulus such as an electric field. This "electrosensitisation" enables target cells to be disrupted by ultrasound at frequencies and energies of ultrasound which do not cause disruption of non-sensitised (i.e., non-target) cells. As a consequence, the method increases the selectivity of ultrasound therapy, providing a way to ablate undesired cells, such as diseased cells (e.g., tumor cells) while minimising harm to neighboring cells. In another aspect, however, ultrasound can be used to sensitise cells while the electrical field is used to disrupt cells. The invention also provides an apparatus for performing the method and assays for identifying gene products and other molecules involved in apoptosis.

A microwave ablation system configured for use in luminal network is provided. The microwave ablation system includes a microwave energy source. A tool for treating tissue is provided with the microwave ablation system. An extended working channel is configured to provide passage for the tool. A locatable guide catheter is positionable through the extended working channel and configured to navigate the extended working channel adjacent the target tissue. The microwave ablation system includes a navigation system that is configured for guiding the tool, extended working channel or the locatable guide through a luminal network following a predetermined determined pathway to the target tissue. One or more imaging modalities may be utilized for confirming placement of the tool within target tissue.

Methods and devices for ablating portions of a tissue volume with electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to produce lattices of EMR-treated ablation islets in the tissue are disclosed, including lattices of micro-holes, micro-grooves, and other structures. Also, methods and devices for using the ablated islets are disclosed, including to deliver chromophores, filler, drugs and other substances to the tissue volume.

A method of assessing a tissue ablation treatment, including positioning a medical device adjacent a target tissue; measuring a first impedance magnitude a first frequency with the medical device; measuring a first impedance phase at a second frequency with the medical device; ablating at least a portion of the target tissue with the medical device; measuring at second impedance magnitude at a third frequency with the medical device; measuring a second impedance phase at a fourth frequency with the medical device; comparing at least one of (i) the first and second impedance magnitudes and (ii) the first and second impedance phases; and providing an indication of the efficacy of the ablation treatment based at least in part on the comparison.

An energy delivery probe for use in tissue ablation and method of use is presented. The energy delivery device has at least a first energy delivery member and a second energy delivery member that have handle members positioned along a longitudinal axis, each handle member having a proximal and distal end. The distal end of the first handle member is releasably coupled to the proximal end of the second handle member and a portion of each member is defined in a coaxially surrounding relationship to each other along the longitudinal axis. The method of using the probe involves identifying a tissue to be ablated, providing the energy delivery probe, inserting at least a portion of the energy delivery probe into the identified tissue, delivering electrical energy through the energy delivery probe to the identified tissue, and ablating the identified tissue such that at least a first ablation zone is formed.

Ultrasound energy originating from an emitter at a number of predetermined positions is sensed by a plurality of duplex transducers in a predefined arrangement. Each transducer produces a sensor signal representing ultrasound energy sensed by it, and the sensor signals of each transducer are stored in association with the predetermined position producing the sensor signal. Thereafter, an ablation pattern corresponding to a group of the predetermined positions may be generated by actuating each transducer with a time-reversed version of the sensor signals stored in association with the group of positions. By placing the transducers in a predetermined spatial relationship to the heart, the ablation pattern may be formed on the ostium of a pulmonary artery. Preferably the predetermined positions correspond to a grid of dots that may be used to approximate virtually any shape.

A medical system for ablating a tissue site by electroporation with real-time pulse monitoring during an electroporation treatment procedure is provided. The treatment control module monitors applied pulses and detect an abnormal condition that indicates either an ineffective electroporation of the tissue or an imminent excessive current such as a spark event that may exceed the capacity of the pulse generator. Rather than terminating the procedure entirety, the treatment control module temporarily pauses the procedure to allow the user to adjust the pulse parameters so as to complete the procedure without starting the procedure over again.

An isolated heart or heart-lung preparation in which essentially normal pumping activity of all four chambers of the heart is preserved, allowing for the use of the preparation in conjunction with investigations of electrode leads, catheters, ablation methods, cardiac implants and other medical devices intended to be used in or on a beating heart. The system can be designed to be used within a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit or a X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner. The preparation may also be employed to investigate heart and lung functions, in the presence or absence of such medical devices. In order to allow comparative imaging visualizations of either or simultaneously the heart and/or lung structures and devices located within the chambers of the heart or vessels or bronchi within the lungs, a clear perfusate such as a modified Krebs buffer solution with oxygenation is circulated through all four chambers of the heart and thus the coronary and/or pulmonary vasculatures. A ventilator with intubation tube can be used to inflate/deflate the lungs and/or provide oxygen to the isolated organs. The preparation and recordings of the preparation may be used in conjunction with the design, development and evaluation of devices for use in or on the heart and/or lungs, as well as for use as an investigational and teaching aid to assist physicians and students in understanding the operation of the cardiopulmonary system.

A system and method are disclosed for planning a percutaneous procedure and for guiding an instrument to engage a target within a patient's body. A patient 3-dimensional image data set is provided, within which a user selects a skin entry point and a target point. A line, or “planned path,” is generated between the points which is used to align a movable arm to achieve a “Bull's Eye View,” in which the two points are superimposed. The instrument is placed at the skin entry point and aligned using the Bull's Eye View along a desired trajectory that intersects the target. Initial alignment is verified using fluoroscopy. Progression fluoroscopic views are used during the insertion procedure to ensure the instrument remains on the planned path. When the instrument reaches the target, a procedure may be performed, such as a biopsy, a drainage procedure, a radiofrequency ablation, or other medical interventional procedure.

A Computer Assisted and Robot-Guided Laser Osteotome (CARLO) medical device (1) for perforating hard tissue, having a photoablation laser source (31) mounted in a robotic arm (2), and optical system (37) for focusing a laser beam in a target plane of the ostetomy line featuring an autotracking navigation system (8).

Certain embodiments provide a method of assessing an outcome of an ablative atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment modality administered to a patient, the method including: determining, from left atrium (LA) tissue image data of a subject patient that has undergone an ablative AF treatment with the modality, at least one of: a level of a parameter that is positively proportional or negatively proportional to an amount of ablated tissue in a wall of the LA of the subject patient; and a spatial distribution, in the LA wall, of a variable indicative of ablated LA tissue; and outputting, to an output device, a machine-readable indicator of at least one of: (i) a comparison between the determined level and a threshold level of the parameter; and (ii) a map of the spatial distribution.

The invention discloses a multi-mode multi-parameter synchronous detection imaging monitoring system in a transient physical process which is characterized in that a master control PC is connected with a data acquisition device, an indicator light, an acquisition card and a temperature acquisition device; an array energy converter is connected with the data acquisition device by full digitalization B-ultrasound; a thermoelectric couple is connected with the temperature acquisition device; a detecting energy converter is connected with the acquisition card by a receiver; an ultrasound energy converter, a camera, the indicator light and the detecting energy converter device and the thermoelectric couple are arranged nearby a sample; the ultrasound energy converter collects radio frequency data of the sample 7 which is input to the master control PC by the data acquisition device and conserved on the main control PC. The invention synchronously integrals a thermal ablation treatment system and a plurality of monitoring systems comprising acoustics, phonology and temperature detecting, thus realizing the multi-mode multi-parameter synchronous detection imaging monitoring in the transient physical process.