Abstract:
An electrode support structure has a guide body (12) having a distal end and a stylet (80) having a bendable portion extending along an axis outside the distal end of the guide body (12). The structure also includes at least one flexible spline leg (22) having a body and a far end extending beyond the distal end of the guide body (12) and attached to the bendable portion of the stylet (80). The spline leg (22) is normally flexed between the distal guide body end and the bendable stylet portion in a first direction that extends along and radially outward of the axis of the stylet (80). At least one electrode element (28) is on the flexible spline leg (22). The bendable stylet portion (80) applies tension to flex the spline leg (22) in a second direction.
Abstract:
Systems (10) and methods examine heart tissue morphology for the purpose of locating a potential ablation site. The systems and methods derive the electrical characteristic of tissue lying between the electrode pairs (38) based, at least in part, upon sensing tissue impedances. The systems and methods also sense the timing of local depolarization events in the tissue in which impedance is sensed and derive therefrom the propagation velocities of the sensed depolarization events. The systems and methods match the derived tissue electrical characteristics with the derived propagation velocities in spatial relation to the electrodes to characterize the morphology of the contacted heart tissue to identify a potential ablation site.
Abstract:
Systems and associated methods form larger and deeper lesion patterns by shaping a support body with multiple electrodes (30) in ways that increase the density of the electrodes (30) per given tissue area. The support body (12) can carry either elongated, continuous electrodes (80) or arrays of non-contiguous, segmented electrodes (30).
Abstract:
This invention is systems and methods to form curvilinear lesions in tissue within the body. The systems and methods expose tissue to electrode arrays with intersecting energy emitting elements (42). The systems and methods apply ablating energy for emission by the elements (42) to create intersecting curvilinear lesion patterns in the tissue.
Abstract:
Systems and methods employ a guide element (176(1)) that carries a region of energy emitting material (192). The systems and methods electronically couple the region to a source of energy that, when emitted by the region, ablates tissue. The systems and methods are responsive to user commands for changing the physical characteristics of the lesions being created by electronically altering the energy emitting characteristics of the region itself.
Abstract:
Systems and associated methods position arrays of multiple emitters of ablating energy (30) in straight or curvilinear positions in contact with tissue to form elongated lesion patterns (200)-(206). The elongated lesion patterns can be continuous (200, 204) or interrupted (202, 206), depending upon the orientation of the energy emitters.
Abstract:
Systems and methods sense electrical events about a selected annulus region (26, 30) of the heart (10) to identify the location of an accessory pathway. They establish a contact site between heart tissue and a multi-electrode array (E1-E10) conforming to the circumferential geometry of the selected annulus region (26, 30). The system and methods maintain this site, while conveying signals representing electrical events sensed by bipolar pairs of the electrodes (E1-E10). The systems and methods display the signals as graphic information that represents the time differences (T1, T2) between the atrium (A) and ventricular (V) electrogram complexes sensed by the pairs (E1-E10) on the selected annulus region (26, 30). The pairs (E1-E10) displaying the least time separation between the complexes (A, V) identifies the region of the accessory pathway. With this information, energy is conveyed to the electrodes of the selected pair to ablate tissue.
Abstract:
Systems and methods sense electrical events in heart tissue to identify the location of an arrhythmogenic focus for ablation. The systems and methods establish a contact site between heart tissue and a curvilinear electrode array (e1-e4 or E1-E4). The systems and methods monitor signals representing electrical events sensed by the electrodes in the contact site. The signals are displayed as graphic information that represents the time sequence in which the electrodes sense a given electrical event. By moving the electrode array (e1-e4 or E1-E4) to one or more additional contact sites in the general direction of the electrode that first sensed the electrical event, the physician homes in on a contact site in which all electrodes on the array sense the given electrical event at generally the same time. This contact site contains the arrhythmogenic focus. The systems and methods convey ablating energy to bipolar pairs of the electrodes to form large bipolar lesins in heart tissue.
Abstract:
A method is provided for detaching a single-crystal film (32) from an epilayer/substrate crystal structure (30) or bulk crystal structure (10B). The method includes the steps of implanting ions (38) into the crystal structure to form a damage layer (36) within the crystal structure at an implantation depth below a top surface of the crystal structure, and chemically etching the damage layer to effect detachment of the single crystal film from the crystal structure. The method of the present invention is especially useful for detaching single-crystal metal oxide films from metal oxide crystal structures.
Abstract:
Systems and associated methods for ablating body tissue employ an electrode (16) for contacting tissue to form a tissue electrode interface. The electrode is adapted to be connected to a source of ablation energy (12) to conduct ablation energy for transmission by the electrode into tissue at the tissue electrode interface. The systems and methods also include an element to cool the electrode (50, 56). The systems and methods hold a tissue temperature sensing element in a carrier in thermal conductive contact with tissue beneath the tissue electrode interface. The systems and methods include a controller that is coupled to the tissue temperature sensing element to control either the supply of ablation energy (98), or the rate at which the electrode is cooled (92, 95), or both, based at least in part upon temperature senses by the temperature sensing element.