Abstract:
Mechanical delivery system for neurovascular embolization apparatus and method of use. A mechanical system for delivery of implants, such as coils for endovascular embolization of intracranial aneurysms and other neurovascular abnormalities such as arteriovenous malformations and ateriovenous fistulae, may include a detachment system for the release of a coil that deforms a detent to release (or eject) the implant.
Abstract:
A method for providing therapy to tissue at a treatment site is performed by ablating tissue at the treatment site with an ablation device. Next, a cleaning device is attached to an instrument. The cleaning device attached to the instrument is used to remove ablated tissue at the treatment site. The cleaning device may also be used to remove debris from the treatment site prior to ablation or other therapeutic or diagnostic procedure.
Abstract:
Described herein are devices, systems and methods for cutting tissue in a patient. In some embodiments, a tissue modification region of a device includes a pair of flexible elongate cutting members extending along the length of the tissue modification region. Each elongate cutting member may be configured to cut a discrete trough into tissue to a depth that is greater than the thickness of the cutting member. In some embodiments, the device includes a spacer. The spacer may be sized and configured to operate in one of two modes. A first mode, in which the spacer is coupled to the cutting members such that it holds a portion of each of the two cutting members a distance from one another, and a second mode, in which at least a portion of the spacer is moved away from a cutting member to allow the cutting members to cut further into tissue.
Abstract:
Described herein are devices, systems and methods for treating target tissue in a patient's spine. In general, the methods include the steps of advancing a wire into the patient from a first location, through a neural foramen, and out of the patient from a second location; connecting a tissue modification device to the wire; positioning the tissue modification device through the neural foramen using the wire; modifying target tissue in the spine by moving the tissue modification device against the target tissue; and delivering an agent to modified target tissue, wherein the agent is configured to inhibit blood flow from the modified target tissue. In some embodiments, the step of modifying target tissue comprises removing target tissue located ventral to the superior articular process while avoiding non-target tissue located lateral to the superior articular process.
Abstract:
A catheter section comprising an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passageway defining a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The elongate tubular member includes a knit tubular member and an inner tubular liner in coaxial relationship with the knit tubular member. The catheter section is for use as a distal section in a catheter having a relatively stiff proximal section.
Abstract:
An ablation device and methods for use thereof including a support structure adapted to support an ablation structure within an alimentary tract of a patient are provided. The support structure includes a longitudinal support with a longitudinal axis and a rotational support. The rotational support is adapted to permit at least part of the ablation structure to rotate with respect to the longitudinal support's longitudinal axis.
Abstract:
An apparatus for delivering electrical energy includes a cannula and one or more needles extendable from and retractable into a lumen of the cannula. A distal portion of each needle is extendable from the lumen and terminates in a tissue-piercing distal tip. Each distal portion is formed from an electrically conductive and porous material, thereby providing a porous electrode through which electrolytic fluid may flow for delivering electrical energy to tissue surrounding the distal portion. The cannula is introduced into a tissue structure of a patient, the one or more needles are advanced from the cannula, saline is introduced from the porous material to surrounding tissue, and electrical energy from an RF generator is delivered to ablate tissue within the tissue structure.
Abstract:
A medical assembly and method are provided to effectively treat abnormal tissue, such as, a tumor. The target tissue is thermally ablated using a suitable source, such as RF or laser energy. A cooling shield is placed in contact with non-target tissue adjacent the target tissue, and actively cooled to conduct thermal energy away from the non-target tissue. In one method, the cooling shield can be placed between two organs, in which case, one of the two organs can comprise the target tissue, and the other of the two organs can comprise the non-target tissue. In this case, the cooling shield may comprise an actively cooled inflatable balloon, which can be disposed between the two organs when deflated, and then inflated. The inflatable balloon can be actively cooled by pumping a cooling medium through it. In another method, the cooling shield can be embedded within the non-target tissue. In this case, the cooling shield can comprise one or more needles. If a plurality of needles is used, they can be embedded into the non-target tissue in a series, e.g., a rectilinear or curvilinear arrangement. The needle(s) can be actively cooled by pumping a cooling medium through them.
Abstract:
A medical lead and method of treating a patient are provided. The medical lead comprises an electrically insulative tubular membrane, a resilient spring element associated with the insulative membrane, and at least one electrode associated with the insulative membrane. The medical lead is configured to be collapsed into a compact form for percutaneous delivery into the patient, thereby obviating the need to perform an invasive surgical procedure on the patient. The body formed by these elements, when expanded, can be sized to fit within the epidural space of a patient. The patient can be treated by placing the medical lead into a collapsed state by applying a compressive force to the medical lead, percutaneously delivering the collapsed medical lead into the patient adjacent tissue to be treated, and placing the medical lead into an expanded state by releasing the compressive force. In one preferred method, the stimulation lead is used to stimulate tissue, such as spinal cord tissue.
Abstract:
A system for ablating lesions in the interior regions of the human body including a RF catheter and a control system adapted to facilitate the automatic step deployment of an array-type energy delivery system positioned within the catheter. The RF catheter and control system further include an auto array deployment mechanism coupled to the array-type energy delivery system and an impedance and temperature monitoring system. In addition, the system includes a probe positioning device adapted to maintain a RF probe in a desired orientation during ablation procedures.