Importance

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Abstract

The disclosures made herein relate to methods and equipment adapted for treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and for limiting, if not preventing, damage to surface tissue while coagulating tissue within the myocardium. In one embodiment of the disclosures made herein, a cooled tip laser catheter system includes an energy delivery apparatus, a laser apparatus and a cooling medium supply apparatus. The energy delivery apparatus includes a flexible tubular housing, a tip assembly and an optical waveguide. The flexible tubular housing includes a plurality of lumens therein extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the flexible tubular housing. The tip assembly includes a tip body attached at a first end thereof to the distal end of the flexible tubular housing and an optical window mounted at a second end of the tip body. The circulation chamber is defined within the tip body between the distal end of the flexible tubular housing and the optical window. The optical waveguide is mounted within a first of said lumens, wherein a distal end of the optical waveguide is exposed within the circulation chamber. The laser apparatus is attached to the energy delivery apparatus in a manner enabling laser light to be supplied to and transmitted by the optical waveguide. The cooling medium supply apparatus is attached to the energy delivery apparatus in a manner enabling cooling medium to be circulated through the circulation chamber.

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First Claim