Balloon anchor wire

Claim 2

1 . A positioning system adapted to position and anchor one end of a medical device at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium, comprising: a transeptal sheath adapted to be inserted through an atrial septum; and an anchor device having an elongate body with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion that is adapted to be positioned within the pulmonary vein, and also having an expandable member along the distal end portion that is adjustable between a radially collapsed condition and a radially expanded condition that is adapted to engage the pulmonary vein after the distal end portion of the anchor device is advanced through the transeptal sheath and into the pulmonary vein.

Claim 3

2 . The positioning system of claim 1 , wherein the medical device has a tracking mechanism adapted to slideably engage and track over the anchor device, such that advancing the medical device over the anchor device causes one end of the medical device to be positioned at the location.

Claim 4

3 . The positioning system of claim 2 , wherein the medical device is a mapping device comprising an electrode adapted to map a region of tissue at the location.

Claim 5

4 . The positioning system of claim 2 , wherein the medical device is an ablation device comprising an ablation element adapted to ablate a region of tissue at the location.

Claim 6

5 . The positioning system of claim 4 , wherein the ablation element comprises a microwave ablation element.

Claim 7

6 . The positioning system of claim 4 , wherein the ablation element comprises a cryogenic ablation element.

Claim 8

7 . The positioning system of claim 4 , wherein the ablation element comprises a thermal ablation element.

Claim 9

8 . The positioning system of claim 4 , wherein the ablation element comprises a light-emitting ablation element.

Claim 10

9 . The positioning system of claim 4 , wherein the ablation element comprises an ultrasound transducer.

Claim 11

10 . The positioning system of claim 4 , wherein the ablation element comprises an electrical ablation element.

Claim 12

11 . The positioning system of claim 10 , wherein the electrical ablation element is an RF ablation element.

Claim 13

12 . The positioning system of claim 4 , wherein the ablation element is adapted to form a linear lesion.

Claim 14

13 . The positioning system of claim 4 , wherein the ablation element is adapted to form a circumferential lesion.

Claim 15

14 . The positioning system of claim 13 , wherein the ablation element is adapted to form the circumferential lesion at the location.

Claim 16

15 . The positioning system of claim 1 , wherein the expandable member is an inflatable balloon.

Claim 17

16 . The positioning system of claim 15 , wherein the anchor device further comprises an inflation lumen, a pressurizable fluid source and a removable adapter on the proximal end portion of the elongate body, which is adapted to couple the pressurizable fluid source to the inflation lumen.

Claim 18

17 . The positioning system of claim 15 , wherein the balloon has an outer diameter of from about 0.114″ to about 0.122″ when inflated.

Claim 19

18 . The tissue ablation system of claim 15 , wherein the balloon is made from a low density polymer or copolymer.

Claim 20

19 . The tissue ablation system of claim 18 , wherein the low density polymer or copolymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefins, PET, nylon, urethane, silicon, and Cflex.

Claim 21

20 . The positioning system of claim 1 , wherein the anchor device further comprises a shaped distal tip distal of the expandable member.

Claim 22

21 . The positioning system of claim 20 , wherein the anchor device is configured to be torquable and steerable, such that the anchor device may be directed into the pulmonary vein by manipulation of the proximal end portion.

Claim 23

22 . The positioning system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body of the anchor device further comprises a polymeric tube.

Claim 24

23 . The positioning system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion of the elongate body is more flexible than the proximal end portion.

Claim 25

24 . The positioning system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate body of the anchor device further comprises an intermediate region disposed between the distal and proximal end portions, and wherein the proximal end portion has a wall thickness which is greater than a wall thickness of the intermediate region, such that the proximal end portion possess a sufficient push force and kink resistance.

Claim 26

25 . The positioning system of claim 1 , further comprising a wire within the elongate body, extending proximally from the distal end portion of the elongate body through at least a portion of the elongate body.

Claim 27

26 . The positioning system of claim 25 , wherein the elongate body further comprises a guidewire passageway and wherein the wire is a guidewire slideably engaged in the guidewire passageway.

Claim 28

27 . The positioning system of claim 26 , wherein the guidewire passageway has a proximal port along the proximal end portion of the elongate body and a distal port along the distal end portion of the elongate body.

Claim 29

28 . The positioning system of claim 26 , wherein the guidewire passageway extends only through a portion of the elongate body.

Claim 30

29 . A method of ablating a region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium, comprising: inserting into the atrium an anchor device, which is adapted to be positioned within the pulmonary vein and has an elongate body with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and also has an expandable member along the distal end portion adjustable between a radially collapsed condition and a radially expanded condition that is adapted to engage the pulmonary vein; positioning the anchor device within the pulmonary vein; anchoring the distal end portion of the anchor device within the pulmonary vein by adjusting the expandable member from the radially collapsed condition to the radially expanded condition; providing an ablation catheter adapted to slideably engage and track over the anchor device and also having an ablation element adapted to couple to an ablation actuator; advancing the ablation catheter into the atrium over the anchor device until the ablation element is positioned at the location; actuating the ablation actuator to energize the ablation element; and ablating the region of tissue with the ablation element.

Claim 31

29 . A method of ablating a region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium, comprising: inserting into the atrium an anchor device, which is adapted to be positioned within the pulmonary vein and has an elongate body with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and also has an expandable member along the distal end portion adjustable between a radially collapsed condition and a radially expanded condition that is adapted to engage the pulmonary vein; positioning the anchor device within the pulmonary vein; anchoring the distal end portion of the anchor device within the pulmonary vein by adjusting the expandable member from the radially collapsed condition to the radially expanded condition; providing an ablation catheter adapted to slideably engage and track over the anchor device and also having an ablation element adapted to couple to an ablation actuator; advancing the ablation catheter into the atrium over the anchor device until the ablation element is positioned at the location; actuating the ablation actuator to energize the ablation element; and ablating the region of tissue with the ablation element.

Claim 32

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein prior to inserting the anchor device, the method further comprises inserting a transeptal sheath through an atrial septum that separates a right atrium from the left atrium.

Claim 33

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein after inserting a transeptal sheath and prior to inserting the anchor device, the method further comprises: inserting a guide member having a preshaped distal portion through the transeptal sheath from the right atrium into the left atrium; positioning the preshaped distal portion of the guide member within the left atrium so that it points toward the pulmonary vein; and inserting the anchor involves inserting the anchor device through the guide member.

Claim 34

32 . The method of claim 31 , wherein prior to advancing the ablation catheter over the anchor device, the guide member is removed.