Patent US5403311A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5403311A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electro-coagulation and ablation and other electrotherapeutic treatments of body tissue
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 1993-03-29
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Granted: 1995-04-04
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Expires: 2013-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A catheter includes a flexible elongated catheter body that defines a needle-receiving, or probe-receiving, lumen, a retractable tissue-penetrable needle, or probe, and an electrode mounted on the distal portion of the catheter body. The needle provides a fluid passage for introducing fluid into tissue to permit the introduction of sclerotic agents for enhancing electrocoagulation of the tissue, heat-responsive drugs for improving the bonding to tissue surfaces, or vaso-constrictor drugs. The probe can also have a passage for fluid. The electrode can provide bipolar electro-coagulation of tissue in combination with an additional electrode mounted on the catheter body, or alternatively, the electrode can be employed in combination with either the needle or probe to establish a bipolar electro-coagulation path through tissue. The needle, or probe, in combination with an external electrode can be used to provide unipolar electro-coagulation, or ablation. In certain instances, the electrode can be used to provide a mapping function inside cardiac chambers.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. Abele
- 👤 Steven Rowe
- 👤 Christopher A. Rowland
- 👤 Michael G. Vergano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1477; A61B18/1492; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B18/1402; A61B2017/00292; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00184; A61B2018/00196; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00595; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1425; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0074; A61M2025/0079; A61M25/0082; A61M25/0084; A61M2025/0089; A61M3/00; A61M3/02; A61M3/0279
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
An electro-coagulation constructed for passage into a living body to perform therapy on a selected region of body tissue, said catheter comprising a flexible, pushable, elongated catheter body of braided construction having proximal and distal portions terminating respectively at proximal and distal ends defining a tube-receiving lumen having a length that extends from the proximal end of said catheter body to the distal end of said catheter body, said length being selected to perform therapy on selected regions of body tissue within the gastrointestinal tract or the esophagus of a patient while the proximal end of said catheter body remains outside the patient, an RF electrocoagulation electrode coupled to the distal portion of said catheter body, said electrode being connected to a respective conductor extending within said catheter body, a retractable, flexible hollow tube having a tissue-penetrable needle-form distal end and having a proximal end and extending within said tube-receiving lumen and along the entire length thereof, said flexible hollow tube having a fluid passage therethrough for introducing a fluid into the tissue in the selected region, said flexible hollow tube being selectively slidable within said tube-receiving lumen of said catheter body to cause said needle-form distal end of said flexible tube to be projectable from and retractable into the distal end of said catheter body by actuation force applied to the proximal end of said flexible hollow tube, and means for remotely applying actuation force to the proximal end of said flexible hollow tube to cause said needle-form distal end of said flexible hollow tube to project from the distal end of said catheter body for penetration of tissue within the gastrointestinal tract or esophagus of the patient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
An electro-coagulation constructed for passage into a living body to perform therapy on a selected region of body tissue, said catheter comprising a flexible, pushable, elongated catheter body of braided construction having proximal and distal portions terminating respectively at proximal and distal ends defining a tube-receiving lumen having a length that extends from the proximal end of said catheter body to the distal end of said catheter body, said length being selected to perform therapy on selected regions of body tissue within the gastrointestinal tract or the esophagus of a patient while the proximal end of said catheter body remains outside the patient, an RF electrocoagulation electrode coupled to the distal portion of said catheter body, said electrode being connected to a respective conductor extending within said catheter body, a retractable, flexible hollow tube having a tissue-penetrable needle-form distal end and having a proximal end and extending within said tube-receiving lumen and along the entire length thereof, said flexible hollow tube having a fluid passage therethrough for introducing a fluid into the tissue in the selected region, said flexible hollow tube being selectively slidable within said tube-receiving lumen of said catheter body to cause said needle-form distal end of said flexible tube to be projectable from and retractable into the distal end of said catheter body by actuation force applied to the proximal end of said flexible hollow tube, and means for remotely applying actuation force to the proximal end of said flexible hollow tube to cause said needle-form distal end of said flexible hollow tube to project from the distal end of said catheter body for penetration of tissue within the gastrointestinal tract or esophagus of the patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The catheter of claim 1 further comprising a second electrode coupled to the distal portion of said catheter body, said electrode and said second electrode being constructed and arranged to establish a bipolar RF electro-coagulation path through the selected region of body tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 2 wherein said electrode and said second electrode are arranged in a spaced-apart helical arrangement at the distal end of said catheter body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said electrode is a ring electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said applying means comprises a push-pull wire coupled to said needle for applying actuation force to said needle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal portion of said needle comprises electrically conducting material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The catheter of claim 6 wherein said needle is connected to a respective conductor that extends within said catheter body for connection to an RF generator, said needle and said electrode being configured to establish therebetween a bipolar RF electro-coagulation path through the selected region of body tissue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the distal portion of said catheter body is dome-shaped and made from a refractory material, and wherein said electrode comprises a conductive metallic layer bonded to said refractory material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The catheter of claim 1 further comprising a second retractable hollow needle, the distal portion of said second needle being selectively projectable from and retractable into the distal end of said catheter body by actuation force applied to the proximal portion of said second needle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The catheter of claim 9 wherein said needle and said second needle have electrically conductive distal portions that are connected to respective conductors for connection to an RF generator, wherein said needle and said second needle, when projected into tissue, are capable of subsurface bipolar electrocoagulation therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The catheter of claim 1 further comprising a selectively retractable sleeve disposed around at least a portion of said needle, and means for selectively extending and retracting said sleeve independently of said needle so that, when said needle is extended, the exposed surface of the distal portion of said needle can be selectively varied by extension or retraction of said sleeve.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said catheter body has at least one precurved portion capable of being elastically deformed to conform to an introducing channel through which it passes into the body, said catheter body being constructed to transmit torque from the proximal portion of said catheter body to the distal portion of said catheter body so that the orientation of said precurved portion can be adjusted by applying torque to the proximal portion of said catheter body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
The catheter of claim 1 further comprising proximal markings coupled to said force applying means that serve to identify the distance said needle is extended beyond the distal end of said catheter body, thereby enabling said needle to be controllably extended a desired length into tissue in the selected region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 1 further comprising a longitudinally extending irrigation passage through said catheter body for providing perfusion fluid to cleanse the selected region of body tissue.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
325 words
A method of electro-coagulating a selected region of body tissue comprising the steps of inserting into a living body a bipolar electro-coagulation catheter having proximal and distal portions respectively terminating at proximal and distal ends to the site of the selected region, said catheter comprising a flexible, pushable, elongated catheter body of braided construction having proximal and distal portions terminating respectively at proximal and distal ends defining a tube-receiving lumen having a length that extends from the proximal end of said catheter body to the distal end of said catheter body, said length being selected to perform therapy on selected regions of body tissue within the gastrointestinal tract or the esophagus of a patient while the proximal end of said catheter body remains outside the patient, first and second RF electrocoagulation electrodes coupled to the distal portion of said catheter body, said electrodes being connected to respective conductors extending within said catheter body, and a retractable, flexible hollow tube having a tissue-penetrable needle-form distal end and having a proximal end and extending within said tube-receiving lumen and along the entire length thereof, said flexible hollow tube having a fluid passage therethrough for introducing a fluid into the tissue in the selected region, said flexible hollow tube being selectively slidable within said tube-receiving lumen of said catheter body to cause said needle-form distal end of said flexible tube to be projectable from and retractable into the distal end of said catheter body by actuation force applied to the proximal end of said flexible hollow tube, inserting said needle-form distal end of said flexible hollow tube into tissue in the selected region, contacting said first and second electrodes with the surface of tissue in the selected region, introducing a fluid into tissue in the selected region through said flexible hollow tube and needle-form distal end, and applying RF coagulation voltage between said first and second electrodes to effect bipolar electro-coagulation of the selected region of body tissue.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
325 words
A method of electro-coagulating a selected region of body tissue comprising the steps of inserting into a living body a bipolar electro-coagulation catheter having proximal and distal portions respectively terminating at proximal and distal ends to the site of the selected region, said catheter comprising a flexible, pushable, elongated catheter body of braided construction having proximal and distal portions terminating respectively at proximal and distal ends defining a tube-receiving lumen having a length that extends from the proximal end of said catheter body to the distal end of said catheter body, said length being selected to perform therapy on selected regions of body tissue within the gastrointestinal tract or the esophagus of a patient while the proximal end of said catheter body remains outside the patient, first and second RF electrocoagulation electrodes coupled to the distal portion of said catheter body, said electrodes being connected to respective conductors extending within said catheter body, and a retractable, flexible hollow tube having a tissue-penetrable needle-form distal end and having a proximal end and extending within said tube-receiving lumen and along the entire length thereof, said flexible hollow tube having a fluid passage therethrough for introducing a fluid into the tissue in the selected region, said flexible hollow tube being selectively slidable within said tube-receiving lumen of said catheter body to cause said needle-form distal end of said flexible tube to be projectable from and retractable into the distal end of said catheter body by actuation force applied to the proximal end of said flexible hollow tube, inserting said needle-form distal end of said flexible hollow tube into tissue in the selected region, contacting said first and second electrodes with the surface of tissue in the selected region, introducing a fluid into tissue in the selected region through said flexible hollow tube and needle-form distal end, and applying RF coagulation voltage between said first and second electrodes to effect bipolar electro-coagulation of the selected region of body tissue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said fluid comprises a heat-responsive drug.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said fluid comprises a sclerotic agent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said fluid is a vaso-constrictive agent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the distal portion of said needle is electrically conductive and is electrically coupled to a respective conductor for connection to an RF generator, and wherein the step of applying comprises applying RF bipolar electro-coagulation voltage between the electrically conductive portion of said needle and at least one of said first and second electrodes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-03 | 1998-10-03 | 1999-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-03 | 2002-10-03 | 2003-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-03 | 2006-10-03 | 2007-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |