US5405376A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for ablation
Assignee: DUTHLER REED A
•
Filing: 1993-08-27
•
Granted: 1995-04-11
•
Expires: 2013-08-27
Abstract
Abstract An ablation catheter and a method of performing cardiac ablation using alcohol or other ablating agents. The catheter is provided with a helical hollow needle, which is screwed into heart tissue, after which the ablating agent is delivered through the needle. Prior to ablation, the catheter may be employed to locate an appropriate ablation site or to assess the suitability of an identified ablation site by injection of a exitability reducing agent such as lidocaine, through the hollow needle, followed by a determination of whether the arrhythmia intended to be treated as temporarily terminated.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter M. J. Mulier
- 👤 Michael F. Hoey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0068; A61M25/0069; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61N1/0565; A61N1/0568; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
An ablation catheter system, comprising: an elongated catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and an internal longitudinal lumen; a hollow helical needle mounted to the proximal end of said catheter body and having an internal lumen coupled to the internal lumen of said catheter body; and ablation fluid delivery means coupled to the internal lumen of said catheter body for delivering an ablation fluid under pressure to said internal lumen of said catheter body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
An ablation catheter system, comprising: an elongated catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and an internal longitudinal lumen; a hollow helical needle mounted to the proximal end of said catheter body and having an internal lumen coupled to the internal lumen of said catheter body; and ablation fluid delivery means coupled to the internal lumen of said catheter body for delivering an ablation fluid under pressure to said internal lumen of said catheter body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein said ablation fluid delivery means comprises means for delivering alcohol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein said ablation fluid delivery means comprises a syringe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein said catheter body comprises a torque transfer cable, extending longitudinally along said catheter body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein said hollow needle is conductive, wherein said catheter body comprises a longitudinally extending electrical conductor coupled to said hollow needle, and further comprising an electrical connector mounted to said catheter body and coupled to said electrical conductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A catheter system according to claim 5 wherein said catheter body comprises a conductive torque transfer cable, extending longitudinally along said catheter body, coupled to said hollow needle and to said electrical connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A catheter system according to claim 5 wherein said catheter body comprises a conductive tube, extending longitudinally along said catheter body, coupled to said hollow needle and to said electrical connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein said catheter body comprises a plastic tube, extending longitudinally along said catheter body, coupled to said hollow needle and to said ablation fluid delivery means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter system according to claim 8, further comprising means for delivering a second fluid to said lumen of said catheter body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A catheter system according to claim 9, wherein said means for delivering a second fluid comprises means for delivering Ringer's solution.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of catheter ablation, comprising: advancing an elongated catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, an internal longitudinal lumen and a helical needle having an internal longitudinal lumen mounted to the proximal end of said catheter with the internal lumen of said needle coupled to the internal lumen of said catheter, to a desired site within a heart; screwing said helical needle into heart tissue at said desired site; and delivering ablation fluid through the internal lumen of said catheter to said hollow needle under pressure.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of catheter ablation, comprising: advancing an elongated catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, an internal longitudinal lumen and a helical needle having an internal longitudinal lumen mounted to the proximal end of said catheter with the internal lumen of said needle coupled to the internal lumen of said catheter, to a desired site within a heart; screwing said helical needle into heart tissue at said desired site; and delivering ablation fluid through the internal lumen of said catheter to said hollow needle under pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said step of delivering said ablation fluid comprises delivering alcohol.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said step of screwing said helical needle into heart tissue comprises rotating said catheter.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of catheter ablation, comprising: advancing an elongated catheter having a proximal end a distal end, an internal longitudinal lumen and a hollow helical needle mounted to the proximal end of said catheter and coupled to the internal lumen of said catheter to a desired site within a heart; screwing said helical needle into heart tissue at said desired site: and delivering ablation fluid through the internal lumen of said catheter to said hollow needle under pressure wherein said hollow needle is conductive, wherein said catheter comprises a longitudinally extending electrical conductor coupled to said hollow needle, and further comprising the step of connecting said electrical conductor to ECG monitoring apparatus.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of catheter ablation, comprising: advancing an elongated catheter having a proximal end a distal end, an internal longitudinal lumen and a hollow helical needle mounted to the proximal end of said catheter and coupled to the internal lumen of said catheter to a desired site within a heart; screwing said helical needle into heart tissue at said desired site: and delivering ablation fluid through the internal lumen of said catheter to said hollow needle under pressure wherein said hollow needle is conductive, wherein said catheter comprises a longitudinally extending electrical conductor coupled to said hollow needle, and further comprising the step of connecting said electrical conductor to ECG monitoring apparatus.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said catheter comprises a torque transfer cable, extending longitudinally along said catheter and coupled to said hollow needle and wherein said step of screwing said helical needle into heart tissue comprises rotating said torque transfer cable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said catheter comprises a plastic tube, extending longitudinally along said catheter body, coupled to said hollow needle and further comprising the step of delivering a second fluid through said plastic tube prior to said step of delivering said ablation fluid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein said step of delivering a second fluid comprises delivering Ringer's solution.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of determining a proper location for cardiac ablation, comprising: advancing an elongated catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, an internal longitudinal lumen and a hollow needle mounted to the proximal end of said catheter body and coupled to the internal lumen of said catheter to a desired site within a heart; inserting said needle into heart tissue at said desired site; and delivering an excitability reducing agent in fluid form through the internal lumen of said catheter to said hollow needle; and monitoring the response of said tissue to said agent.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of determining a proper location for cardiac ablation, comprising: advancing an elongated catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, an internal longitudinal lumen and a hollow needle mounted to the proximal end of said catheter body and coupled to the internal lumen of said catheter to a desired site within a heart; inserting said needle into heart tissue at said desired site; and delivering an excitability reducing agent in fluid form through the internal lumen of said catheter to said hollow needle; and monitoring the response of said tissue to said agent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein said step of delivering said agent comprises delivering lidocaine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein said step of delivering said agent comprises delivering esmolol.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein said hollow needle is a helical needle and wherein said step of inserting said needle into heart tissue comprises rotating said catheter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein said hollow needle is conductive, wherein said catheter comprises a longitudinally extending electrical conductor coupled to said hollow needle, and wherein said monitoring step comprises connecting said electrical conductor to ECG monitoring apparatus.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 18 wherein said catheter comprises a plastic tube, extending longitudinally along said catheter body, coupled to said hollow needle and further comprising the step of delivering a second fluid through said plastic tube prior to said step of delivering said excitability reducing agent.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein said step of delivering a second fluid comprises delivering Ringer's solution.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of performing cardiac ablation at said desired site following said monitoring step.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of repositioning said catheter at a second site following said monitoring step.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of determining the amount of said excitability reducing agent required to terminate a heart arrhythmia.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of delivering an ablation fluid to said site as a function of said required amount of said excitability reducing agent.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 27, further comprising the steps of relocating said catheter as a function of said required amount of said excitability reducing agent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5165421A
Cited
US5030204A
Cited
US5002067A
Cited
US5104393A
Cited
US5060660A
Cited
US5324325A
Cited
WO1993004720A1
Cited
US5261889A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-10 | 1998-10-10 | 1999-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-10 | 2002-10-10 | 2003-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-10 | 2006-10-10 | 2007-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |