US5443489A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for ablation
Assignee: Biosense Webster Inc
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Filing: 1994-09-23
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Granted: 1995-08-22
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Expires: 2014-09-23
Abstract
Abstract This invention concerns an apparatus and method for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. More particularly, this invention is directed to a method for ablating a portion of an organ or bodily structure of a patient, which comprises obtaining a perspective image of the organ or structure to be mapped; advancing one or more catheters having distal tips to sites adjacent to or within the organ or structure, at least one of the catheters having ablation ability; sensing the location of each catheter's distal tip using a non-ionizing field; at the distal tip of one or more catheters, sensing local information of the organ or structure; processing the sensed information to create one or more data points; superimposing the one or more data points on the perspective image of the organ or structure; and ablating a portion of the organ or structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Shlomo Ben-Haim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/316; A61B5/318; A61B5/346; A61B5/349; A61B5/363; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B34/00; A61B34/20; A61B5/06; A61B5/061; A61B5/062; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6843; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6885; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61B18/02; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B18/22; A61B18/24; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00039; A61B2017/00044; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2034/2046; A61B2034/2051; A61B2034/2063; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B5/352; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/362; A61N1/3621; A61N1/3627
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 68
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises the steps of: (a) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (b) sensing location information at the site; (c) sensing local information at the site; (d) processing sensed information from steps (b) and (c) to create one or more data points; (e) repeating steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; and (f) ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises the steps of: (a) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (b) sensing location information at the site; (c) sensing local information at the site; (d) processing sensed information from steps (b) and (c) to create one or more data points; (e) repeating steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; and (f) ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 which comprises an additional step before step (f) wherein said data points or said map is transmitted to receiving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2 which comprises a further step before step (f) wherein said data points or said map received by receiving means is projected onto an image receiving means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 3 which comprises a yet further step before step (f) wherein the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip is superimposed on said projected data points or map on said image receiving means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; (b) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) sensing location information at the site; (d) sensing local information at the site; (e) processing sensed information from steps (c) and (d) to create one or more data points; and (f) repeating steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; (g) superimposing said data points from steps (e) and (f) on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; and (h) ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; (b) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) sensing location information at the site; (d) sensing local information at the site; (e) processing sensed information from steps (c) and (d) to create one or more data points; and (f) repeating steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; (g) superimposing said data points from steps (e) and (f) on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; and (h) ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 5 which comprises an additional step before step (h) wherein said data points or map and said perspective image are transmitted to receiving means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 6 which comprises a further step before step (h) wherein the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip is superimposed on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 6 which comprises a further step before step (h) wherein said data points or map and said perspective image received by receiving means are projected onto an image receiving means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 8 which comprises a yet further step before step (h) wherein the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip is superimposed on said projected data points or map and said perspective image on said image receiving means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises the steps of: (a) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (b) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) sensing location information at each site; (d) sensing local information at site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (e) processing sensed information from steps (c) and (d) to create one or more data points; (f) repeating steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; and (g) ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises the steps of: (a) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (b) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) sensing location information at each site; (d) sensing local information at site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (e) processing sensed information from steps (c) and (d) to create one or more data points; (f) repeating steps (b), (c), (d) and (e) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; and (g) ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 which comprises an additional step before step (g) wherein said data points or said map is transmitted to receiving means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 11 which comprises a further step before step (g) wherein said data points or said map received by receiving means is projected onto an image receiving means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 12 which comprises a yet further step before step (g) wherein the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip is superimposed on said projected data points or map on said image receiving means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises the steps of: (a) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (b) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) sensing locating information at each site; (d) determining relative location of each mapping/ablation distal tip relative to reference catheter distal tips; (e) sensing local information at a site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (f) processing sensed information from steps (d) and (e) to create one or more data points; (g) repeating steps (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; and (h) ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises the steps of: (a) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (b) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) sensing locating information at each site; (d) determining relative location of each mapping/ablation distal tip relative to reference catheter distal tips; (e) sensing local information at a site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (f) processing sensed information from steps (d) and (e) to create one or more data points; (g) repeating steps (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; and (h) ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14 which comprises an additional step before step (h) wherein said data points or said map is transmitted to receiving means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 15 which comprises a further step before step (h) wherein said data points or said map received by receiving means is projected onto an image receiving means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 16 which comprises a yet further step before step (h) wherein the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip is superimposed on said projected data points or map on said image receiving means.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; (b) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (d) sensing location information at each site; (e) sensing local information at a site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (f) processing sensed information from steps (d) and (e) to create one or more data points; (g) repeating steps (c), (d), (e) and (f) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; (h) superimposing said data points or map from steps (f) and (g) on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; and (i) ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; (b) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (d) sensing location information at each site; (e) sensing local information at a site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (f) processing sensed information from steps (d) and (e) to create one or more data points; (g) repeating steps (c), (d), (e) and (f) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; (h) superimposing said data points or map from steps (f) and (g) on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; and (i) ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 18 which comprises an additional step before step (i) wherein said data points or map and said perspective image are transmitted to receiving means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 19 which comprises a further step before step (i) wherein local information of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip is superimposed on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 18 which comprises a further step before step (i) wherein said data points or map and said perspective image received by receiving means are projected onto an image receiving means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 21 which comprises a yet further step before step (i) wherein the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip is superimposed on said projected data points or map and said perspective image on said image receiving means.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; (b) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (d) sensing location information at each site; (e) determining relative location of each mapping/ablation distal tip relative to reference catheter distal tips; (f) sensing local information at a site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (g) processing sensed information from steps (e) and (f) to create one or more data points; (h) repeating steps (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; (i) superimposing said data points or map from steps (g) and (h) on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; and (j) ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
191 words
A method for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; (b) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (d) sensing location information at each site; (e) determining relative location of each mapping/ablation distal tip relative to reference catheter distal tips; (f) sensing local information at a site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (g) processing sensed information from steps (e) and (f) to create one or more data points; (h) repeating steps (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; (i) superimposing said data points or map from steps (g) and (h) on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; and (j) ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 23 which comprises an additional step before step (j) wherein said data points or map and said perspective image are transmitted to receiving means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 24 which comprises a further step before step (j) wherein the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip is superimposed on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 24 which comprises a further step before step (j) wherein said data points or map and said perspective image received by receiving means are projected onto an image receiving means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 26 which comprises a yet further step before step (j) wherein the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip is superimposed on the said projected data points or map and said perspective image on said image receiving means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, 5, 10, 14, 18 or 23, wherein sensing location information is achieved using a non-ionizing field.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises: (a) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (b) means for sensing location information at the site; (c) means for sensing local information at the site; (d) means for processing sensed information from means (b) and (c) to create one or more data points; (e) means for repeating the functions of means (a), (b), (c) and (d) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; and (f) means for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
122 words
An apparatus for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises: (a) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (b) means for sensing location information at the site; (c) means for sensing local information at the site; (d) means for processing sensed information from means (b) and (c) to create one or more data points; (e) means for repeating the functions of means (a), (b), (c) and (d) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; and (f) means for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 29 which additionally comprises means for transmitting said data points or said map to receiving means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 30 which further comprises means for projecting said data points or said map received by receiving means onto an image receiving means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 31 which yet further comprises means for superimposing the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip on said projected data points or map on said image receiving means.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises: (a) means for obtaining a perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; (b) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) means for sensing location information at the site; (d) means for sensing local information at the site; (e) means for processing sensed information from means (c) and (d) to create one or more data points; (f) means for repeating the functions of means (b), (c), (d) and (e) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; (g) means for superimposing said data points from means (e) and (f) on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; and (h) means for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises: (a) means for obtaining a perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; (b) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) means for sensing location information at the site; (d) means for sensing local information at the site; (e) means for processing sensed information from means (c) and (d) to create one or more data points; (f) means for repeating the functions of means (b), (c), (d) and (e) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; (g) means for superimposing said data points from means (e) and (f) on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; and (h) means for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 33 which additionally comprises means for transmitting said data points or map and said perspective image to receiving means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 33 which further comprises means for superimposing the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 34 which further comprises means for projecting said data points or map and said perspective image received by receiving means onto an image receiving means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 36 which yet further comprises means for superimposing the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip on said projected data points or map and said perspective image on said image receiving means.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises: (a) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (b) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) means for sensing location information at each site; (d) means for sensing local information at site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (e) means for processing sensed information from means (c) and (d) to create one or more data points; (f) means for repeating the functions of means (b), (c), (d) and (e) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; and (g) means for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises: (a) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (b) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) means for sensing location information at each site; (d) means for sensing local information at site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (e) means for processing sensed information from means (c) and (d) to create one or more data points; (f) means for repeating the functions of means (b), (c), (d) and (e) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; and (g) means for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 38 which additionally comprises means for transmitting said data points or said map to receiving means.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 39 which further comprises means for projecting said data points or said map received by receiving means onto an image receiving means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 40 which yet further comprises means for superimposing the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip on said projected data points or map on said image receiving means.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises: (a) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (b) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) means for sensing locating information at each site; (d) means for determining relative location of each mapping/ablation distal tip relative to reference catheter distal tips; (e) means sensing local information at a site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (f) means for processing sensed information from means (d) and (e) to create one or more data points; (g) means for repeating the functions of means (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; and (h) means for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
173 words
An apparatus for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises: (a) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (b) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) means for sensing locating information at each site; (d) means for determining relative location of each mapping/ablation distal tip relative to reference catheter distal tips; (e) means sensing local information at a site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (f) means for processing sensed information from means (d) and (e) to create one or more data points; (g) means for repeating the functions of means (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; and (h) means for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 42 which additionally comprises means for transmitting said data points or said map to receiving means.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 43 which further comprises means for projecting said data points or said map received by receiving means onto an image receiving means.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 44 which yet further comprises means for superimposing the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip on said projected data points or map on said image receiving means.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
193 words
An apparatus for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises: (a) means for obtaining a perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; (b) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (d) means for sensing location information at each site; (e) means for sensing local information at a site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (f) means for processing sensed information from means (d) and (e) to create one or more data points; (g) means for repeating the functions of means (c), (d), (e) and (f) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; (h) means for superimposing said data points or map from means (f) and (g) on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; and (i) means for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
193 words
An apparatus for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises: (a) means for obtaining a perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; (b) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (d) means for sensing location information at each site; (e) means for sensing local information at a site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (f) means for processing sensed information from means (d) and (e) to create one or more data points; (g) means for repeating the functions of means (c), (d), (e) and (f) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; (h) means for superimposing said data points or map from means (f) and (g) on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; and (i) means for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 46 which additionally comprises means for transmitting said data points or map and said perspective image to receiving means.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 47 which further comprises means for superimposing local information of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 47 which further comprises means for projecting said data points or map and said perspective image received by receiving means onto an image receiving means.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 49 which yet further comprises means for superimposing the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip on said projected data points or map and said perspective image on said image receiving means.
Claim 62
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises: (a) means for obtaining a perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; (b) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (d) means for sensing location information at each site; (e) means for determining relative location of each mapping/ablation distal tip relative to reference catheter distal tips; (f) means for sensing local information at a site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (g) means for processing sensed information from means (e) and (f) to create one or more data points; (h) means for repeating the functions of means (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; (i) means for superimposing said data points or map from means (g) and (h) on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; and (j) means for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient, which comprises: (a) means for obtaining a perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; (b) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more reference catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (c) means for positioning the distal tip of each of one or more mapping/ablation catheters at a site adjacent to or within an organ or bodily structure; (d) means for sensing location information at each site; (e) means for determining relative location of each mapping/ablation distal tip relative to reference catheter distal tips; (f) means for sensing local information at a site with each mapping/ablation catheter distal tip; (g) means for processing sensed information from means (e) and (f) to create one or more data points; (h) means for repeating the functions of means (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) one or more times to create sufficient data points for a map; (i) means for superimposing said data points or map from means (g) and (h) on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure; and (j) means for ablating a portion of an organ or a bodily structure of a patient.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 51 which additionally comprises means for transmitting said data points or map and said perspective image to receiving means.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 52 which further comprises means for superimposing the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip on the perspective image of the organ or bodily structure.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 52 which further comprises means for projecting said data points or map and said perspective image received by receiving means onto an image receiving means.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 54 which yet further comprises means for superimposing the location of a mapping/ablation catheter distal tip on the said projected data points or map and said perspective image on said image receiving means.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 29, 33, 38, 42, 46 or 51, wherein location information is sensed using a non-ionizing field.
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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) | 1998-08-21 | 1999-02-20 | 1999-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-21 | 2003-02-20 | 2003-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-21 | 2007-02-20 | 2007-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |