Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An ablating catheter for ablation of myocardium in a human heart comprising: a catheter body for disposition within said heart, said catheter body having a distal tip; an ablative electrode disposed on said distal tip; at least one pair of orthogonal electrodes disposed in said ablative electrode and electrically insulated therefrom for receiving electrocardiac signals only from a localized area within said myocardium, which area is ablated; and circuit means for differencing cardiac signals received by said at least one pair of orthogonal electrodes to generate an electrographic signal indicative of localized cardiac activity at said area, whereby said catheter is usable for ablating and sensing electrophysiologic activity of said ablated myocardium without substantial alteration of the size of said ablative electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
An ablating catheter for ablation of myocardium in a human heart comprising: a catheter body for disposition within said heart, said catheter body having a distal tip; an ablative electrode disposed on said distal tip; at least one pair of orthogonal electrodes disposed in said ablative electrode and electrically insulated therefrom for receiving electrocardiac signals only from a localized area within said myocardium, which area is ablated; and circuit means for differencing cardiac signals received by said at least one pair of orthogonal electrodes to generate an electrographic signal indicative of localized cardiac activity at said area, whereby said catheter is usable for ablating and sensing electrophysiologic activity of said ablated myocardium without substantial alteration of the size of said ablative electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said orthogonal electrodes simultaneously sense electrophysiologic activity at a predetermined point in said myocardium being ablated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said orthogonal electrodes are disposed in said ablative electrode within 1 to 5 millimeters from said distal tip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said ablative electrode has cutouts defined therein and wherein said orthogonal electrodes are disposed in said catheter within said cutouts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein said ablative electrode has cutouts defined therein and wherein said orthogonal electrodes are disposed on said catheter and extend through said cutouts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter of claim 5 further comprising insulated means disposed over said cutouts and wherein said orthogonal electrodes are disposed on said means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
207 words
A catheter for ablating myocardium in a heart comprising: a catheter body for disposition within said heart; at least one pair of orthogonal electrodes disposed on said catheter body for sensing localized cardiac activity only in myocardium within 1 to 3 mm adjacent to a predetermined point within said myocardium; and means for differencing cardiac signals sensed by said at least one pair of orthogonal electrodes to generate an electrographic signal indicative only of localized cardiac activity only within 1 to 3 mm of said predetermined point in said myocardium, said means for differencing cardiac signals being coupled to said at least one pair of orthogonal electrodes; and an ablative electrode disposed on said catheter for applying energy through said ablative electrode to extirpate myocardium in contact with said ablative electrode; wherein said orthogonal electrodes are disposed within said ablative electrode, said orthogonal electrodes and means for differencing cardiac signals being arranged and adapted for simultaneously sensing only said localized cardiac activity of said myocardium at said predetermined point while said myocardium in contact with said ablative electrode is being extirpated, whereby said catheter is provided for ablating selected myocardium in said heart in response only to localized cardiac signals from myocardium at a specific spatial point.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
207 words
A catheter for ablating myocardium in a heart comprising: a catheter body for disposition within said heart; at least one pair of orthogonal electrodes disposed on said catheter body for sensing localized cardiac activity only in myocardium within 1 to 3 mm adjacent to a predetermined point within said myocardium; and means for differencing cardiac signals sensed by said at least one pair of orthogonal electrodes to generate an electrographic signal indicative only of localized cardiac activity only within 1 to 3 mm of said predetermined point in said myocardium, said means for differencing cardiac signals being coupled to said at least one pair of orthogonal electrodes; and an ablative electrode disposed on said catheter for applying energy through said ablative electrode to extirpate myocardium in contact with said ablative electrode; wherein said orthogonal electrodes are disposed within said ablative electrode, said orthogonal electrodes and means for differencing cardiac signals being arranged and adapted for simultaneously sensing only said localized cardiac activity of said myocardium at said predetermined point while said myocardium in contact with said ablative electrode is being extirpated, whereby said catheter is provided for ablating selected myocardium in said heart in response only to localized cardiac signals from myocardium at a specific spatial point.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for ablating myocardium of a heart comprising the steps of: disposing a catheter within said heart at a position adjacent to a predetermined point in said myocardium; sensing only localized cardiac signals from said myocardium within about 1 to 3 mm adjacent to said predetermined point without necessarily contacting said myocardium; and applying energy through said catheter to an ablative electrode at said predetermined point for the purpose of ablating myocardium at said predetermined point, where said step of sensing is performed by orthogonal electrodes disposed in said ablative electrode.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for ablating myocardium of a heart comprising the steps of: disposing a catheter within said heart at a position adjacent to a predetermined point in said myocardium; sensing only localized cardiac signals from said myocardium within about 1 to 3 mm adjacent to said predetermined point without necessarily contacting said myocardium; and applying energy through said catheter to an ablative electrode at said predetermined point for the purpose of ablating myocardium at said predetermined point, where said step of sensing is performed by orthogonal electrodes disposed in said ablative electrode.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for ablating myocardium of a heart comprising the steps of: disposing a catheter within said heart at a position adjacent to a predetermined point in said myocardium; sensing only localized cardiac signals from said myocardium within about 1 to 3 mm adjacent to said predetermined point without necessarily contacting said myocardium; and applying energy through said catheter to an ablative electrode at said predetermined point for the purpose of ablating myocardium at said predetermined point, where said step of sensing is performed by orthogonal electrodes disposed in said ablative electrode within 1 to 5 millimeters from said distal tip.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for ablating myocardium of a heart comprising the steps of: disposing a catheter within said heart at a position adjacent to a predetermined point in said myocardium; sensing only localized cardiac signals from said myocardium within about 1 to 3 mm adjacent to said predetermined point without necessarily contacting said myocardium; and applying energy through said catheter to an ablative electrode at said predetermined point for the purpose of ablating myocardium at said predetermined point, where said step of sensing is performed by orthogonal electrodes disposed in said ablative electrode within 1 to 5 millimeters from said distal tip.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for ablating myocardium of a heart comprising the steps of: disposing a catheter within said heart at a position adjacent to a predetermined point in said myocardium; sensing only localized cardiac signals from said myocardium within about 1 to 3 mm adjacent to said predetermined point without necessarily contacting said myocardium; and applying energy through said catheter to an ablative electrode at said predetermined point for the purpose of ablating myocardium at said predetermined point, where said step of sensing is performed by orthogonal electrodes disposed in said ablative electrode, and wherein said ablative electrode has cutouts defined therein and wherein said orthogonal electrodes are disposed in said catheter within said cutouts.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for ablating myocardium of a heart comprising the steps of: disposing a catheter within said heart at a position adjacent to a predetermined point in said myocardium; sensing only localized cardiac signals from said myocardium within about 1 to 3 mm adjacent to said predetermined point without necessarily contacting said myocardium; and applying energy through said catheter to an ablative electrode at said predetermined point for the purpose of ablating myocardium at said predetermined point, where said step of sensing is performed by orthogonal electrodes disposed in said ablative electrode, and wherein said ablative electrode has cutouts defined therein and wherein said orthogonal electrodes are disposed in said catheter within said cutouts.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for ablating myocardium of a heart comprising the steps of: disposing a catheter within said heart at a position adjacent to a predetermined point in said myocardium; sensing only localized cardiac signals from said myocardium within about 1 to 3 mm adjacent to said predetermined point without necessarily contacting said myocardium; and applying energy through said catheter to an ablative electrode at said predetermined point for the purpose of ablating myocardium at said predetermined point, where said step of sensing is performed by orthogonal electrodes disposed in said ablative electrode, wherein said ablative electrode has cutouts defined therein, and wherein said orthogonal electrodes are disposed on said catheter and extend through said cutouts.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for ablating myocardium of a heart comprising the steps of: disposing a catheter within said heart at a position adjacent to a predetermined point in said myocardium; sensing only localized cardiac signals from said myocardium within about 1 to 3 mm adjacent to said predetermined point without necessarily contacting said myocardium; and applying energy through said catheter to an ablative electrode at said predetermined point for the purpose of ablating myocardium at said predetermined point, where said step of sensing is performed by orthogonal electrodes disposed in said ablative electrode, wherein said ablative electrode has cutouts defined therein, and wherein said orthogonal electrodes are disposed on said catheter and extend through said cutouts.