US5860951A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Systems and methods for electrosurgical myocardial revascularization
Assignee: Arthrocare Corp
•
Filing: 1996-11-22
•
Granted: 1999-01-19
•
Expires: 2016-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A method for transmyocardial revascularization of the heart of a patient includes positioning an active electrode surface in close proximity to a target site on the wall of a patient's heart, and applying high frequency voltage between the active voltage surface and a return electrode to ablate tissue at the heart wall. The high frequency voltage ablates, i.e. volumetrically removes the heart tissue, and the electrode surface is axially translated into the space vacated by the removed tissue to bore a channel through the heart tissue. The active electrode surface may be introduced into the thoracic cavity and placed adjacent the epicardium to form an inward channel toward the ventricular cavity, or it may be delivered into the ventricular cavity of the heart and positioned adjacent the endocardium to form a channel extending outward towards the epicardium. In either case, the channels formed through the myocardium promote direct communication between blood within the ventricular cavity and that of existing myocardial vasculature to increase blood flow to the heart tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip E. Eggers
- 👤 Hira V. Thapliyal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B18/1206; A61B18/1402; A61B18/148; A61B18/1482; A61B18/1485; A61B18/149; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2493; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00092; A61B2017/00097; A61B2017/00101; A61B2017/00106; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22001; A61B2017/22038; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00119; A61B2018/0016; A61B2018/00172; A61B2018/00178; A61B2018/00184; A61B2018/00196; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00321; A61B2018/00327; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00392; A61B2018/00505; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00583; A61B2018/00601; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00642; A61B2018/0066; A61B2018/00666; A61B2018/00678; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00726; A61B2018/00738; A61B2018/00755; A61B2018/00761; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00821; A61B2018/00827; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/00886; A61B2018/00982; A61B2018/1213; A61B2018/124; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/1253; A61B2018/126; A61B2018/1273; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1407; A61B2018/1467; A61B2018/1472; A61B2018/1497; A61B18/16; A61B2018/162; A61B2018/165; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/37; A61B2090/378; A61B2090/3782; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61B2218/007; A61F2/95; A61M25/0147; A61M25/0158
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of transmyocardial revascularization of the heart of a patient comprising: forming a revascularizing channel through a portion of the heart with high frequency electrical energy, the revascularizing channel extending through an exterior heart wall into the myocardium; and positioning a radially expandable lumenal prosthesis within the revascularizing channel to maintain patency of the channnel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of transmyocardial revascularization of the heart of a patient comprising: forming a revascularizing channel through a portion of the heart with high frequency electrical energy, the revascularizing channel extending through an exterior heart wall into the myocardium; and positioning a radially expandable lumenal prosthesis within the revascularizing channel to maintain patency of the channnel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the forming step is carried out by: positioning an active electrode surface in close proximity to a target site on a wall of the patient's heart; and applying high frequency voltage between the active electrode surface and a return electrode to ablate tissue at the heart wall and to form a revascularizing channel through at least a portion of the heart wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the positioning step comprises endoluminally delivering a tubular stent to the revascularizing channel and radially expanding the tubular stent against the walls of said channel to maintain lumen patency.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the radially expanding step comprises expanding a balloon within an axial lumen of the stent to radially expand a tubular frame of the stent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the radially expanding step comprises compressing the stent frame into a radially compressed configuration, and allowing the stent frame to recover to an expanded configuration within the revascularizing channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the allowing step is carried out by the application of heat from the patient's body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the revascularizing channel has an endpoint within the myocardium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the revascularizing channel extends completely through the heart wall between an exterior portion of the heart and a ventricle within the heart.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
138 words
A system for transmyocardial revascularization of the heart of a patient comprising: an electrosurgical instrument having a shaft with proximal and distal ends, one or more active electrodes disposed near the distal end of the shaft and a connector disposed near the proximal end of the shaft for electrically coupling the electrodes to a high frequency voltage source; a return electrode positioned near the active electrodes for; a connector disposed near the proximal end of the shaft for electrically coupling the active and return electrodes to a high frequency voltage source to ablate tissue at the heart wall and to form one or more revascularizing channels through at least a portion of the heart wall into the myocardium; and a delivery mechanism for implanting one or more lumenal prosthesis into the revascularizing channels formed by the electrosurgical instrument.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
138 words
A system for transmyocardial revascularization of the heart of a patient comprising: an electrosurgical instrument having a shaft with proximal and distal ends, one or more active electrodes disposed near the distal end of the shaft and a connector disposed near the proximal end of the shaft for electrically coupling the electrodes to a high frequency voltage source; a return electrode positioned near the active electrodes for; a connector disposed near the proximal end of the shaft for electrically coupling the active and return electrodes to a high frequency voltage source to ablate tissue at the heart wall and to form one or more revascularizing channels through at least a portion of the heart wall into the myocardium; and a delivery mechanism for implanting one or more lumenal prosthesis into the revascularizing channels formed by the electrosurgical instrument.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the delivery mechanism is integral with the instrument shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 9 further comprising a delivery catheter separate from the electrosurgical probe for endoluminally delivering and implanting the lumenal prostheses within the revascularizing channels.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 9 further comprising means for radially expanding the lumenal prostheses to engage the inner walls of the revascularizing channels to maintain lumen patency.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the radially expanding means comprises an expandable member configured for positioning within an axial lumen of the prostheses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the lumenal prostheses comprise shape memory alloy material having an A f temperature below body temperature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the revascularizing channels each have an endpoint within the myocardium.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the revascularizing channels extend completely through the heart wall between an exterior portion of the heart and a ventricle within the heart.
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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) | 2002-01-18 | 2002-07-20 | 2003-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-18 | 2006-07-20 | 2007-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-18 | 2010-07-20 | 2011-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |