Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
An intravascular assembly for forming a continuous lesion within a chamber of a patient's heart, comprising: a) an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support element having a distal end fixed within the elongated delivery member at a location proximate to a distal end of the elongated opening and a proximal end fixed within the elongated delivery member at a location proximate to a proximal end of the elongated opening, the support element being fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening; and b) an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
An intravascular assembly for forming a continuous lesion within a chamber of a patient's heart, comprising: a) an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support element having a distal end fixed within the elongated delivery member at a location proximate to a distal end of the elongated opening and a proximal end fixed within the elongated delivery member at a location proximate to a proximal end of the elongated opening, the support element being fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening; and b) an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
192 words
An intravascular assembly for forming a continuous lesion within a chamber of a patient's heart, comprising: a) an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support element which is fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening and which has a flat surface facing the opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; and b) an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
192 words
An intravascular assembly for forming a continuous lesion within a chamber of a patient's heart, comprising: a) an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support element which is fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening and which has a flat surface facing the opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; and b) an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 wherein the distal section of the elongated delivery member is shaped to facilitate entry and positioning within the patient's heart chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 wherein the support element within the distal section of the elongated delivery member is a metallic ribbon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 wherein the electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device are not more than 1.35 mm in diameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 including a longitudinally movable sheath disposed about the elongated delivery member to control the length of the longitudinal opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 6 wherein the longitudinally movable sheath has a curved distal extremity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 including a longitudinally movable sheath disposed about the electrophysiological device having a proximal end configured to be connected to a source of fluid and a distal end extending over the distal portion of the electrophysiological device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 including a second inner lumen extending within at least the distal section of the elongated delivery member to a discharge port in the distal end of the elongated delivery member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 9 wherein the second inner lumen extends from the proximal end of the elongated delivery member to the distal end thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 including a longitudinally movable outer sheath disposed about the electrophysiological device to control the length of the distal portion having electrodes thereon which is exposed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 wherein the elongated delivery member is provided with at least one electrode on the distal section thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 wherein the distal section of the elongated delivery member is provided with a lumen for delivery of cooling fluid to the distal end thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 13 wherein the lumen for delivery of the cooling fluid extends to the proximal end of the elongated delivery member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 13 wherein a multi-arm adapter is provided on the proximal end of the elongated delivery member which has an arm with an inner lumen in fluid communication with the lumen for delivery of the cooling fluid.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
336 words
A method for treating a patient's heart comprising: a) providing an intravascular assembly including an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support element which is fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening and which has a flat surface facing the opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; and an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy; b) introducing the intravascular assembly into the patient's vasculature and advancing the assembly therein until the distal portion of the assembly is disposed within a chamber of the patient's heart; c) affecting relative movement between the electrophysiological device and the delivery member to cause the distal section of the electrophysiological device to extend through the elongated opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; d) contacting the extended distal section of the electrophysiological device with a desired surface of the heart chamber; e) elivering high frequency electrical energy to at least one electrode on the electrophysiological device to form a first lesion on the surface of the heart chamber; and f) elivering high frequency electrical energy to at least one other electrode on the electrophysiological device to form at least a second lesion on the surface of the heart chamber adjacent to the first lesion thereon.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
336 words
A method for treating a patient's heart comprising: a) providing an intravascular assembly including an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support element which is fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening and which has a flat surface facing the opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; and an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy; b) introducing the intravascular assembly into the patient's vasculature and advancing the assembly therein until the distal portion of the assembly is disposed within a chamber of the patient's heart; c) affecting relative movement between the electrophysiological device and the delivery member to cause the distal section of the electrophysiological device to extend through the elongated opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; d) contacting the extended distal section of the electrophysiological device with a desired surface of the heart chamber; e) elivering high frequency electrical energy to at least one electrode on the electrophysiological device to form a first lesion on the surface of the heart chamber; and f) elivering high frequency electrical energy to at least one other electrode on the electrophysiological device to form at least a second lesion on the surface of the heart chamber adjacent to the first lesion thereon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the electrodes on the EP device are bathed in cooling fluid when emitting high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 16 wherein an outer sheath is disposed about the intravascular assembly and the longitudinal position of the outer sheath about the intravascular assembly is adjusted to control the length of the elongated opening in the elongated delivery member which in turn controls the curvature of the distal section of the EP device which extends out of the elongated opening.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of affecting relative movement between the electrophysiological device and the delivery member includes displacing the electrophysiological device distally relative to the delivery member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
184 words
An intravascular assembly for forming a continuous lesion within a chamber of a patient's heart, comprising: a) an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support means which is fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening and which has a flat surface facing the opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; and b) an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
184 words
An intravascular assembly for forming a continuous lesion within a chamber of a patient's heart, comprising: a) an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support means which is fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening and which has a flat surface facing the opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; and b) an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 20 wherein the distal section of the elongated delivery member is shaped to facilitate entry and positioning within the patient's heart chamber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 20 wherein the support means within the distal section of the elongated delivery member is a metallic ribbon.