US5871523A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Helically wound radio-frequency emitting electrodes for creating lesions in body tissue
Assignee: EP Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1996-08-12
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Granted: 1999-02-16
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Expires: 2016-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A device for ablating tissue within the body has an element with an energy emitting region helically wound about and along the axis of the element. The element emits energy to create a lesion in body tissue. A sheath of a non-energy emitting material is movable over the region to adjust the impedance of the region.
Inventors
- 👤 Sidney D. Fleischman
- 👤 Thomas M. Bourne
- 👤 Russell A. Houser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:26
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61B18/1402; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00148; A61B2018/0016; A61B2018/00184; A61B2018/00196; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/00267; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00755; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00875; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/124; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/1253; A61B2018/126; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1435; A61B2018/1497; A61B2018/1861; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6852; A61B5/6858
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A device for use in a tissue ablation system, comprising an element having an axis; and an energy emitting region, including wound lengths of energy emitting material juxtaposed with wound lengths of non-energy emitting material, helically wound about and along the axis of the element for emitting energy to create a lesion in body tissue.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
55 words
A device for use in a tissue ablation system, comprising an element having an axis; and an energy emitting region, including wound lengths of energy emitting material juxtaposed with wound lengths of non-energy emitting material, helically wound about and along the axis of the element for emitting energy to create a lesion in body tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the energy emitting region comprises a single length of energy emitting material wound about and along the axis of the element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the energy emitting region comprises a ribbon of metallic material wound about and along the axis of the element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the energy emitting region comprises a coating applied upon the element.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
95 words
A device for ablating tissue within the body, comprising: an element defining an axis and including a helical energy emitting region along the axis, the helical energy emitting region including a plurality of windings substantially abutting one another; a source of ablation energy connected to the energy emitting region; and an electrode connected to the source of ablation energy, separate and distinct from the element, adapted to be located on the outer surface of the body; wherein current emitted from the helical energy emitting region is received by the electrode to create a return path.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
95 words
A device for ablating tissue within the body, comprising: an element defining an axis and including a helical energy emitting region along the axis, the helical energy emitting region including a plurality of windings substantially abutting one another; a source of ablation energy connected to the energy emitting region; and an electrode connected to the source of ablation energy, separate and distinct from the element, adapted to be located on the outer surface of the body; wherein current emitted from the helical energy emitting region is received by the electrode to create a return path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electrode comprises an epidermal patch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the element comprises a flexible, elongate body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the element comprises a catheter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the energy emitting region comprises a single length of energy emitting material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the energy emitting region comprises a ribbon of metallic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the energy emitting region comprises a coating applied upon the element.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
97 words
A device for use in a tissue ablation system, comprising: a support element having an axis and an electrically non-conducting portion; and a plurality of helical ablation elements defining respective proximal and distal ends and adapted to be coupled to a source of ablation energy and carried by the electrically non-conducting portion of the support element such that each element occupies a respective region of the non-conducting portion extending from the proximal end of the element to the distal end of the element, wherein the respective regions are longitudinally spaced from and non-overlapping with any other region.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
97 words
A device for use in a tissue ablation system, comprising: a support element having an axis and an electrically non-conducting portion; and a plurality of helical ablation elements defining respective proximal and distal ends and adapted to be coupled to a source of ablation energy and carried by the electrically non-conducting portion of the support element such that each element occupies a respective region of the non-conducting portion extending from the proximal end of the element to the distal end of the element, wherein the respective regions are longitudinally spaced from and non-overlapping with any other region.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: an electrode, separate and distinct from the helical ablation elements, adapted to be located on the outer surface of the body; wherein current emitted from the energy emitting region is received by the electrode to create a return path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the support element comprises a flexible, elongate body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the support element comprises a catheter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the helical ablation elements each comprise a respective individual length of energy emitting material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the helical ablation elements each comprise a respective individual ribbon of metallic material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the helical ablation elements each comprise a respective individual coating applied upon the support element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, the plurality of helical ablation elements are respectively connected to the source of ablation energy by a plurality of signal wires.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the non-energy emitting region extends completely around the support element.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the helical ablation elements each comprise a plurality of windings and the windings of the helical ablation elements substantially abut one another.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the helical ablation elements are separated from one another by a predetermined distance, the predetermined distance being such that when the helical ablation elements simultaneously transmit ablation energy a continuous lesion is formed that spans the predetermined distance.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
133 words
A tissue ablation system, comprising: a support element having an axis and an electrically non-conducting portion; a plurality of helical ablation elements defining respective proximal and distal ends and carried by the electrically non-conducting portion of the support element such that each element occupies a respective region of the non-conducting portion extending from the proximal end of the element to the distal end of the element, wherein the respective regions are longitudinally spaced from and non-overlapping with any other region, the predetermined length being such that when the helical ablation elements simultaneously transmit ablation energy a continuous lesion is formed that spans the non-conducting region; and a source of ablation energy connected to each of the helical ablation elements and adapted to simultaneously supply ablation energy to each of the helical ablation elements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
133 words
A tissue ablation system, comprising: a support element having an axis and an electrically non-conducting portion; a plurality of helical ablation elements defining respective proximal and distal ends and carried by the electrically non-conducting portion of the support element such that each element occupies a respective region of the non-conducting portion extending from the proximal end of the element to the distal end of the element, wherein the respective regions are longitudinally spaced from and non-overlapping with any other region, the predetermined length being such that when the helical ablation elements simultaneously transmit ablation energy a continuous lesion is formed that spans the non-conducting region; and a source of ablation energy connected to each of the helical ablation elements and adapted to simultaneously supply ablation energy to each of the helical ablation elements.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the helical ablation elements each comprise a plurality of windings and the windings of the helical ablation elements substantially abut one another.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the helical ablation elements each comprise a respective individual length of energy emitting material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the helical ablation elements each comprise a respective individual ribbon of metallic material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the helical ablation elements each comprise a respective individual coating applied upon the support element.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the support element comprises a catheter.
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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) | 2002-02-15 | 2002-08-17 | 2003-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-02-15 | 2006-08-17 | 2007-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-02-15 | 2010-08-17 | 2011-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |