US5891136A — Expandable-collapsible mesh electrode structures

Claim 1

Independent Claim 101 words

A collapsible electrode assembly, comprising: an array of filaments assembled to form a mesh structure having an exterior and an interior, a plurality of the filaments being electrically conductive, and means for coupling the conductive filaments to a source of ablation energy, wherein the conductive filaments are spatially arranged so as to form a lesion pattern in tissue located adjacent the electrode assembly when ablation energy is coupled thereto, and wherein the mesh structure is adapted to selectively assume an expanded geometry having a first maximum diameter and collapsed geometry having a second maximum diameter less than the first maximum diameter.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 101 words

A collapsible electrode assembly, comprising: an array of filaments assembled to form a mesh structure having an exterior and an interior, a plurality of the filaments being electrically conductive, and means for coupling the conductive filaments to a source of ablation energy, wherein the conductive filaments are spatially arranged so as to form a lesion pattern in tissue located adjacent the electrode assembly when ablation energy is coupled thereto, and wherein the mesh structure is adapted to selectively assume an expanded geometry having a first maximum diameter and collapsed geometry having a second maximum diameter less than the first maximum diameter.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

A collapsible electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mesh structure is configured to assume the collapsed geometry in response to external force, the filaments urging the mesh structure toward the expanded geometry in the absence of the force.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 159 words

A collapsible electrode assembly according to claim 2, comprising: an array of filaments assembled to form a mesh structure having an exterior and a distal end, a plurality of the filaments being electrically conductive, and means for coupling the conductive filaments to a source of ablation energy, wherein the conductive filaments are spatially arranged so as to form a lesion pattern in tissue located adjacent the electrode assembly when ablation energy is coupled thereto, and wherein the mesh structure is adapted to assume a collapsed geometry in response to external force, the mesh structure being urged by the filaments toward a normally expanded geometry in the absence of the force, and further including a sheath slidable relative to the mesh structure in a first direction to apply external force to compress the mesh structure into the collapsed geometry and in a second direction to release the external force, thereby allowing the mesh structure to assume the normally expanded geometry.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

A collapsible electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mesh structure is configured to assume the expanded geometry in response to force applied from within the interior of the mesh structure.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 40 words

A collapsible electrode assembly according to claim 3, and further including a flexible bladder confined within the interior of the mesh structure to receive fluid to apply an interior force to cause the mesh structure to assume the expanded geometry.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

A collapsible electrode assembly according to claim 3, and further including solid support members assembled within the interior of the mesh structure to apply an interior force to cause the mesh structure to assume the expanded geometry.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 69 words

A collapsible electrode assembly according to claim 1, and further including a stilette movable within the interior of the mesh having a distal end connected to a distal end of the mesh structure and a proximal end extending outside the interior for manipulation to impart axial force upon the distal end of the mesh structure, thereby causing the mesh structure to assume the collapsed geometry and the expanded geometry.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

A collapsible electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the exterior of the mesh structure is free of electrically conductive material.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 37 words

A collapsible electrode assembly according to claim 8 wherein the exterior of the mesh structure includes a distal region and a proximal region, and wherein the distal region includes more electrically conductive material than the proximal region.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

A collapsible electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein the exterior of the mesh structure includes at least a first and second zone of electrically conductive material spaced apart by a third zone free of electrically conductive material.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 32 words

A collapsible electrode assembly according to claim 10 wherein the mesh structure includes an axis, and wherein the first and second zones are spaced apart by the third zone along the axis.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

A collapsible electrode assembly according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the filaments includes an electrically conductive material adapted for coupling to a source of electrical energy for transmitting the electrical energy to stimulate tissue.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 129 words

A system for heating body tissue, comprising: a catheter tube having a distal end, a return electrode, a collapsible electrode disposed on the distal end of the catheter tube and adapted to be electrically coupled to the return electrode through tissue, the collapsible electrode comprising an array of filament members assembled to form a mesh structure, at least one of the filaments comprising an electrically conductive material, the mesh structure adapted to selectively assume an expanded geometry having a first maximum diameter and a collapsed geometry having a second maximum diameter less than the first maximum diameter, and means for coupling the collapsible electrode to a source of energy to transmit the energy to the return electrode to heat tissue located between the return electrode and the collapsible electrode.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 129 words

A system for heating body tissue, comprising: a catheter tube having a distal end, a return electrode, a collapsible electrode disposed on the distal end of the catheter tube and adapted to be electrically coupled to the return electrode through tissue, the collapsible electrode comprising an array of filament members assembled to form a mesh structure, at least one of the filaments comprising an electrically conductive material, the mesh structure adapted to selectively assume an expanded geometry having a first maximum diameter and a collapsed geometry having a second maximum diameter less than the first maximum diameter, and means for coupling the collapsible electrode to a source of energy to transmit the energy to the return electrode to heat tissue located between the return electrode and the collapsible electrode.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 39 words

A system according to claim 13 further including means for coupling the collapsible electrode to the source of energy to transmit the energy to the return electrode to ablate tissue located between the return electrode and the collapsible electrode.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 41 words

A system according to claim 14 and further including means for coupling the collapsible electrode to a source of energy to transmit the energy to the return electrode to ablate heart tissue located between the return electrode and the collapsible electrode.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 44 words

A system according to claim 13 wherein the mesh structure further includes an exterior, and wherein the exterior of the mesh structure includes at least first and second zones of electrically conductive material spaced apart by a third zone free of electrically conductive material.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 150 words

A method for heating body tissue comprising the steps of providing a catheter tube having a distal end that carries a collapsible electrode comprising an array of filament members assembled to form a mesh structure, at least one of the filaments, comprising an electrically conductive material, the mesh structure adapted to selectively assume an expanded geometry having a first maximum diameter and a collapsed geometry having a second maximum diameter less than the first maximum diameter, electrically coupling a source of radio frequency energy to the collapsible electrode and to a return electrode in contact with body tissue, guiding the catheter tube into a body while causing the collapsible electrode to assume the collapsed geometry, causing the collapsible electrode to assume the expanded geometry in association with body tissue, and ohmically heating body tissue by transmitting radio frequency energy through the collapsible electrode from the source to the return electrode.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 150 words

A method for heating body tissue comprising the steps of providing a catheter tube having a distal end that carries a collapsible electrode comprising an array of filament members assembled to form a mesh structure, at least one of the filaments, comprising an electrically conductive material, the mesh structure adapted to selectively assume an expanded geometry having a first maximum diameter and a collapsed geometry having a second maximum diameter less than the first maximum diameter, electrically coupling a source of radio frequency energy to the collapsible electrode and to a return electrode in contact with body tissue, guiding the catheter tube into a body while causing the collapsible electrode to assume the collapsed geometry, causing the collapsible electrode to assume the expanded geometry in association with body tissue, and ohmically heating body tissue by transmitting radio frequency energy through the collapsible electrode from the source to the return electrode.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method according to claim 17 further including ablating tissue by ohmically heating tissue by transmitting radio frequency energy through the collapsible electrode from the source to the return electrode.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method according to claim 18 further including ablating heart tissue by ohmically heating heart tissue by transmitting radio frequency energy through the collapsible electrode from the source to the return electrode.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 28 words

A method according to claim 19 further including the step of electrically coupling a source of pacing energy to the collapsible electrode for transmission through the collapsible electrode.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-04-05	2002-10-05	2003-04-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-04-05	2006-10-05	2007-04-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-04-05	2010-10-05	2011-04-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Expandable-collapsible mesh electrode structures

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