US6015407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination linear ablation and cooled tip RF catheters
Assignee: Boston Scientific Corp
•
Filing: 1998-03-27
•
Granted: 2000-01-18
•
Expires: 2018-03-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for ablating body tissue is provided that is particularly adapted for creating both linear and point lesions in the endocardium. The apparatus comprises an elongate tubular member having a tip electrode and an ablation section mounted thereon. The ablation section includes one or more spaced electrodes, a fluid permeable foam material, and a fluid impermeable covering having a plurality of holes formed in it. The flow of conductive fluid to the ablation section during use allows contact to be maintained between the electrodes and the tissue to be ablated so as to minimize the formation of lesion breaks. The conductive fluid also serves to cool the tip electrode during its use by delivering the fluid to the tip electrode before routing it to the ablation section. In preferred embodiments, use of a shape wire and/or one or more pullwires allows the inventive apparatus to be more easily manipulated during the ablation procedure.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale Rieb
- 👤 Lorna Fosse
- 👤 Mark L. Pomeranz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61N1/06; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00065; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00113; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00642; A61B2018/00654; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00821; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1407; A61B2018/1435; A61B2018/1437; A61B2018/1467; A61B2018/1472; A61B2018/1475; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A catheter for ablating body tissue, comprising: a shaft having a bendable distal section and a distal end; a tip electrode having a chamber formed therein and attached to the distal end of the shaft; an ablation element carried on the distal section of the shaft; and, means for delivering current to the tip electrode; means for delivering current to the ablation element; means for delivering fluid to the tip electrode chamber to cool the tip electrode during use; and, means for withdrawing the fluid from the tip electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A catheter for ablating body tissue, comprising: a shaft having a bendable distal section and a distal end; a tip electrode having a chamber formed therein and attached to the distal end of the shaft; an ablation element carried on the distal section of the shaft; and, means for delivering current to the tip electrode; means for delivering current to the ablation element; means for delivering fluid to the tip electrode chamber to cool the tip electrode during use; and, means for withdrawing the fluid from the tip electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the tip electrode include a means for measuring temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the means for delivering the current to the tip electrode is independent from the means for delivering the current to the ablation section such that current may be separately delivered to either the tip electrode or the ablation section electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The catheter of claim 1 further comprising: a pullwire extending through the shaft member, and having a fixed distal end and a moveable proximal end for adjusting the bend of the distal end of the shaft member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The catheter of claim 1 further comprising: a fluid permeable deformable member at least partially covering the ablation element and means for delivering conductive fluid through the deformable member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The catheter of claim 5 further comprising a covering on the deformable member, the covering formed of a material substantially impermeable to fluid, the covering including at least one opening sized to allow passage of fluid out of the covering.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the cooling fluid is conductive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The catheter of claim 7 further comprising: a fluid permeable deformable member at least partially covering the ablation element and wherein the means for withdrawing the fluid from the tip electrode is by delivering the fluid through the deformable member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter of claim 1 further comprising a core wire carried within the shaft member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The catheter of claim 9 wherein the core wire is formed at least in part of memory wire and the shaft member includes an opening at its proximal end, such that the core wire is slidably disposed in and removable from the shaft member through the proximal end opening of the shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter of claim 1 wherein the tip electrode chamber includes at least one opening sized to allow fluid to exit from the tip electrode during ablation.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for ablating body tissue, comprising: an elongate tubular member having a distal end; a tip electrode attached to the distal end of the elongated member, wherein the tip electrode includes a chamber formed therein; an ablation section having one or more electrodes carried on the elongate tubular member; a fluid permeable deformable member at least partially covering the ablation section electrodes; means for delivering current to the tip electrode; means for delivering current to the ablation section electrodes; means for delivering cooling fluid to the tip electrode chamber wherein the cooling fluid cools the tip electrode during use; means for withdrawing the cooling fluid from the tip electrode chamber after its use; and means for delivering conductive fluid through the deformable member in the ablation section such that when the electrodes are placed adjacent to the body tissue, the fluid creates a conductive path between the ablation section electrodes and the tissue.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for ablating body tissue, comprising: an elongate tubular member having a distal end; a tip electrode attached to the distal end of the elongated member, wherein the tip electrode includes a chamber formed therein; an ablation section having one or more electrodes carried on the elongate tubular member; a fluid permeable deformable member at least partially covering the ablation section electrodes; means for delivering current to the tip electrode; means for delivering current to the ablation section electrodes; means for delivering cooling fluid to the tip electrode chamber wherein the cooling fluid cools the tip electrode during use; means for withdrawing the cooling fluid from the tip electrode chamber after its use; and means for delivering conductive fluid through the deformable member in the ablation section such that when the electrodes are placed adjacent to the body tissue, the fluid creates a conductive path between the ablation section electrodes and the tissue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a core wire carried within the elongate tubular member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the core wire is formed at least in part of memory wire and the elongate tubular member includes an opening at its proximal end, such that the core wire is slidably disposed in and removable from the elongate tubular member through the proximal end opening of the elongate tubular member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for delivering the current to the tip electrode is independent from the means for delivering the current to the ablation section such that current may be separately delivered to either the tip electrode or the ablation section electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cooling fluid is also conductive and the means for delivering conductive fluid to ablation section is coupled to the means for removing cooling fluid from the tip electrode chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the cooling fluid is withdrawn from the tip electrode chamber by delivering the cooling liquid through the deformable member in the ablation section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tip electrode chamber contains one or more openings for allowing at least some portion of the cooling liquid to exit out the tip electrode chamber while the tissue is being ablated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the deformable member includes a layer of foam over the ablation section electrodes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a covering on the deformable member, the covering formed of a material substantially impermeable to fluid, the covering including at least one opening sized to allow passage of fluid out of the covering.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the tip electrode includes a means for measuring temperature.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the distal end of the elongate tubular member is bendable and wherein the apparatus further comprises: a pullwire extending through the elongate tubular member, the pullwire having a fixed first end and a moveable second end for adjusting the bend of the distal end of the elongate tubular member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of pullwires, each having a distal end connected to a portion of the tubular body and a proximal end moveable to adjust the orientation of the distal portion of the tubular body.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
109 words
A multipurpose device for ablating tissue comprising: an elongated catheter having a fluid carrying lumen extending from the proximal to the distal end thereof; a first electrode located at the distal tip of the catheter, the first electrode being thermodynamically coupled to fluid carried in the lumen; a plurality of second electrodes located near but spaced apart from the distal end of the catheter, the second electrodes being covered by elongated fluid permeable material and positioned relative to the lumen so that fluid can pass out of the lumen, through the fluid permeable material and to the tissue; and means for delivering current to the first and second electrodes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
109 words
A multipurpose device for ablating tissue comprising: an elongated catheter having a fluid carrying lumen extending from the proximal to the distal end thereof; a first electrode located at the distal tip of the catheter, the first electrode being thermodynamically coupled to fluid carried in the lumen; a plurality of second electrodes located near but spaced apart from the distal end of the catheter, the second electrodes being covered by elongated fluid permeable material and positioned relative to the lumen so that fluid can pass out of the lumen, through the fluid permeable material and to the tissue; and means for delivering current to the first and second electrodes.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for ablating tissue using a catheter having a tip electrode located on its distal end and a plurality of second electrodes located near but spaced apart from the tip electrode, comprising: forming at least one linear lesion using the plurality of second electrodes by supplying RF energy and conductive fluid to the electrodes, and permitting the conductive fluid to form a conductive path between the electrodes and the tissue which is to be ablated and then forming at least one point lesion using the tip electrode.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for ablating tissue using a catheter having a tip electrode located on its distal end and a plurality of second electrodes located near but spaced apart from the tip electrode, comprising: forming at least one linear lesion using the plurality of second electrodes by supplying RF energy and conductive fluid to the electrodes, and permitting the conductive fluid to form a conductive path between the electrodes and the tissue which is to be ablated and then forming at least one point lesion using the tip electrode.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as in claim 25 wherein the point lesion is formed in the same site as the linear lesion.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for ablating tissue using a catheter having a tip electrode located on its distal end and a plurality of second electrodes located near but spaced apart from the tip electrode, comprising: forming at least one point lesion using the tip electrode and then forming at least one linear lesion using the plurality of second electrodes by supplying RF energy and conductive fluid to the electrodes, and permitting the conductive fluid to form a conductive path between the electrodes and the tissue which is to be ablated.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for ablating tissue using a catheter having a tip electrode located on its distal end and a plurality of second electrodes located near but spaced apart from the tip electrode, comprising: forming at least one point lesion using the tip electrode and then forming at least one linear lesion using the plurality of second electrodes by supplying RF energy and conductive fluid to the electrodes, and permitting the conductive fluid to form a conductive path between the electrodes and the tissue which is to be ablated.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for ablating body tissue, comprising: an elongate tubular member having a distal end; a tip electrode attached to the distal end of the elongated member and having a chamber formed therein, said electrode connectable to a source of ablation energy; an ablation section having one or more electrodes carried on the elongate tubular member, said one or more electrodes connectable to a source of ablation energy; a fluid permeable deformable member at least partially covering the ablation section electrodes; a source of conductive fluid fluidly coupled for delivery through the deformable member in the ablation section such that when the electrodes are placed adjacent to the body tissue, the fluid creates a conductive path between the ablation section electrodes and the tissue; and a source of cooling fluid fluidly coupled for delivery to and subsequent withdrawal from the tip electrode chamber wherein the cooling fluid cools the tip electrode during use.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for ablating body tissue, comprising: an elongate tubular member having a distal end; a tip electrode attached to the distal end of the elongated member and having a chamber formed therein, said electrode connectable to a source of ablation energy; an ablation section having one or more electrodes carried on the elongate tubular member, said one or more electrodes connectable to a source of ablation energy; a fluid permeable deformable member at least partially covering the ablation section electrodes; a source of conductive fluid fluidly coupled for delivery through the deformable member in the ablation section such that when the electrodes are placed adjacent to the body tissue, the fluid creates a conductive path between the ablation section electrodes and the tissue; and a source of cooling fluid fluidly coupled for delivery to and subsequent withdrawal from the tip electrode chamber wherein the cooling fluid cools the tip electrode during use.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the cooling fluid is also conductive and the source of conductive fluid and the source of cooling fluid are fluidly coupled to one another.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the source of conductive fluid and the source of cooling fluid are fluidly coupled such that cooling fluid withdrawn from the tip electrode is delivered through the deformable member in the ablation section.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the tip electrode chamber contains one or more openings for allowing at least some portion of the cooling liquid to exit out the tip electrode chamber while the tissue is being ablated.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising a covering on the deformable member, the covering formed of a material substantially impermeable to fluid, the covering including at least one opening sized to allow passage of fluid out of the covering.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 28 further including a fluid lumen extending to the distal end of the elongate tubular member, wherein the source of conductive fluid and the source of cooling fluid include the fluid lumen.
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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) | 2003-01-17 | 2003-07-19 | 2004-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-17 | 2007-07-19 | 2008-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-17 | 2011-07-19 | 2012-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |