US6032674A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems and methods for myocardial revascularization
Assignee: Arthrocare Corp
•
Filing: 1997-12-31
•
Granted: 2000-03-07
•
Expires: 2017-12-31
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
2026-10-23 04:02
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: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of treating a patient's heart comprising: positioning an active electrode surface in close proximity to a target site on a wall of the patient's heart; applying high frequency voltage between the active electrode surface and a return electrode to form a revascularizing channel through at least a portion of the heart wall; and controlling the depth of the revascularizing channel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of treating a patient's heart comprising: positioning an active electrode surface in close proximity to a target site on a wall of the patient's heart; applying high frequency voltage between the active electrode surface and a return electrode to form a revascularizing channel through at least a portion of the heart wall; and controlling the depth of the revascularizing channel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising visually marking the target site on the heart wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a thickness of the heart wall at the target site.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising setting a predetermined distance through the heart wall at the target site and interrupting the flow of voltage to the active electrode surface when said active electrode surface has advanced the predetermined distance to control the depth of the channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the determining step comprises measuring tissue impedance beyond the distal end of the active electrode surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining when the active electrode surface has substantially penetrated through the heart wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising terminating the high frequency voltage before the active electrode surface pierces an opposite wall surface of the heart wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering ultrasound signals onto the heart wall to control the depth of the channel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of treating a patient's heart comprising: positioning a channel forming device in close proximity to a target site on a wall of the patient's epicardium; applying energy to the channel forming device to form a revascularizing channel through at least a portion of the heart wall; and sealing the revascularizing channel at the epicardium to inhibit blood flow into the thoracic cavity.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of treating a patient's heart comprising: positioning a channel forming device in close proximity to a target site on a wall of the patient's epicardium; applying energy to the channel forming device to form a revascularizing channel through at least a portion of the heart wall; and sealing the revascularizing channel at the epicardium to inhibit blood flow into the thoracic cavity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the sealing step includes delivering collagen to the channel at the epicardium to form a plug near the surface of the epicardium and the revascularizing channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the channel forming element comprises an active electrode, and the applying energy step comprises applying high frequency voltage between the active electrode and a return electrode to form the revascularizing channel through at least a portion of the heart wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4033351A
Cited
US4043342A
Cited
US4116198A
Cited
US4040426A
Cited
US4202337A
Cited
US4228800A
Cited
US4326529A
Cited
US4232676A
Cited
US4248231A
Cited
US4532924A
Cited
US4476862A
Cited
US4674499A
Cited
US4381007A
Cited
US4548207A
Cited
US4593691A
Cited
US4567890A
Cited
US4682596A
Cited
US4706667A
Cited
RU2026640C1
Cited
US4658817A
Cited
US4785815A
Cited
US4765331A
Cited
US4823791A
Cited
US4936301A
Cited
US4943290A
Cited
US4931047A
Cited
US5108391A
Cited
US5178620A
Cited
US4998933A
Cited
US4955377A
Cited
US4966597A
Cited
US5370644A
Cited
US5246438A
Cited
US5454809A
Cited
US5078717A
Cited
US5098431A
Cited
US4979948A
Cited
US5125928A
Cited
US4976711A
Cited
US5009656A
Cited
US5007908A
Cited
US5217457A
Cited
US5078736A
Cited
US5380277A
Cited
US5083565A
Cited
US5125924A
Cited
US5122138A
Cited
US5380316A
Cited
US5554152A
Cited
US5389096A
Cited
US5267997A
Cited
US5279299A
Cited
US5156151A
Cited
EP0515867B1
Cited
US5607421A
Cited
US5330496A
Cited
US5195959A
Cited
US5190517A
Cited
US5330470A
Cited
US5383917A
Cited
US5697281A
Cited
US5395312A
Cited
US5197963A
Cited
US5873855A
Cited
US5683366A
Cited
US5697909A
Cited
US5810764A
Cited
US5366443A
Cited
US5860951A
Cited
US5697882A
Cited
US5681282A
Cited
US5697536A
Cited
US5419767A
Cited
US5843019A
Cited
US5267994A
Cited
US5281216A
Cited
US5318525A
Cited
US5277201A
Cited
US5281218A
Cited
US5293868A
Cited
US5500012A
Cited
US5370675A
Cited
US5300069A
Cited
US5312400A
Cited
US5314406A
Cited
US5584872A
Cited
US5437662A
Cited
US5342357A
Cited
US5676693A
Cited
US5545161A
Cited
US5335668A
Cited
US5417687A
Cited
US5766153A
Cited
US5860974A
Cited
US5807395A
Cited
US5487385A
Cited
US5569242A
Cited
US5681308A
Cited
US5647869A
Cited
US5885277A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-07 | 2003-09-06 | 2004-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-07 | 2007-09-06 | 2008-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-07 | 2011-09-06 | 2012-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |