US6039727A — Channel forming device with penetration limiter

Claim 1

Independent Claim 181 words

A device for forming a channel into a ventricular wall of a patient's heart comprising: a) an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section, a distal shaft section and a distal end; b) at least one optical probe member disposed on the distal end of the shaft which has a proximal end, a distal end, and an energy emitting surface disposed on the distal end, said energy emitting surface configured for engaging the ventricular wall of the patient's heart, emitting laser energy, forming a channel therein, and mechanically penetrating said channel; and c) at least one radially expandable member secured to the optical probe member having a penetration limiting surface when in an unconstricted state, the entire penetration limiting surface being spaced proximally from the energy emitting surface of the optical probe member and the penetration limiting surface being configured to limit penetration of the energy emitting surface of the optical probe member into the ventricular wall during formation of the channel therein to a distance substantially equal to a distance between the energy emitting surface and the penetration limiting surface.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 181 words

A device for forming a channel into a ventricular wall of a patient's heart comprising: a) an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section, a distal shaft section and a distal end; b) at least one optical probe member disposed on the distal end of the shaft which has a proximal end, a distal end, and an energy emitting surface disposed on the distal end, said energy emitting surface configured for engaging the ventricular wall of the patient's heart, emitting laser energy, forming a channel therein, and mechanically penetrating said channel; and c) at least one radially expandable member secured to the optical probe member having a penetration limiting surface when in an unconstricted state, the entire penetration limiting surface being spaced proximally from the energy emitting surface of the optical probe member and the penetration limiting surface being configured to limit penetration of the energy emitting surface of the optical probe member into the ventricular wall during formation of the channel therein to a distance substantially equal to a distance between the energy emitting surface and the penetration limiting surface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

The device of claim 1 wherein the expandable member is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated shaft and optical probe member when in an unconstricted state.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The device of claim 2 wherein the expandable member is an outwardly extending arm.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

The device of claim 3 wherein the outwardly extending arm is foldable over the exterior of the distal shaft section to facilitate advancement of the device through an inner lumen of a delivery catheter.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 182 words

A device for forming a channel into a wall of a patient's heart comprising: a) an optical probe member having an open proximal end, a distal end, a lens member on the distal end for controlling emitting laser radiation and an interior chamber; b) an elongated optical fiber having proximal and distal ends, a distal extremity which extends through the open proximal end of the probe member into the interior chamber thereof with the distal end of the optical fiber being in an optical transmitting relationship with the lens member on distal end of the optical probe member; and c) at least one radially expandable member which is self expanding from a constricted configuration and which is secured to the optical probe member and which has a penetration limiting surface in an expanded unconstricted state, the entire penetration limiting surface being spaced proximally from the lens member, and the penetration limiting surface being configured to limit mechanical penetration of the lens member into heart tissue to a distance substantially equal to a distance between the lens member and the penetration limiting surface.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 182 words

A device for forming a channel into a wall of a patient's heart comprising: a) an optical probe member having an open proximal end, a distal end, a lens member on the distal end for controlling emitting laser radiation and an interior chamber; b) an elongated optical fiber having proximal and distal ends, a distal extremity which extends through the open proximal end of the probe member into the interior chamber thereof with the distal end of the optical fiber being in an optical transmitting relationship with the lens member on distal end of the optical probe member; and c) at least one radially expandable member which is self expanding from a constricted configuration and which is secured to the optical probe member and which has a penetration limiting surface in an expanded unconstricted state, the entire penetration limiting surface being spaced proximally from the lens member, and the penetration limiting surface being configured to limit mechanical penetration of the lens member into heart tissue to a distance substantially equal to a distance between the lens member and the penetration limiting surface.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

The device of claim 5 wherein the radially expandable member is configured in a loop having an outer end and the outer end extends radially outward from the optical probe member to a radial transverse distance of at least 0.5 mm from an outer surface of the optical probe member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 45 words

The device of claim 5 wherein a tubular support member is disposed about and secured to a proximal portion of the optical probe member and a distal portion of the optical fiber which is not disposed within the interior chamber of the optical probe member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

The device of claim 6 wherein the optical probe member is about 3 to about 10 mm in length.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

The device of claim 6 wherein the optical probe member is about 5 to about 50 mm in length.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device of claim 6 wherein the length of the optical probe member extending out of the tubular support member is about 1 to about 30 mm.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device of claim 6 wherein the length of the optical probe member extending out of the tubular support member is about 2 to about 25 mm.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

The device of claim 6 wherein the optical fiber is provided with a fluoropolymer cladding over essentially its entire length excluding its distal tip which is essentially free of such cladding.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

The device of claim 12 wherein a helical coil is disposed between the flouropolymer cladding on the optical fiber and the proximal end of the tubular support member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The device of claim 13 wherein the helical coil is provided with a polymer jacket to facilitate securing the outer tubular member to the optical fiber 11.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 203 words

A device for ablating tissue in a wall of a patient's heart comprising: a) an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section, a distal shaft section and a distal end; b) a tissue ablating member which has a proximal end and a distal end and which is disposed upon the distal end of the elongated shaft, the distal end of the tissue ablating member being adapted for engaging the wall of the patient's heart and ablating tissue therein; and c) at least one radially expandable member which is made of a loop of superelastic alloy secured at free ends of the loop to the device and which has a penetration limiting surface, the entire penetration limiting surface being spaced proximally from the distal end of the tissue ablating member, said radially expanding member being self expanding from a constricted configuration, which causes a stress induced martensite phase in at least a portion of the radially expandable member, to limit penetration of the distal end of the tissue ablating member into the wall of a patient's heart during ablation of tissue therein to a distance substantially equal to a distance between the distal end of the tissue ablating member and the penetration limiting surface.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 203 words

A device for ablating tissue in a wall of a patient's heart comprising: a) an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section, a distal shaft section and a distal end; b) a tissue ablating member which has a proximal end and a distal end and which is disposed upon the distal end of the elongated shaft, the distal end of the tissue ablating member being adapted for engaging the wall of the patient's heart and ablating tissue therein; and c) at least one radially expandable member which is made of a loop of superelastic alloy secured at free ends of the loop to the device and which has a penetration limiting surface, the entire penetration limiting surface being spaced proximally from the distal end of the tissue ablating member, said radially expanding member being self expanding from a constricted configuration, which causes a stress induced martensite phase in at least a portion of the radially expandable member, to limit penetration of the distal end of the tissue ablating member into the wall of a patient's heart during ablation of tissue therein to a distance substantially equal to a distance between the distal end of the tissue ablating member and the penetration limiting surface.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

The device of claim 15 wherein the tissue ablating member is configured to form a channel into the wall of a patient's heart.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The device of claim 15 wherein the tissue ablating member is comprised of an optical probe optically coupled to a laser energy source.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

The device of claim 15 wherein the tissue ablating member is comprised of an ultrasonic energy probe energetically coupled to an ultrasonic energy source.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

The device of claim 15 wherein the tissue ablating member is comprised of a radio frequency probe electromagnetically coupled to a radio frequency energy source.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

The device of claim 15 wherein the tissue ablating member is comprised of a water jet tissue removal probe.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 19 words

The device of claim 15 wherein the tissue ablating member is comprised of a rotating mechanical tissue removal probe.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-03-21	2003-09-20	2004-03-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-03-21	2007-09-20	2008-03-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-03-21	2011-09-20	2012-03-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Channel forming device with penetration limiter

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