US6083222A — Deflectable catheter for ablating cardiac tissue

Claim 1

Independent Claim 172 words

A deflectable catheter for ablating tissue in the heart of a patient comprising an axially elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal portions respectively terminating at proximal and distal ends, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced through the vasculature of a patient into the patient's heart, a deflection wire coupled to the distal portion of the catheter shaft and extending within the catheter shaft to the proximal end thereof, an ablation electrode coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft and having first and second opposed electrically conductive surfaces exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's heart, and an elongated electrode actuator extending through the catheter shaft and attached to the ablation electrode to effect movement of the first and second surfaces of the electrode with respect to each other to apply gripping force to the contacted area of heart tissue for stabilizing the position of the electrically conductive surfaces of the ablation electrode relative to the selected area of heart tissue.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 172 words

A deflectable catheter for ablating tissue in the heart of a patient comprising an axially elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal portions respectively terminating at proximal and distal ends, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced through the vasculature of a patient into the patient's heart, a deflection wire coupled to the distal portion of the catheter shaft and extending within the catheter shaft to the proximal end thereof, an ablation electrode coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft and having first and second opposed electrically conductive surfaces exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's heart, and an elongated electrode actuator extending through the catheter shaft and attached to the ablation electrode to effect movement of the first and second surfaces of the electrode with respect to each other to apply gripping force to the contacted area of heart tissue for stabilizing the position of the electrically conductive surfaces of the ablation electrode relative to the selected area of heart tissue.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 81 words

The deflectable catheter of claim 1 wherein the ablation electrode is adjustable from a closed position in which the ablation electrode has an outer surface exposed for contact with the vasculature of the patient during advancement of the catheter therethrough to an open position in which the first and second electrically conductive surfaces are exposable for contact with tissue over an area larger than an axially transverse area circumscribed by the outer surface of the ablation electrode in the closed position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

The deflectable catheter of claim 1 wherein said electrode actuator is constructed and arranged to enable selective exposure of conductive surface of the ablation electrode to the selected area of heart tissue.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 58 words

The deflectable catheter of claim 1 wherein the ablation electrode comprises two opposed gripping members that are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position, and said electrode actuator is coupled to the two gripping members and extending proximally therefrom to the proximal end of the catheter shaft for moving the gripping members.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 61 words

The deflectable catheter of claim 4 further comprising a tracking member coupled to the deflection wire and constructed and arranged to track movement of the electrode actuator and to couple tension on the electrode actuator to the deflection wire to counteract force applied by the electrode actuator to the distal portion of the catheter shaft during movement of the gripping members.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The deflectable catheter of claim 4 wherein the opposed gripping members together form a generally dome-shaped outer surface.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

The deflectable catheter of claim 4 wherein the opposed gripping members are formed of solid electrically conductive members that have opposed flat surfaces exposable for contact with the selected area of tissue, the opposed gripping members being pivotally hinged together about a pivot bearing.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

The deflectable catheter of claim 1 wherein conductive surface of the ablation electrode that is exposable for contact with the selected area of heart tissue is characterized by mechanical rigidity and flatness over an extended area having transverse dimension of comparable size.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

The deflectable catheter of claim 1 wherein conductive surface of the ablation electrode exposable for contact with the selected area of heart tissue comprises a plurality of teeth for engaging heart tissue.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

The deflectable catheter of claim 1 further comprising a needle coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft and constructed and arranged to penetrate heart tissue to a selected depth.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 164 words

A deflectable catheter for ablating tissue in the heart of a patient comprising an axially elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal portions respectively terminating at proximal and distal ends, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced through the vasculature of a patient into the patient's heart, a deflection wire coupled to the distal portion of the catheter shaft and extending within the catheter shaft to the proximal end thereof, and an ablation electrode coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft, the ablation electrode being adjustable from a closed position in which the ablation electrode has an outer surface exposed for contact with the vasculature of the patient during advancement of the catheter therethrough to an open position in which the ablation electrode is exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's heart over an area larger than an axially transverse area circumscribed by the outer surface of the ablation electrode in the closed position.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 164 words

A deflectable catheter for ablating tissue in the heart of a patient comprising an axially elongated catheter shaft having proximal and distal portions respectively terminating at proximal and distal ends, the catheter shaft being sized and constructed to be advanced through the vasculature of a patient into the patient's heart, a deflection wire coupled to the distal portion of the catheter shaft and extending within the catheter shaft to the proximal end thereof, and an ablation electrode coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft, the ablation electrode being adjustable from a closed position in which the ablation electrode has an outer surface exposed for contact with the vasculature of the patient during advancement of the catheter therethrough to an open position in which the ablation electrode is exposable for contact with a selected area of tissue within the patient's heart over an area larger than an axially transverse area circumscribed by the outer surface of the ablation electrode in the closed position.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 124 words

A method for the therapeutic treatment of the heart of a patient by ablation of a selected area of heart tissue comprising the steps of: positioning an axially elongated catheter within the heart of a patient, the catheter having a distal ablation electrode with an exposable electrically conductive surface; exposing the electrically conductive surface of the ablation electrode to a selected area of heart tissue; gripping the selected area of heart tissue with the exposed electrically conductive surface of the ablation electrode to stabilize the position of the electrically conductive surface relative to the selected area of heart tissue; and ablating the selected area of heart tissue by supplying to the electrically conductive surface of the ablation electrode energy sufficient to achieve tissue ablation.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 124 words

A method for the therapeutic treatment of the heart of a patient by ablation of a selected area of heart tissue comprising the steps of: positioning an axially elongated catheter within the heart of a patient, the catheter having a distal ablation electrode with an exposable electrically conductive surface; exposing the electrically conductive surface of the ablation electrode to a selected area of heart tissue; gripping the selected area of heart tissue with the exposed electrically conductive surface of the ablation electrode to stabilize the position of the electrically conductive surface relative to the selected area of heart tissue; and ablating the selected area of heart tissue by supplying to the electrically conductive surface of the ablation electrode energy sufficient to achieve tissue ablation.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of deflecting a distal portion of the catheter to increase pressure applied by the exposed conductive surface of the ablation electrode against the selected area of heart tissue.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of selecting the area of heart tissue to be ablated by measuring the electrical potentials within the patient's heart using the catheter positioned within the heart.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 177 words

A method for the therapeutic treatment of the heart of a patient by ablation of a selected area of heart tissue comprising the steps of: providing an axially elongated catheter having a distal ablation electrode adjustable from a closed, low-profile position to an open position in which an electrically conductive rigid surface of the ablation electrode is exposable for contact with heart tissue over an area larger than an axially transverse area circumscribed by the rigid surface of the ablation electrode in the closed position; advancing the catheter through the vasculature of a patient and into the patient's heart with the ablation electrode in the closed position; adjusting the ablation electrode into the open position to expose the electrically conductive rigid surface of the ablation electrode for contact with a selected area of heart tissue; contacting the selected area of heart tissue with the electrically conductive rigid surface of the ablation electrode; and ablating the selected area of heart tissue by supplying to the electrically conductive surface of the ablation electrode energy sufficient to achieve tissue ablation.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 177 words

A method for the therapeutic treatment of the heart of a patient by ablation of a selected area of heart tissue comprising the steps of: providing an axially elongated catheter having a distal ablation electrode adjustable from a closed, low-profile position to an open position in which an electrically conductive rigid surface of the ablation electrode is exposable for contact with heart tissue over an area larger than an axially transverse area circumscribed by the rigid surface of the ablation electrode in the closed position; advancing the catheter through the vasculature of a patient and into the patient's heart with the ablation electrode in the closed position; adjusting the ablation electrode into the open position to expose the electrically conductive rigid surface of the ablation electrode for contact with a selected area of heart tissue; contacting the selected area of heart tissue with the electrically conductive rigid surface of the ablation electrode; and ablating the selected area of heart tissue by supplying to the electrically conductive surface of the ablation electrode energy sufficient to achieve tissue ablation.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of deflecting a distal portion of the catheter to increase pressure applied by the exposed conductive surface of the ablation electrode against the selected area of heart tissue.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of selecting the area of heart tissue to be ablated by measuring the electrical potentials within the patient's heart using the catheter positioned within the heart.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-07-04	2004-01-03	2004-07-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-07-04	2008-01-03	2008-07-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-07-04	2012-01-03	2012-07-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Deflectable catheter for ablating cardiac tissue

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