US6086581A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Large surface cardiac ablation catheter that assumes a low profile during introduction into the heart
Assignee: EP Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1993-07-30
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Granted: 2000-07-11
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Expires: 2013-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A cardiac ablation catheter has an energy emitting surface for thermally destroying tissue. The surface normally presents a compact, low profile for introduction into the heart. Once introduced, the energy emitting surface can be significantly enlarged. The enlarged surface emits ablation energy sufficient to create a lesion that is significantly larger in terms of volume and geometry than the surface's initial low profile would provide.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey N. Reynolds
- 👤 Thomas Bourne
- 👤 Jerome Jackson
- 👤 Gloria Alvarez
- 👤 Stuart D. Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/68; A61B5/6846; A61B5/6847; A61B5/6852; A61B5/6853; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/283; A61B5/287; A61B5/6856; A61B5/6858; A61B5/6859; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/06; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00148; A61B2018/0016; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00357; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00839; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B2018/1861; A61B2562/00; A61B2562/04; A61B2562/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A cardiac ablation system, comprising an elongated guide member having a cross sectional dimension, a body carried by the guide member having an exterior surface with a normal cross sectional dimension no greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member and which, in response to fluid pressure, inflates from its normal cross sectional dimension to a second cross sectional dimension greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member, a source of fluid pressure, a lumen in the guide member to introduce fluid pressure from the source into the body, a source of radio frequency electromagnetic ablating energy, an electrically conductive coating on the exterior surface of the body for transmitting the ablating energy from the body sufficient to cause permanent, irreversible thermal damage to myocardial tissue, and a signal wire coupled to the source of radio frequency electromagnetic energy and the coating to conduct the radio frequency electromagnetic ablation energy to the coating.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A cardiac ablation system, comprising an elongated guide member having a cross sectional dimension, a body carried by the guide member having an exterior surface with a normal cross sectional dimension no greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member and which, in response to fluid pressure, inflates from its normal cross sectional dimension to a second cross sectional dimension greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member, a source of fluid pressure, a lumen in the guide member to introduce fluid pressure from the source into the body, a source of radio frequency electromagnetic ablating energy, an electrically conductive coating on the exterior surface of the body for transmitting the ablating energy from the body sufficient to cause permanent, irreversible thermal damage to myocardial tissue, and a signal wire coupled to the source of radio frequency electromagnetic energy and the coating to conduct the radio frequency electromagnetic ablation energy to the coating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 1 and further including a temperature sensing device associated with the body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the body is formed of a polymer material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the coating comprises a pattern applied to the body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 1 and further including means for deflecting the guide member to position the body.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of thermally ablating myocardial tissue, comprising: introducing a catheter into a heart, the catheter comprising an elongated guide member having an exterior surface with a cross sectional dimension, a body carried by the guide member having an exterior surface with a normal cross sectional dimension no greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member and which, in response to fluid pressure, inflates from its normal cross sectional dimension to a second cross sectional dimension greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member, a lumen in the guide member to conduct fluid pressure into the body, and an electrically conductive coating on the exterior surface of the body for transmitting radio frequency electromagnetic ablating energy from the body, conveying fluid pressure through the lumen to expand the body, conveying radio frequency electromagnetic ablation energy to the body, when expanded, to transmit the radio frequency electromagnetic energy sufficient to cause permanent, irreversible thermal damage to myocardial tissue.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of thermally ablating myocardial tissue, comprising: introducing a catheter into a heart, the catheter comprising an elongated guide member having an exterior surface with a cross sectional dimension, a body carried by the guide member having an exterior surface with a normal cross sectional dimension no greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member and which, in response to fluid pressure, inflates from its normal cross sectional dimension to a second cross sectional dimension greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member, a lumen in the guide member to conduct fluid pressure into the body, and an electrically conductive coating on the exterior surface of the body for transmitting radio frequency electromagnetic ablating energy from the body, conveying fluid pressure through the lumen to expand the body, conveying radio frequency electromagnetic ablation energy to the body, when expanded, to transmit the radio frequency electromagnetic energy sufficient to cause permanent, irreversible thermal damage to myocardial tissue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
149 words
A cardiac tissue ablating catheter, comprising: an elongated guide member having a cross sectional dimension, a body carried by the guide member having an exterior surface with a normal cross sectional dimension no greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member and which, in response to fluid pressure, inflates from its normal cross sectional dimension to a second cross sectional dimension greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member, a lumen in the guide member to introduce fluid pressure into the body, an electrically conductive coating on the exterior surface of the body for transmitting the ablating energy from the body sufficient to cause permanent, irreversible thermal damage to myocardial tissue, and a layer of electrically conductive material overlying a portion of the electrically conductive body coating, and a signal wire electrically connected to the electrically conductive layer to conduct ablating energy to the coating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
149 words
A cardiac tissue ablating catheter, comprising: an elongated guide member having a cross sectional dimension, a body carried by the guide member having an exterior surface with a normal cross sectional dimension no greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member and which, in response to fluid pressure, inflates from its normal cross sectional dimension to a second cross sectional dimension greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member, a lumen in the guide member to introduce fluid pressure into the body, an electrically conductive coating on the exterior surface of the body for transmitting the ablating energy from the body sufficient to cause permanent, irreversible thermal damage to myocardial tissue, and a layer of electrically conductive material overlying a portion of the electrically conductive body coating, and a signal wire electrically connected to the electrically conductive layer to conduct ablating energy to the coating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A catheter according to claim 7 wherein the guide member includes a layer of high resistivity material sandwiched between the guide member and the electrically conductive layer to attach the body to the guide member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter according to claim 7 and further including a temperature sensing device associated with the body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A catheter according to claim 7 herein the body is formed of a polymer material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A catheter according to claim 7 wherein the coating covers the entire body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A catheter according to claim 7 wherein the coating comprises a pattern applied to the body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A catheter according to claim 7 and further including an element to deflect the guide member to position the body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
134 words
A tissue ablating catheter, comprising: an elongated guide member having a cross sectional dimension, a body carried by the guide member having an exterior surface with a normal cross sectional dimension no greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member and which, in response to fluid pressure, inflates from its normal cross sectional dimension to a second cross sectional dimension greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member, a lumen in the guide member to convey fluid pressure into the body, an electrically conductive coating covering the entire exterior surface of the body for transmitting the ablating energy from the body sufficient to cause permanent, irreversible thermal damage to myocardial tissue, and a signal wire coupled to the coating to conduct the radio frequency electromagnetic ablation energy to the coating.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
134 words
A tissue ablating catheter, comprising: an elongated guide member having a cross sectional dimension, a body carried by the guide member having an exterior surface with a normal cross sectional dimension no greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member and which, in response to fluid pressure, inflates from its normal cross sectional dimension to a second cross sectional dimension greater than the cross sectional dimension of the guide member, a lumen in the guide member to convey fluid pressure into the body, an electrically conductive coating covering the entire exterior surface of the body for transmitting the ablating energy from the body sufficient to cause permanent, irreversible thermal damage to myocardial tissue, and a signal wire coupled to the coating to conduct the radio frequency electromagnetic ablation energy to the coating.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A catheter according to claim 14 and further including a temperature sensing device associated with the body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A catheter according to claim 14 wherein the body is formed of a polymer material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A catheter according to claim 14 and further including an element to deflect the guide member to position the body.
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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) | 2003-07-11 | 2004-01-10 | 2004-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-07-11 | 2008-01-10 | 2008-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-07-11 | 2012-01-10 | 2012-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |