US6319249B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ablation system
Assignee: Biotronik SE and Co KG
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Filing: 1999-04-14
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Granted: 2001-11-20
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Expires: 2019-04-14
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to an ablation system, including an ablation catheter with a plurality of ablation electrodes ( 34 ) and a neutral electrode ( 36 ), at least one energy source ( 22 ), switching elements ( 26, 28 ) for connecting the electrodes to the energy source ( 22 ) and control elements ( 16, 18, 20, 24 ) which are connected to the switching elements ( 26, 28 ). The control elements ( 16, 18, 20, 24 ) are configured in such a way that electrode pairs made up of both ablation electrodes ( 34 ) and an ablation electrode with a neutral electrode ( 36 ) can be connected to the energy source ( 22 ) in a predetermined sequence. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the electrodes of an ablation system of this type. According to said method, electrode pairs made up of both ablation electrodes ( 34 ) and an ablation electrode with a neutral electrode ( 36 ) are connected to the energy source ( 22 ) in a predetermined sequence.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Töllner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00642; A61B2018/00654; A61B2018/00666; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00761; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00821; A61B2018/00839; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/124; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/1253; A61B2018/1467
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
In an ablation catheter having at least three of ablation electrodes and a neutral electrode, a method of actuating electrodes, comprising: providing an energy source; and connecting pairs of electrodes formed by the plurality of ablation electrodes and pairs of electrodes formed by the neutral electrode and one of the ablation electrodes to the energy source in a predetermined sequence.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
In an ablation catheter having at least three of ablation electrodes and a neutral electrode, a method of actuating electrodes, comprising: providing an energy source; and connecting pairs of electrodes formed by the plurality of ablation electrodes and pairs of electrodes formed by the neutral electrode and one of the ablation electrodes to the energy source in a predetermined sequence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the ablation electrodes are arranged in a series one after the other with a spacing in between and the pairs of electrodes formed by the ablation electrodes are formed from adjacent ablation electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined sequence spefices connecting a pair of electrodes formed by the ablation electrodes and a pair of electrodes formed by the neutral electrode and one of ablation electrodes to the energy source in an alternating manner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
120 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the connecting step further comprises: a) connecting a pair of electrodes formed by a first one of the ablation electrodes in the series and the neutral electrode to the energy source; b) connecting a pair of electrodes formed by the first one of the ablation electrode in the series and the next ablation electrode in the series to the energy source; c) connecting a pair of electrodes formed by the next ablation electrodes in the series and the neutral electrode to the energy source; d) connecting a pair of electrodes formed from the next adjacent ablation electrodes to the energy source; and e) repeating steps c)-d) until a desired ablation length is reached.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising omitting connecting one of the ablation electrodes in the series to the energy source to create an ablation gap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: providing a first amount of power from the energy source when the pair of electrodes is formed by two ablation electrodes; and providing a second amount of power from the energy source when the pair of electrodes is formed by the neutral electrode and one of the ablation electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: measuring temperatures of the ablation electrodes connected to the energy source; and determining an amount of power supplied to the ablation electrodes from the energy source based on the measured temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
An ablation apparatus, comprising: at least three of ablation electrodes; a neutral electrode; an energy source; switching elements for connecting the ablation electrodes and the neutral electrode to the energy source; control means connected to the switching elements to connect pairs of electrodes formed by (a) the ablation electrodes, and (b) by the neutral electrode and one of the ablation electrodes to the energy source in a predetermined sequence.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
An ablation apparatus, comprising: at least three of ablation electrodes; a neutral electrode; an energy source; switching elements for connecting the ablation electrodes and the neutral electrode to the energy source; control means connected to the switching elements to connect pairs of electrodes formed by (a) the ablation electrodes, and (b) by the neutral electrode and one of the ablation electrodes to the energy source in a predetermined sequence.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ablation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the ablation electrodes are arranged one after the other in a series, and the pairs of electrodes formed by the ablation electrodes are formed by adjacent ablation electrodes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ablation apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the control means connects a pair of electrodes formed by the ablation electrodes and a pair of electrodes formed by the neutral electrode and one of ablation electrodes to the energy source in an alternating manner.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
In an ablation apparatus including a neutral electrode and a plurality of ablation electrodes arranged in a series one after the other with spacing therebetween, a method of activating the electrodes, comprising: alternately operating the ablation electrodes, proceeding in order down the series, in a unipolar and bipolar mode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
In an ablation apparatus including a neutral electrode and a plurality of ablation electrodes arranged in a series one after the other with spacing therebetween, a method of activating the electrodes, comprising: alternately operating the ablation electrodes, proceeding in order down the series, in a unipolar and bipolar mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein adjacent ablation electrodes are connected to an energy source in the bipolar mode.
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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) | 2004-11-19 | 2005-05-21 | 2005-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-11-19 | 2009-05-21 | 2009-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-11-19 | 2013-05-21 | 2013-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |