US6325797B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ablation catheter and method for isolating a pulmonary vein
Assignee: Medtronic Inc
•
Filing: 1999-04-05
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Granted: 2001-12-04
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Expires: 2019-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A catheter assembly and method for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, for example, atrial fibrillation, by electrically isolating a vessel, such as a pulmonary vein, from a chamber, such as the left atrium. The catheter assembly includes a catheter body and at least one electrode. The catheter body includes a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion. The intermediate portion extends from the proximal portion and defines a longitudinal axis. The distal portion extends from the intermediate portion and forms a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis. The at least one electrode is disposed along the loop. With this configuration, the loop is axially directed into contact with the chamber wall about the vessel ostium. Upon energization, the electrode ablates a continuous lesion pattern about the vessel ostium, thereby electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark T. Stewart
- 👤 William J. Flickinger
- 👤 David E. Francischelli
- 👤 Rahul Mehra
- 👤 Xiaoyi Min
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:52
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00039; A61B2017/00044; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1407; A61B2018/1435
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for forming an ablation pattern to electrically isolate a vessel having an ostium from a chamber formed within a patient for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the method including: selecting a catheter assembly comprising a catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion forming a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis, the loop defining a loop axis that is aligned with the longitudinal axis, and at least one electrode displayed along the distal portion; guiding the distal portion into the chamber; directing the distal portion to a position spaced from the vessel ostium, whereby the loop axis is substantially aligned with a center of the vessel ostium; advancing the distal portion in a direction parallel with the loop axis such that the loop contacts the chamber wall about the vessel ostium; and energizing the electrode to ablate a continuous, closed lesion pattern about the vessel ostium to electrically isolate the vessel from the chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for forming an ablation pattern to electrically isolate a vessel having an ostium from a chamber formed within a patient for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the method including: selecting a catheter assembly comprising a catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion forming a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis, the loop defining a loop axis that is aligned with the longitudinal axis, and at least one electrode displayed along the distal portion; guiding the distal portion into the chamber; directing the distal portion to a position spaced from the vessel ostium, whereby the loop axis is substantially aligned with a center of the vessel ostium; advancing the distal portion in a direction parallel with the loop axis such that the loop contacts the chamber wall about the vessel ostium; and energizing the electrode to ablate a continuous, closed lesion pattern about the vessel ostium to electrically isolate the vessel from the chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the chamber is a left atrium and the vessel is a pulmonary vein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting a catheter assembly includes providing a substantially circular loop.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting a catheter assembly includes providing a loop sized to define a diameter greater than a diameter of the vessel ostium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting a catheter assembly includes providing the distal portion with a loop segment of at least one revolution for forming the loop.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein selecting a catheter assembly includes providing the distal portion with a lateral segment extending laterally from an intermediate portion, the loop segment extending from the lateral segment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the loop axis is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting a catheter assembly includes the catheter body having an intermediate portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the intermediate portion including a proximal section and a distal section adjacent the distal portion, the distal section configured to be more flexible than the proximal section for allowing deflection of the distal portion relative to the proximal section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting a catheter assembly includes selecting a catheter assembly further comprising: an elongated guide body having a central lumen and defining a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body being slidably maintained within the central lumen such that in a deployed position, the distal portion of the catheter body extends distally from the distal end of the guide body, and in a retracted position, the distal portion is proximal the distal end; wherein the distal portion is substantially straight in the retracted position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising: deploying the distal portion of the catheter body from the distal end of the guide body prior to the loop contacting the chamber wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the distal portion is made of a shape memory material such that the distal portion forms the loop in the deployed position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: straightening the distal portion with a stylet slidably disposed within a central lumen formed by the catheter body prior to guiding the distal portion into the chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting a catheter assembly further includes selecting a catheter assembly with the loop defining a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the at least one electrode includes a first section positioned at the proximal end and a second section positioned at the distal end, the loop being configured such that when axially compressed, the first section is immediately adjacent the second section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the first section includes an electrode apart from an electrode of the second section.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of electrically isolating a vessel from a chamber formed within a patient, the vessel defining an ostium in a wall of the chamber, for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the method comprising: providing a catheter assembly comprising a catheter body having a distal portion forming a closed loop maintaining a plurality of electrodes; and ablating a continuous, closed lesion pattern in the chamber wall about the vessel ostium by substantially simultaneously energizing the plurality of electrodes, the lesion pattern electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of electrically isolating a vessel from a chamber formed within a patient, the vessel defining an ostium in a wall of the chamber, for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the method comprising: providing a catheter assembly comprising a catheter body having a distal portion forming a closed loop maintaining a plurality of electrodes; and ablating a continuous, closed lesion pattern in the chamber wall about the vessel ostium by substantially simultaneously energizing the plurality of electrodes, the lesion pattern electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of electrically isolating a vessel from a chamber formed within a patient, the vessel defining an ostium in a wall of the chamber, for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the method comprising: providing a catheter assembly including a catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion forming a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis, the loop defining a loop axis and maintaining at least one electrode; positioning the loop about the vessel ostium; and ablating a continuous, closed lesion pattern in the chamber wall about the vessel ostium, the lesion pattern electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of electrically isolating a vessel from a chamber formed within a patient, the vessel defining an ostium in a wall of the chamber, for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the method comprising: providing a catheter assembly including a catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion forming a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis, the loop defining a loop axis and maintaining at least one electrode; positioning the loop about the vessel ostium; and ablating a continuous, closed lesion pattern in the chamber wall about the vessel ostium, the lesion pattern electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein positioning the loop includes: directing the distal portion into the chamber such that the loop axis is substantially aligned with a center of the vessel ostium; and advancing the distal portion in a direction substantially parallel with the loop axis such that the loop contacts the chamber wall about the vessel ostium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein the loop maintains a plurality of electrodes, the method further including: determining which of the plurality of electrodes are in contact with chamber wall before ablating the continuous, closed lesion pattern.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of electrically isolating a vessel from a chamber formed within a patient, the vessel defining an ostium in a wall of the chamber, for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the method comprising: ablating only a continuous, closed lesion pattern in the chamber wall about the vessel ostium, the lesion pattern electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of electrically isolating a vessel from a chamber formed within a patient, the vessel defining an ostium in a wall of the chamber, for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the method comprising: ablating only a continuous, closed lesion pattern in the chamber wall about the vessel ostium, the lesion pattern electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the vessel is a pulmonary vein, and further wherein the lesion pattern defines an internal area at least slightly larger than an area of the pulmonary vein ostium.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein the continuous, closed lesion pattern is formed with a single catheter assembly.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein a catheter assembly comprising a catheter body having a distal portion forming a closed loop maintaining a plurality of electrodes is provided, and wherein ablating a continuous, closed lesion pattern includes: substantially simultaneously energizing the plurality of electrodes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein a catheter assembly is provided and includes a catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion forming a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis, the loop defining a loop axis and maintaining at least one electrode, the method further including: positioning the loop about the vessel ostium prior to ablating the continuous, closed lesion pattern.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein positioning the loop includes: directing the distal portion into the chamber such that the loop axis is substantially aligned with a center of the vessel ostium; and advancing the distal portion in a direction substantially parallel with the loop axis such that the loop contacts the chamber wall about the vessel ostium.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the loop maintains a plurality of electrodes, the method further including: determining which of plurality of electrodes are in contact with the chamber wall before ablating the continuous, closed lesion pattern.
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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) | 2004-12-03 | 2005-06-04 | 2005-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-12-03 | 2009-06-04 | 2009-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-12-03 | 2013-06-04 | 2013-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |