US6544262B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Structures and methods for deploying electrode elements
Assignee: EP Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 2001-02-28
•
Granted: 2003-04-08
•
Expires: 2021-02-28
Abstract
Abstract An electrode support structure comprises a guide body having at its distal end a flexible spline leg. The spline leg is flexed to define an arcuate shape to facilitate intimate contact against tissue. An electrode element is carried by the spline leg for movement along its axis. The structure includes a control element coupled to the electrode element. The control element remotely imparts force to move the electrode element along the axis of the spline leg. Therefore, in use, the physician can cause the electrode element to travel along a path that the spline leg defines, without otherwise changing the location of the guide body.
Inventors
- 👤 Sidney D. Fleischman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/056; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61B17/00; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B17/2909; A61B2017/2911; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00148; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0091; A61B2018/00916; A61B2018/0094; A61B2018/00946; A61B2018/00952; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1407; A61B2018/142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
An apparatus for forming a lesion in a circumferential tissue area within the heart, comprising: a carrier; and a device associated with the carrier including a circumferential lesion formation structure defining a periphery and adapted to engage the circumferential tissue area and a support structure adapted to support the circumferential lesion formation structure at at least two points along its periphery.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
61 words
An apparatus for forming a lesion in a circumferential tissue area within the heart, comprising: a carrier; and a device associated with the carrier including a circumferential lesion formation structure defining a periphery and adapted to engage the circumferential tissue area and a support structure adapted to support the circumferential lesion formation structure at at least two points along its periphery.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises a catheter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circumferential lesion formation structure is substantially annular.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circumferential lesion formation structure is substantially circular.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circumferential lesion formation structure comprises at least one electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circumferential lesion formation structure comprises an energy emitting structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circumferential lesion formation structure comprises a plurality of electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circumferential lesion formation structure is flexible.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a collapsible/expandable device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of flexible splines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises a first loop structure and the circumferential lesion formation structure comprises a second loop structure support.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the first loop structure defines a first loop structure plane and the second loop structure defines a second loop structure plane substantially perpendicular to the first loop structure plane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the circumferential tissue area comprises a circumferential tissue area associated with a pulmonary vein and the circumferential lesion formation structure defines a size and shape corresponding to the circumferential tissue area associated with the pulmonary vein.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of forming a lesion in a substantially circular region of tissue associated with a pulmonary vein, the method comprising the step of: introducing an expandable device, including a support structure and a lesion formation structure defining a periphery, into the left atrium of the heart; expanding the expandable device; engaging the substantially circular region of tissue with the lesion formation structure; supporting the lesion formation structure with the support structure at at least two points along the periphery of the lesion formation structure; and forming a lesion in the substantially circular region of tissue with the lesion formation structure.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of forming a lesion in a substantially circular region of tissue associated with a pulmonary vein, the method comprising the step of: introducing an expandable device, including a support structure and a lesion formation structure defining a periphery, into the left atrium of the heart; expanding the expandable device; engaging the substantially circular region of tissue with the lesion formation structure; supporting the lesion formation structure with the support structure at at least two points along the periphery of the lesion formation structure; and forming a lesion in the substantially circular region of tissue with the lesion formation structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of introducing an expandable device into the left atrium comprises: directing a vascular introducer into the heart; collapsing the expandable device; and passing the collapsed expandable device through the vascular introducer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the step of expanding the expandable device comprises advancing the expandable device out of the introducer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of forming a lesion in the substantially circular region of tissue comprises supplying energy to the substantially circular region of tissue.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of supporting the lesion formation structure comprises urging the lesion formation structure against substantially circular region of tissue with the support structure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the step of supporting the lesion formation structure comprises engaging tissue other than the substantially circular region of tissue with the support structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4181131A
Cited
US4294254A
Cited
GB2032278A
Cited
US4294256A
Cited
US4532924A
Cited
US4493320A
Cited
US4522212A
Cited
US4660571A
Cited
US4699147A
Cited
EP0238106A1
Cited
US4765331A
Cited
US5150717A
Cited
US5125928A
Cited
US5406946A
Cited
US5156151A
Cited
US5345936A
Cited
US5702368A
Cited
US5366443A
Cited
US5327905A
Cited
US5263493A
Cited
US5318564A
Cited
US5324284A
Cited
US5411025A
Cited
US5370675A
Cited
US5387219A
Cited
US5313943A
Cited
US5482037A
Cited
US5626136A
Cited
US5397342A
Cited
US5437665A
Cited
US5582609A
Cited
US5575810A
Cited
US6241754B1
Cited
US5487385A
Cited
US5454370A
Cited
US5617854A
Cited
US5738683A
Cited
US6214002B1
Cited
US5885278A
Cited
US6071282A
Cited
US5836947A
Cited
US5673695A
Cited
US6254599B1
Cited
US6012457A
Cited
US6024740A
Cited
US6117101A
Cited
US6164283A
Cited
US6245064B1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-04-07 | 2006-10-07 | 2007-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-07 | 2010-10-07 | 2011-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-07 | 2014-10-07 | 2015-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |