US6558375B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cardiac ablation instrument
Assignee: Cardiofocus Inc
•
Filing: 2000-07-14
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Granted: 2003-05-06
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Expires: 2020-07-14
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to a hand held cardiac ablation instrument and methods for irradiating a target ablation site. The instrument can include at least one light transmitting optical fiber and a light diffusing element to create a circumferential or curvilinear lesion. A handle is provided for manual application. The handle can be substantially coaxial or otherwise aligned with the center of the circumferential housing. Light travelling through the light transmitting optical fiber or fibers is scattered in a circular pattern by the light diffusing element. The light diffusing element can include a scattering medium, a reflective end cap, and a reflective surface diametrically opposed to the target ablation site, that interact to provide a substantially uniform distribution of laser radiation throughout the circular target region.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward L. Sinofsky
- 👤 Norman E. Farr
- 👤 Lincoln S. Baxter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/22; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/2015; A61B2018/202; A61B2018/2255; A61B2018/2261; A61B2018/2272
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A hand held cardiac ablation instrument comprising: a light transmitting optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being adapted to receive ablative radiation from a radiation source; and a light diffusing element having light scattering medium and being coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber and configured in a toroidal shape to emit an annular pattern of uniform radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A hand held cardiac ablation instrument comprising: a light transmitting optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being adapted to receive ablative radiation from a radiation source; and a light diffusing element having light scattering medium and being coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber and configured in a toroidal shape to emit an annular pattern of uniform radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the instrument further comprises an optical transparent tubular housing surrounding at least part of the light diffusing element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the light scattering medium is disposed within a chamber in the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The instrument of claim 3 , wherein the scattering medium further comprises a polymeric material having light scattering particles incorporated therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The instrument of claim 3 , wherein the scattering medium has a greater refractive index than the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a handle substantially coaxial the light diffusing element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the light diffusing element is in the shape of an open loop so as to allow the loop to be placed around or within a pulmonary vein or artery.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The instrument of claim 7 , wherein the diameter of the loop is between 10 and 50mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument of claim 7 , wherein the width of the diffusing element is between 1 and 5 mm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a fluorocarbon polmer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The instrument of claim 4 , wherein the light scattering particles are chosen from the group consisting of alumina, silica, and titania compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the tubular housing further comprises a distal reflective surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The instrument of claim 12 , wherein the reflective surface comprises a mirror coated surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The instrument of claim 12 , wherein radiation propagating through the fiber enters the scattering medium and a portion of the radiation is scattered outward through the housing, and another portion passes through the scattering medium and is reflected by the reflective surface for retransmission through the scattering medium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The instrument of claim 14 , wherein the scattering medium and the reflective end surface interact to provide a substantially uniform axial distribution of radiation over the length of the housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the tubular housing is partially coated with a reflective surface substantially diametrically opposed to a target ablation site.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The instrument of claim 16 , wherein the reflective surface comprises a mirror coated surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The instrument of claim 16 , wherein the reflective surface is gold.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The instrument of claim 16 , wherein the scattering medium and the reflective surface interact to provide a substantially uniform axial distribution of radiation over the length of the housing to a target ablation site.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
A hand held cardiac ablation instrument comprising: a slidably disposed light transmitting optical fiber; a housing in the shape of an open toroidal loop having a first end adapted to receive the slidably disposed light transmitting optical fiber; and at least one diffuser chamber coupled to the fiber within the housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
A hand held cardiac ablation instrument comprising: a slidably disposed light transmitting optical fiber; a housing in the shape of an open toroidal loop having a first end adapted to receive the slidably disposed light transmitting optical fiber; and at least one diffuser chamber coupled to the fiber within the housing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The instrument of claim 20 , wherein the diffuser chamber comprises light scattering medium disposed within the housing and coupled to the slidably disposed light transmitting optical fiber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The instrument of claim 20 , wherein the scattering medium further comprises a polymeric material having light scattering particles incorporated therein.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The instrument of claim 20 , wherein the light scattering particles are chosen from the group consisting of alumina, silica, and titania compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The instrument of claim 20 , wherein the housing further comprises a second end with a reflective surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The instrument of claim 24 , wherein the reflective surface comprises a mirror coated surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The instrument of claim 20 , wherein the tubular housing is partially coated with a reflective surface substantially diametrically opposed to a target ablation site.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The instrument of claim 26 , wherein the reflective surface comprises a mirror coated surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The instrument of claim 26 , wherein the reflective surface is gold.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
The instrument of claim 20 , wherein the scattering medium and the reflective surface interact to provide a substantially uniform axial distribution of radiation over the length of the housing to a target ablation site.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of ablating cardiac tissue, comprising: positioning a device in proximity to a target region of cardiac tissue, the device having a light diffusing element coupled to a source of photoablative radiation and configured in a toroidal shape to emit an arcuate pattern of radiation; applying the device to the target region to induce an curvilinear lesion; moving the device to a second position; reapplying the device to the target region to induce a second curvilinear lesion; repeating the steps of positioning and applying until the lesions are joined together to create a composite circumferential lesion.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of ablating cardiac tissue, comprising: positioning a device in proximity to a target region of cardiac tissue, the device having a light diffusing element coupled to a source of photoablative radiation and configured in a toroidal shape to emit an arcuate pattern of radiation; applying the device to the target region to induce an curvilinear lesion; moving the device to a second position; reapplying the device to the target region to induce a second curvilinear lesion; repeating the steps of positioning and applying until the lesions are joined together to create a composite circumferential lesion.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein the device is positioned endocardially.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein the device is positioned epicardially.
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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) | 2006-05-05 | 2006-11-04 | 2007-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-05-05 | 2010-11-04 | 2011-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-05-05 | 2014-11-04 | 2015-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |