US6605087B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ablation catheter
Assignee: St Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc
•
Filing: 2001-07-17
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Granted: 2003-08-12
•
Expires: 2021-07-17
Abstract
Abstract An ablation catheter is disclosed having proximal and distal ends and an external surface, a lumen contained within the catheter body, a plurality of openings in the surface of the catheter, wherein the openings are in communication with the lumen, one or more electrodes secured within the catheter within the lumen and a source for conductive media to be introduced into the lumen to contact the electrode. The ablation catheter also may contain a conductive media flow control system which controls the flow of the conductive media through the openings in the surface of the catheter. Also disclosed is a process for ablation of human tissue which includes introducing an ablation catheter into the human body to a location to be ablated, passing a conductive media through a lumen of the catheter to contact one or more electrodes, passing the conductive media through the openings in the catheter body to contact the tissue to be ablated, and conducting energy from the electrode through the conductive media to the tissue for a sufficient period of time to ablate the tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 John F. Swartz
- 👤 Michael C. Bednarek
- 👤 Richard E. Stehr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00148; A61B2018/00273; A61B2018/00291; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00839; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/1253; A61B2018/1472
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
An ablation catheter comprising (a) a catheter body with proximal and distal ends and an external surface, (b) a lumen within the catheter body, (c) a plurality of conductive media outlet openings in the external surface of the catheter body which are in communication with the lumen, wherein the conductive media outlet openings comprise a linear line of openings extended down the catheter body, (d) an electrode fixedly secured to the catheter body and located within the lumen, (e) an introduction system to introduce a conductive media into the lumen to contact the electrode, and (f) a conductive media flow control system structured to expel the conductive media through the conductive media outlet openings, wherein the conductive media flow control system is capable of regulating the flow of conductive media through the conductive media outlet openings to form a reasonably consistent flow of the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
An ablation catheter comprising (a) a catheter body with proximal and distal ends and an external surface, (b) a lumen within the catheter body, (c) a plurality of conductive media outlet openings in the external surface of the catheter body which are in communication with the lumen, wherein the conductive media outlet openings comprise a linear line of openings extended down the catheter body, (d) an electrode fixedly secured to the catheter body and located within the lumen, (e) an introduction system to introduce a conductive media into the lumen to contact the electrode, and (f) a conductive media flow control system structured to expel the conductive media through the conductive media outlet openings, wherein the conductive media flow control system is capable of regulating the flow of conductive media through the conductive media outlet openings to form a reasonably consistent flow of the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 wherein the electrode comprises a plurality of individual electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 whereas the electrode comprises a coiled electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 wherein the conductive media is a saline solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 further comprising a steering system to adjust the position of the catheter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ablation catheter of claim 5 wherein the steering system comprises a pull wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 wherein the introduction system comprises a fluid flow pump.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 further comprising a tip electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
173 words
An ablation catheter comprising (a) a catheter body with proximal and distal ends and an external surface, (b) a lumen within the catheter body, (c) a plurality of conductive media outlet openings in the external surface of the catheter body which are in communication with the lumen, wherein the conductive media outlet openings comprise a linear line of openings extended down the catheter body, (d) an electrode fixedly secured to the catheter body and located within the lumen, (e) an introduction system to introduce a conductive media into the lumen to contact the electrode, and (f) a conductive media flow control system structured to expel the conductive media through the conductive media outlet openings, wherein the conductive media flow control system is substantially contained within the lumen of the catheter body, and wherein the conductive media flow control system is capable of regulating the flow of conductive media through the conductive media outlet openings to form a reasonably consistent flow of the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
173 words
An ablation catheter comprising (a) a catheter body with proximal and distal ends and an external surface, (b) a lumen within the catheter body, (c) a plurality of conductive media outlet openings in the external surface of the catheter body which are in communication with the lumen, wherein the conductive media outlet openings comprise a linear line of openings extended down the catheter body, (d) an electrode fixedly secured to the catheter body and located within the lumen, (e) an introduction system to introduce a conductive media into the lumen to contact the electrode, and (f) a conductive media flow control system structured to expel the conductive media through the conductive media outlet openings, wherein the conductive media flow control system is substantially contained within the lumen of the catheter body, and wherein the conductive media flow control system is capable of regulating the flow of conductive media through the conductive media outlet openings to form a reasonably consistent flow of the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ablation catheter of claim 9 wherein the electrode comprises a plurality of individual electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ablation catheter of claim 9 whereas the electrode comprises a coiled electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ablation catheter of claim 9 wherein the conductive media is a saline solution.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ablation catheter of claim 9 further comprising a steering system to adjust the position the catheter.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ablation catheter of claim 13 wherein the steering system comprises a pull wire.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ablation catheter of claim 9 wherein the introduction system comprises a fluid flow pump.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The ablation catheter of claim 9 further comprising a tip electrode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
232 words
A process for catheter ablation of human tissue comprising (a) introducing an ablation catheter into a location within the human body to be ablated, wherein the ablation catheter comprises a catheter body, a lumen within the catheter body, a plurality of conductive media outlet openings in an external surface of the catheter body which are in communication with the lumen, wherein the conductive media outlet openings comprise a linear line of openings extending down the catheter body, an electrode fixedly secured to the catheter body located within the lumen, an introduction system capable of introducing a conductive media into the lumen, and a conductive media flow control system structured to expel the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings, wherein the conductive media flow control system is capable of regulating the flow of conductive media through the conductive media outlet openings to form a reasonably consistent flow of the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings, (b) passing conductive media through the lumen of the catheter body to contact the electrode, (c) expelling the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings in the catheter body in a reasonably consistent flow to contact the human tissue, and (d) conducting energy from the electrode to the human tissue using the conductive media for a sufficient period of time to ablate the tissue.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
232 words
A process for catheter ablation of human tissue comprising (a) introducing an ablation catheter into a location within the human body to be ablated, wherein the ablation catheter comprises a catheter body, a lumen within the catheter body, a plurality of conductive media outlet openings in an external surface of the catheter body which are in communication with the lumen, wherein the conductive media outlet openings comprise a linear line of openings extending down the catheter body, an electrode fixedly secured to the catheter body located within the lumen, an introduction system capable of introducing a conductive media into the lumen, and a conductive media flow control system structured to expel the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings, wherein the conductive media flow control system is capable of regulating the flow of conductive media through the conductive media outlet openings to form a reasonably consistent flow of the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings, (b) passing conductive media through the lumen of the catheter body to contact the electrode, (c) expelling the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings in the catheter body in a reasonably consistent flow to contact the human tissue, and (d) conducting energy from the electrode to the human tissue using the conductive media for a sufficient period of time to ablate the tissue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 17 further comprising forming a linear lesion in the human tissue.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
253 words
A process for catheter ablation of human tissue comprising (a) introducing an ablation catheter into a location within the human body to be ablated, wherein the ablation catheter comprises a catheter body, a lumen within said catheter body, a plurality of conductive media outlet openings in an external surface of the catheter body which are in communication with the lumen, wherein the conductive media outlet openings comprise a linear line of openings extending down the catheter body and an electrode fixedly secured to the catheter body located within the lumen, an introduction system capable of introducing a conductive media into the lumen, and a conductive media flow control system structured to expel the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings, and wherein the conductive media flow control system is contained substantially within the lumen of the catheter body, and wherein the conductive media flow control system is capable of regulating the flow of conductive media through the conductive media outlet openings to form a reasonably consistent flow of the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings, (b) passing a conductive media through the lumen of the catheter body to contact the electrode, (c) expelling the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings in the catheter body in a reasonably consistent flow to contact the human tissue, and (d) conducting energy from the electrode to the human tissue using the conductive media for a sufficient period of time to ablate the tissue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
253 words
A process for catheter ablation of human tissue comprising (a) introducing an ablation catheter into a location within the human body to be ablated, wherein the ablation catheter comprises a catheter body, a lumen within said catheter body, a plurality of conductive media outlet openings in an external surface of the catheter body which are in communication with the lumen, wherein the conductive media outlet openings comprise a linear line of openings extending down the catheter body and an electrode fixedly secured to the catheter body located within the lumen, an introduction system capable of introducing a conductive media into the lumen, and a conductive media flow control system structured to expel the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings, and wherein the conductive media flow control system is contained substantially within the lumen of the catheter body, and wherein the conductive media flow control system is capable of regulating the flow of conductive media through the conductive media outlet openings to form a reasonably consistent flow of the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings, (b) passing a conductive media through the lumen of the catheter body to contact the electrode, (c) expelling the conductive media through substantially all of the conductive media outlet openings in the catheter body in a reasonably consistent flow to contact the human tissue, and (d) conducting energy from the electrode to the human tissue using the conductive media for a sufficient period of time to ablate the tissue.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 19 further comprising forming a linear lesion in the human tissue.
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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) | 2006-08-11 | 2007-02-10 | 2007-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-11 | 2011-02-10 | 2011-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-11 | 2015-02-10 | 2015-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |