US6814733B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Radio frequency pulmonary vein isolation
Assignee: Biosense Webster Inc
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Filing: 2002-01-31
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Granted: 2004-11-09
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Expires: 2022-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A catheter introduction apparatus provides a radially expandable helical coil as a radiofrequency emitter. In one application the emitter is introduced percutaneously, and transseptally advanced to the ostium of a pulmonary vein. The emitter is radially expanded, which can be accomplished by inflating an anchoring balloon about which the emitter is wrapped, in order to cause the emitter to make circumferential contact with the inner wall of the pulmonary vein. The coil is energized by a radiofrequency generator, and a circumferential ablation lesion is produced in the myocardial sleeve of the pulmonary vein, which effectively blocks electrical propagation between the pulmonary vein and the left atrium.
Inventors
- 👤 Yitzhack Schwartz
- 👤 Assaf Govari
- 👤 Uri Yaron
- 👤 Marcia Leatham
- 👤 Michael Levin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/0025; A61B2018/00261; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00375; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1435; C; C08; C08L; C08L2201/00; C08L2201/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for electrically isolating a cardiac chamber, comprising the steps of: introducing a coil into a pulmonary vein proximate an ostium of said pulmonary vein, wherein a principal axis of said coil is substantially aligned coaxially with said pulmonary vein; circumferentially engaging said coil with an inner wall of said pulmonary vein by axially expanding said coil by differentially heating segments of said coil to define a circumferential region of contact between said coil and said pulmonary vein; and while maintaining said circumferential region of contact, conducting radiofrequency energy from said coil to said circumferential region of contact to ablate tissue in an ablation region of said pulmonary vein.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for electrically isolating a cardiac chamber, comprising the steps of: introducing a coil into a pulmonary vein proximate an ostium of said pulmonary vein, wherein a principal axis of said coil is substantially aligned coaxially with said pulmonary vein; circumferentially engaging said coil with an inner wall of said pulmonary vein by axially expanding said coil by differentially heating segments of said coil to define a circumferential region of contact between said coil and said pulmonary vein; and while maintaining said circumferential region of contact, conducting radiofrequency energy from said coil to said circumferential region of contact to ablate tissue in an ablation region of said pulmonary vein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of circumferentially engaging said coil is also performed by radially expanding said coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 2 , wherein said coil is constructed of a shape memory alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 3 , further comprising varying a temperature of said coil to alter a configuration thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 4 , wherein while performing said step of varying said temperature, said coil radially expands responsive to a shape memory thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 2 , wherein a proximal segment of said coil is more radially expanded than a distal segment thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 6 , wherein said step of radially expanding comprises tapering said coil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of differentially heating is performed by passing different amounts of current through different ones of said segments of said coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of differentially heating is performed by inductive heating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of differentially heating is performed by the steps of: subjecting said coil to a single electromagnetic influence for heating thereof; and conducting a coolant to selected ones of said segments of said coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein a width dimension of said ablation region is at least as large as a pitch of said coil.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of introducing comprises the steps of: transferring said coil into a heart through an interatrial septum thereof; and while transferring said coil through said interatrial septum, conducting radiofrequency energy a second time from said coil into said interatrial septum to ablate tissue of said interatrial septum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein said step of conducting radiofrequency energy said second time is performed until a sufficient amount of said tissue of said interatrial septum has been ablated to accommodate a passage of said coil therethrough.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said coil is constructed of a biodegradable material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of conducting radio frequency energy is performed in a single continuous application.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of circumferentially engaging said coil is performed by the steps of: disposing said coil about an anchoring balloon; and inflating said anchoring balloon to radially expand said coil.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 16 , wherein following performance of said step of inflating said anchoring balloon, a proximal segment of said anchoring balloon has a larger diameter than a distal segment thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 17 , wherein said anchoring balloon is bilobate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 17 , wherein said anchoring balloon is pyriform.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for ablating tissue, comprising the steps of: providing a coil that is constructed of a shape memory material; introducing said coil into a hollow viscus; circumferentially engaging said coil with an inner wall of said viscus by axially expanding said coil by differentially heating segments of said coil to define a circumferential region of contact between said coil and said inner wall; and while maintaining said circumferential region of contact, conducting radiofrequency energy from said coil to said circumferential region of contact to ablate tissue therein.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for ablating tissue, comprising the steps of: providing a coil that is constructed of a shape memory material; introducing said coil into a hollow viscus; circumferentially engaging said coil with an inner wall of said viscus by axially expanding said coil by differentially heating segments of said coil to define a circumferential region of contact between said coil and said inner wall; and while maintaining said circumferential region of contact, conducting radiofrequency energy from said coil to said circumferential region of contact to ablate tissue therein.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said step of circumferentially engaging said coil is also performed by radially expanding said coil.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 21 , wherein said coil is constructed of a shape memory alloy.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 21 , wherein said step of providing said coil includes forming zigzag folds in a plurality of windings thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 21 , wherein a proximal segment of said coil is more radially expanded than a distal segment thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 24 , further comprising varying a temperature of said coil to alter a configuration thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 25 , wherein while performing said step of varying said temperature, said coil radially expands responsive to a shape memory thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 24 , wherein said step of radially expanding comprises tapering said coil.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said step of differentially heating is performed by passing different amounts of current through different ones of said segments of said coil.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said step of differentially heating is performed by inductive heating.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said step of differentially heating is performed by the steps of: subjecting said coil to a single electromagnetic influence for heating thereof; and conducting a coolant to selected ones of said segments of said coil.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said coil is constructed of a biodegradable material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said step of conducting radiofrequency energy is performed in a single continuous application.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 20 , wherein said step of circumferentially engaging said coil is performed by the steps of: disposing said coil about an anchoring balloon; and inflating said anchoring balloon to radially expand said coil.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 33 , wherein following performance of said step of inflating said anchoring balloon, a proximal segment of said anchoring balloon has a larger diameter than a distal segment thereof.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 34 , wherein said anchoring balloon is bilobate.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 34 , wherein said anchoring balloon is pyriform.
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