US6984232B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ablation catheter assembly having a virtual electrode comprising portholes
Assignee: St Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc
•
Filing: 2003-01-17
•
Granted: 2006-01-10
•
Expires: 2023-01-17
Abstract
Abstract An ablation catheter having a catheter shaft and a virtual electrode, the virtual electrode comprising portholes through an outer peripheral wall of the catheter shaft and a metal electrode, the catheter being used 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 shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion includes an active region, which is either a looped structure transverse to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft, or a linear structure that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft. During use, the active region is directed into contact with, for example, the wall of a pulmonary vein. Upon energization, the virtual electrode creates a continuous lesion on an inner wall of the pulmonary vein, thereby electrically isolating the pulmonary vein from the left atrium.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy P. Vanney
- 👤 Jeremy D. Dando
- 👤 Joshua L. Dudney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00041; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00375; A61B2018/1472; C; C08; C08L; C08L2201/00; C08L2201/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
An ablation catheter for ablating tissue, the ablation catheter comprising a catheter shaft, said catheter shaft comprising a proximal portion; a distal portion, said distal portion being adapted to be inserted into a body cavity having tissue to be ablated and being disposed remotely from said proximal portion, said distal portion comprising an active region including a plurality of portholes including a most-proximal porthole, a most-distal porthole and an intermediate porthole therebetween, wherein said portholes are adapted to deliver a conductive fluid medium to the tissue to be ablated, and wherein a relative size of said portholes changes from a first size of said most-proximal porthole to a second size of said most-distal porthole wherein said intermediate porthole is a third size different from said first size and said second size; and a first lumen extending from said proximal portion to said distal portion, said first lumen being adapted to carry the conductive fluid medium from said proximal portion to said plurality of portholes along said active region of said distal portion; and a metal electrode mounted within said first lumen and extending along said active region of said distal portion, wherein said metal electrode is adapted to supply ablation energy to the conductive fluid medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
An ablation catheter for ablating tissue, the ablation catheter comprising a catheter shaft, said catheter shaft comprising a proximal portion; a distal portion, said distal portion being adapted to be inserted into a body cavity having tissue to be ablated and being disposed remotely from said proximal portion, said distal portion comprising an active region including a plurality of portholes including a most-proximal porthole, a most-distal porthole and an intermediate porthole therebetween, wherein said portholes are adapted to deliver a conductive fluid medium to the tissue to be ablated, and wherein a relative size of said portholes changes from a first size of said most-proximal porthole to a second size of said most-distal porthole wherein said intermediate porthole is a third size different from said first size and said second size; and a first lumen extending from said proximal portion to said distal portion, said first lumen being adapted to carry the conductive fluid medium from said proximal portion to said plurality of portholes along said active region of said distal portion; and a metal electrode mounted within said first lumen and extending along said active region of said distal portion, wherein said metal electrode is adapted to supply ablation energy to the conductive fluid medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein said conductive fluid medium is hypertonic saline.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein said distal portion of said catheter shaft includes a first curved section, a second curved section, and a third curved section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein said distal portion of said catheter shaft includes at least one curved section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ablation catheter of claim 4 , wherein said at least one curved section of said catheter shaft includes said plurality of portholes through which the conductive fluid medium is adapted to flow.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The ablation catheter of claim 5 , wherein said plurality of portholes further comprises a plurality of intermediate portholes, wherein said plurality of intermediate portholes are present between said most-proximal porthole and said most-distal porthole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ablation catheter of claim 6 , wherein said at least one curved section is shaped in a circular configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ablation catheter of claim 7 , wherein said curved section defines an outer peripheral wall, and wherein said portholes extend substantially radially from said first lumen through a radial apex of said outer peripheral wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
The ablation catheter of claim 8 , wherein each of said portholes has a circular cross section, and wherein said most-proximal porthole has a diameter that is smaller than the diameters of each of the other portholes, and wherein said most-distal porthole has a diameter that is larger than the diameters of each of the other portholes, and further where the diameters of the portholes increase in size moving distally along said active region from said most-proximal porthole to said most-distal porthole.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The ablation catheter of claim 9 , wherein each of said portholes is sized so that the conductive fluid medium is adapted to flow evenly from each of said portholes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The ablation catheter of claim 9 , wherein each of said portholes defines a proximal leading edge and a distal trailing edge, and wherein a bridge is defined between a proximal leading edge of one porthole and a distal trailing edge of a next adjacent porthole.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ablation catheter of claim 11 , wherein each of said bridges has a width, and wherein said width of said bridges narrows moving distally from said most-proximal porthole to said most-distal porthole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The ablation catheter of claim 11 , wherein each of said portholes has a longitudinal centerline, and wherein a distance between said longitudinal centerlines of adjacent portholes remains constant along said active region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ablation catheter of claim 9 , wherein each porthole is separated from at least one next adjacent porthole by a bridge extending between edges of said adjacent portholes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ablation catheter of claim 9 , wherein said portholes are centered on a porthole centerline defined by a longitudinally-extending tangent line on a surface of said catheter shaft on said radial apex of said outer peripheral wall of said at least one curved section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein said metal electrode is a platinum flat wire adapted to be connected to an RF generator by an electrical lead that extends from said distal portion to said proximal portion of said catheter shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein said ablation catheter further comprises a shape memory wire.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The ablation catheter of claim 17 , wherein said catheter shaft further comprises a second lumen extending along said distal portion adjacent to an inner peripheral wall of said distal portion, and wherein said shape memory wire is located within said second lumen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ablation catheter of claim 18 , wherein said shape memory wire comprises an alloy of nickel and titanium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ablation catheter of claim 18 , wherein said shape memory wire comprises a strip of stainless steel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein said distal portion further comprises a tip electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein said catheter shaft is bi-lumenal, including a first lumen and a second lumen.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ablation catheter of claim 22 , wherein said first lumen has a modified keyhole shape, comprising a nearly-circular subportion mated with a rounded-rectangular subportion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The ablation catheter of claim 23 , wherein said nearly-circular subportion mates with said rounded-rectangular subportion at a necked-down area defining a pair of retention ledges.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ablation catheter of claim 24 , wherein said retention ledges retain said metal electrode in said rounded-rectangular subportion of said first lumen.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ablation catheter of claim 24 , wherein said nearly-circular subportion of said first lumen is adapted to carry the conductive fluid medium flowing past and in contact with said metal electrode.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ablation catheter of claim 24 , wherein said second lumen carries said shape memory wire.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ablation catheter of claim 22 , wherein said distal portion defines an inner peripheral wall and an outer peripheral wall, and wherein said first lumen is adjacent to said outer peripheral wall and said second lumen is adjacent to said inner peripheral wall.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The ablation catheter of claim 28 , wherein said first lumen further comprises a modified keyhole shape defined by a nearly-circular subportion mated with a rounded-rectangular subportion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
The ablation catheter of claim 29 , wherein retention ledges are defined at a necked-down area between said nearly-circular subportion and said rounded-rectangular subportion of said first lumen, and wherein said retention ledges retain said metal electrode in said rounded-rectangular subportion of said first lumen.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
222 words
An ablation catheter for ablating tissue, the ablation catheter comprising a catheter shaft, said catheter shaft comprising a proximal portion; a distal portion comprising at least one curved section adapted to be inserted into a body cavity having tissue to be ablated, wherein said at least one curved section defines an inner peripheral wall and an outer peripheral wall, and wherein said outer peripheral wall has an active region that includes a plurality of portholes, including a most-proximal porthole, a most-distal porthole and an intermediate porthole therebetween, wherein a relative size of said portholes changes from a first size of said most-proximal porthole to a second size of said most-distal porthole wherein said intermediate porthole is a third size different from said first size and said second size; a first lumen extending from said proximal portion to said distal portion, said first lumen being adapted to carry a conductive fluid medium from said proximal portion to said plurality of portholes along said active region of said distal portion; and a second lumen extending adjacent to said inner peripheral wall; a metal electrode mounted in said first lumen and extending along said active region of said distal portion, wherein said metal electrode is adapted to supply ablation energy to the conductive fluid medium; and a shape memory wire mounted in said second lumen.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
222 words
An ablation catheter for ablating tissue, the ablation catheter comprising a catheter shaft, said catheter shaft comprising a proximal portion; a distal portion comprising at least one curved section adapted to be inserted into a body cavity having tissue to be ablated, wherein said at least one curved section defines an inner peripheral wall and an outer peripheral wall, and wherein said outer peripheral wall has an active region that includes a plurality of portholes, including a most-proximal porthole, a most-distal porthole and an intermediate porthole therebetween, wherein a relative size of said portholes changes from a first size of said most-proximal porthole to a second size of said most-distal porthole wherein said intermediate porthole is a third size different from said first size and said second size; a first lumen extending from said proximal portion to said distal portion, said first lumen being adapted to carry a conductive fluid medium from said proximal portion to said plurality of portholes along said active region of said distal portion; and a second lumen extending adjacent to said inner peripheral wall; a metal electrode mounted in said first lumen and extending along said active region of said distal portion, wherein said metal electrode is adapted to supply ablation energy to the conductive fluid medium; and a shape memory wire mounted in said second lumen.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ablation catheter assembly for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the ablation catheter assembly comprising an ablation catheter according to claim 1 or 31 ; and at least one guiding introducer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ablation catheter assembly of claim 32 , wherein said at least one guiding introducer comprises an inner guiding introducer and an outer guiding introducer.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ablation catheter assembly for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the ablation catheter assembly comprising an ablation catheter according to claim 1 or 31 ; and a precurved sheath.
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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) | 2009-01-09 | 2009-07-11 | 2010-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-01-09 | 2013-07-11 | 2014-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-01-09 | 2017-07-11 | 2018-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |