Patent US7569052B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7569052B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Ablation catheter with tissue protecting assembly
Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc
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Filing: 2003-09-12
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Granted: 2009-08-04
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Expires: 2023-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A medical probe includes an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, an ablative element mounted to the distal end of the elongate member, and a cage assembly mounted to the distal end of the elongate member, the cage assembly at least partially covers the ablative element. A method of treating tissue in a body includes inserting an ablative element in the body, placing the ablative element adjacent the tissue, and maintaining a distance between the ablative element and the tissue using a protective catheter element that circumscribes at least a portion of the ablative element.
Inventors
- 👤 Huy Phan
- 👤 David Swanson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/08; A61B18/082; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/283; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00065; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/00238; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/1472; A61B90/00; A61B90/04; A61B2090/0409; A61B2090/0436
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A tissue ablation system, comprising: an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; a ground electrode element mounted to the distal end of the elongate member, the ground electrode element being exposed to contact bodily fluid; a protective element mounted to the distal end of the elongate member, wherein the protective element at least partially covers the ground electrode element to prevent the ground electrode element from contacting adjacent solid tissue, and wherein the protective element is incapable of conveying electrical energy between the solid tissue and the ground electrode element; and an ablation electrode element configured for being positioned adjacent a target tissue region, such that electrical energy, when conveyed between the ablation electrode element and the ground electrode element, ablates the target tissue region without ablating the solid tissue adjacent the ground electrode element; wherein the protective element comprises a cage assembly, and wherein the cage assembly comprises a ring element that coaxially surrounds and is slidable relative to the elongate member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A tissue ablation system, comprising: an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; a ground electrode element mounted to the distal end of the elongate member, the ground electrode element being exposed to contact bodily fluid; a protective element mounted to the distal end of the elongate member, wherein the protective element at least partially covers the ground electrode element to prevent the ground electrode element from contacting adjacent solid tissue, and wherein the protective element is incapable of conveying electrical energy between the solid tissue and the ground electrode element; and an ablation electrode element configured for being positioned adjacent a target tissue region, such that electrical energy, when conveyed between the ablation electrode element and the ground electrode element, ablates the target tissue region without ablating the solid tissue adjacent the ground electrode element; wherein the protective element comprises a cage assembly, and wherein the cage assembly comprises a ring element that coaxially surrounds and is slidable relative to the elongate member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the cage assembly includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of struts secured between the proximal end and the distal end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein one of the proximal end and the distal end of the cage assembly comprises the ring element, and the other of the proximal end and distal end is fixedly secured to the elongate member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 3 , wherein the proximal end of the cage assembly comprises the ring element, and the distal end of the cage assembly is fixedly secured to the elongate member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 3 , wherein the distal end of the cage assembly comprises the ring element, and the proximal end of the cage assembly is fixedly secured to the elongate member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve having a lumen in which the elongate member is slidably disposed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the protective element has an expanded configuration when outside the lumen of the sleeve and a collapsed configuration when inside the lumen of the sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the protective element is made from an electrically non-conductive material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the protective element comprises a braided or woven structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , further comprising a steering mechanism for steering the distal end of the elongate member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is a catheter member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the protective element circumscribes the ground electrode element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , further comprising a tissue ablation source having a positive terminal coupled to the ablation electrode element, and a negative terminal coupled to the ground electrode element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the ground electrode element and the ablation electrode element are configured for contacting opposite surfaces of a wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , further comprising another elongated member having a distal end to which the ablation electrode element is mounted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the protective element is electrically insulated from the ground electrode element, such that the only electrical path between ground electrode element and the solid tissue can be formed through the bodily fluid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the protective element is configured for being completely electrically insulated from the solid tissue when in contact with the solid tissue.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tissue ablation system of claim 1 , wherein the protective element does not hinder the ablation electrode element from contacting the target tissue region.
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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) | 2012-08-03 | 2013-02-02 | 2013-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2016-08-03 | 2017-02-02 | 2017-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2020-08-03 | 2021-02-02 | 2021-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |