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US5863291A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Linear ablation assembly

Assignee: Sichuan Jinjiang Electronic Science and Technology Co Ltd
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Filing: 1996-04-08
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Granted: 1999-01-26
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Expires: 2016-04-08
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Abstract

Abstract An intravascular device for the formation of linear lesions which has particular utility in the treatment of atrial fibrillation and flutter. The intravascular device has an outer delivery sheath with a distal section which has an elongated opening and a support member coextending with the opening. An EP device having a plurality of electrodes on its distal section is slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the delivery sheath but it is secured by its distal end within the distal extremity of the delivery sheath at least while in operation. In this manner an axial force in the distal direction on the proximal extremity of the EP device, which extends out of the patient during the procedure, will cause the distal shaft section of the EP device to arch outwardly out of and away from the distal section of the delivery shaft and engage the surface of the patient's heart chamber. RF electrical energy delivered to the electrodes on the distal shaft section of the EP device will form a linear lesion which terminates the fibrillation or flutter.

Inventors

  • 👤 Alan K. Schaer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 01:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0138; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61M25/0144; A61M25/0147; A61M25/0152; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/0016; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00821

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim 220 words
An intravascular assembly for forming a continuous lesion within a chamber of a patient's heart, comprising: a) an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support element having a distal end fixed within the elongated delivery member at a location proximate to a distal end of the elongated opening and a proximal end fixed within the elongated delivery member at a location proximate to a proximal end of the elongated opening, the support element being fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening; and b) an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 220 words
An intravascular assembly for forming a continuous lesion within a chamber of a patient's heart, comprising: a) an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support element having a distal end fixed within the elongated delivery member at a location proximate to a distal end of the elongated opening and a proximal end fixed within the elongated delivery member at a location proximate to a proximal end of the elongated opening, the support element being fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening; and b) an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 192 words
An intravascular assembly for forming a continuous lesion within a chamber of a patient's heart, comprising: a) an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support element which is fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening and which has a flat surface facing the opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; and b) an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 192 words
An intravascular assembly for forming a continuous lesion within a chamber of a patient's heart, comprising: a) an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support element which is fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening and which has a flat surface facing the opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; and b) an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 wherein the distal section of the elongated delivery member is shaped to facilitate entry and positioning within the patient's heart chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 wherein the support element within the distal section of the elongated delivery member is a metallic ribbon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 wherein the electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device are not more than 1.35 mm in diameter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 including a longitudinally movable sheath disposed about the elongated delivery member to control the length of the longitudinal opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 16 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 6 wherein the longitudinally movable sheath has a curved distal extremity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 42 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 including a longitudinally movable sheath disposed about the electrophysiological device having a proximal end configured to be connected to a source of fluid and a distal end extending over the distal portion of the electrophysiological device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 36 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 including a second inner lumen extending within at least the distal section of the elongated delivery member to a discharge port in the distal end of the elongated delivery member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 9 wherein the second inner lumen extends from the proximal end of the elongated delivery member to the distal end thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 31 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 including a longitudinally movable outer sheath disposed about the electrophysiological device to control the length of the distal portion having electrodes thereon which is exposed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 wherein the elongated delivery member is provided with at least one electrode on the distal section thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 2 wherein the distal section of the elongated delivery member is provided with a lumen for delivery of cooling fluid to the distal end thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 13 wherein the lumen for delivery of the cooling fluid extends to the proximal end of the elongated delivery member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 41 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 13 wherein a multi-arm adapter is provided on the proximal end of the elongated delivery member which has an arm with an inner lumen in fluid communication with the lumen for delivery of the cooling fluid.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 336 words
A method for treating a patient's heart comprising: a) providing an intravascular assembly including an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support element which is fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening and which has a flat surface facing the opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; and an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy; b) introducing the intravascular assembly into the patient's vasculature and advancing the assembly therein until the distal portion of the assembly is disposed within a chamber of the patient's heart; c) affecting relative movement between the electrophysiological device and the delivery member to cause the distal section of the electrophysiological device to extend through the elongated opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; d) contacting the extended distal section of the electrophysiological device with a desired surface of the heart chamber; e) elivering high frequency electrical energy to at least one electrode on the electrophysiological device to form a first lesion on the surface of the heart chamber; and f) elivering high frequency electrical energy to at least one other electrode on the electrophysiological device to form at least a second lesion on the surface of the heart chamber adjacent to the first lesion thereon.
Claim 19
Independent Claim 336 words
A method for treating a patient's heart comprising: a) providing an intravascular assembly including an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support element which is fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening and which has a flat surface facing the opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; and an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes on the distal portion of the electrophysiological device and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy; b) introducing the intravascular assembly into the patient's vasculature and advancing the assembly therein until the distal portion of the assembly is disposed within a chamber of the patient's heart; c) affecting relative movement between the electrophysiological device and the delivery member to cause the distal section of the electrophysiological device to extend through the elongated opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; d) contacting the extended distal section of the electrophysiological device with a desired surface of the heart chamber; e) elivering high frequency electrical energy to at least one electrode on the electrophysiological device to form a first lesion on the surface of the heart chamber; and f) elivering high frequency electrical energy to at least one other electrode on the electrophysiological device to form at least a second lesion on the surface of the heart chamber adjacent to the first lesion thereon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the electrodes on the EP device are bathed in cooling fluid when emitting high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 63 words
The method of claim 16 wherein an outer sheath is disposed about the intravascular assembly and the longitudinal position of the outer sheath about the intravascular assembly is adjusted to control the length of the elongated opening in the elongated delivery member which in turn controls the curvature of the distal section of the EP device which extends out of the elongated opening.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of affecting relative movement between the electrophysiological device and the delivery member includes displacing the electrophysiological device distally relative to the delivery member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 184 words
An intravascular assembly for forming a continuous lesion within a chamber of a patient's heart, comprising: a) an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support means which is fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening and which has a flat surface facing the opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; and b) an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 184 words
An intravascular assembly for forming a continuous lesion within a chamber of a patient's heart, comprising: a) an elongated delivery member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the distal end, a distal section, an elongated opening in the distal section in communication with the inner lumen and an elongated support means which is fixed along a length of the distal section coextensive with at least part of the elongated opening and which has a flat surface facing the opening in the distal section of the elongated delivery member; and b) an elongated electrophysiological device slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the elongated delivery member having a plurality of emitting electrodes on a distal portion thereof which is disposed within the distal section of the elongated delivery member and which is configured to extend out of the elongated opening thereof, electrical conductors having proximal and distal ends which are electrically connected by their distal ends to the emitting electrodes and by their proximal ends to an electrical connector suitable for connection to a source of high frequency electrical energy.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 27 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 20 wherein the distal section of the elongated delivery member is shaped to facilitate entry and positioning within the patient's heart chamber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 23 words
The intravascular assembly of claim 20 wherein the support means within the distal section of the elongated delivery member is a metallic ribbon.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-01-25 2002-07-27 2003-01-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-01-25 2006-07-27 2007-01-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-01-25 2010-07-27 2011-01-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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