Apparatus and method for treating cardiovascular diseases

• US 10,117,711 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Original Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Inventors: Oberti, Carlos M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathew, Seema
• Application Number:
  US15/231,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20160346039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00279 deployable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00375 Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/072 Encapsulated stents, e.g. wire or whole stent embedded in lining
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching

Abstract

A removable apparatus is provided for temporary implantation in a pulmonary vein for ablating atrial tissue surrounding the antrum of the pulmonary vein to treat atrial fibrillation in a subject. The apparatus comprises an electrically-insulated expandable support member and a retrieval mechanism. The support member has oppositely disposed proximal and distal end portions and a main body portion extending between the end portions. The proximal end portion includes at least one annularly disposed wing member, and has a free end defined by oppositely disposed first and second major surfaces. The at least one wing member includes at least one ablation element located at the free end thereof. The retrieval mechanism is for removing the support member and for energizing the at least one ablation element. The retrieval mechanism includes at least one electrically-conductive wire, which is separately connected to the at least one wing member.

Claims

1. A removable apparatus for temporary implantation in a pulmonary vein for ablating atrial tissue surrounding the antrum of the pulmonary vein to treat atrial fibrillation in a subject, said apparatus comprising:

an electrically-insulated expandable support member having oppositely disposed proximal and distal end portions and a main body portion extending between said end portions for positioning in the pulmonary vein, said proximal end portion including a series of annularly disposed wing members that are radially spaced apart from each other and extend from said main body portion, each of said wing members having a free end and being defined by oppositely disposed first and second major surfaces, said distal end portion adapted for insertion into the pulmonary vein to accurately position said proximal end portion at the antrum;

when temporarily implanted, said first major surface for facing the interior of the atrial chamber and said second major surface having a shape configured to conform to the surface topography of the atrial tissue without penetrating the atrial tissue surrounding the pulmonary vein;

at least one of said wing members including at least one ablation element for delivering electrical energy to the atrial tissue, said at least one ablation element being located at said free end of at least one of said wing members; and

a retrieval mechanism for removing said expandable support member and, optionally, for energizing said at least one ablation element, said retrieval mechanism including at least one electrically-conductive wire, said at least one wire being separately connected to at least one of said wing members.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one wire of said retrieval mechanism is separately connected to a respective one of said at least one ablation element.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one wire is directly connected to said at least one ablation element.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said at least one wire is directly connected to at least one free end of said at least one wing member.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of wires, each of which includes a proximal end that converges into a single wire.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said retrieval mechanism further includes at least one coiled wire disposed within said expandable support member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one coiled wire is securely affixed to one or more interior surfaces of said expandable support member.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said at least one coiled wire expands and collapses in concert with said expandable support member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said retrieval mechanism further includes an inflation member operably connected to a shaft.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said inflation member is disposed within said expandable support member.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein inflation of said inflation member causes said inflation member to snugly contact an inner surface of said expandable support member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said expandable support member is withdrawn from the pulmonary vein upon application of an axial force to said shaft.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second major surface has a shape configured to conform to the surface topography of the antrum of the pulmonary vein.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said expandable support member has a first mesh-like configuration and said at least one wing member independently comprises a second mesh-like configuration.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more of the wing members is arch-shaped.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said retrieval mechanism further comprises a delivery catheter having an opening at a distal end thereof, said at least one electrically-conductive wire extending from said distal end through said opening of said delivery catheter into connection with at least one of said wing members.