Methods and devices for treating atrial fibrillation
First Claim
1. A method of affecting tissue within a body comprising:
- advancing a first device comprising tissue-affecting elements to an endocardial surface of a left atrium, wherein the first device comprises a linear delivery configuration and a semi-circular deployed configuration;
advancing a second device comprising tissue-affecting elements to an epicardial surface of the left atrium, wherein the second device comprises a linear delivery configuration and a semi-circular deployed configuration, and wherein the second device is configured to align with the first device;
positioning the first device in the deployed configuration so that the tissue-affecting elements at least partially circumferentially surround a base of a pulmonary vein on the endocardial surface of the left atrium;
positioning the second device in the deployed configuration so that the tissue-affecting elements at least partially circumferentially surround a trunk of the pulmonary vein on the epicardial surface of the left atrium;
activating the first device such that the tissue-affecting elements form a lesion in the left atrium around the pulmonary vein from the endocardial surface; and
activating the second device such that the tissue-affecting elements form a lesion in the left atrium around the pulmonary vein from the epicardial surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described here are systems and methods for affecting tissue within a body to form a lesion. Some systems comprise tissue-affecting devices, devices that guide the advancement of the tissue-affecting elements to a target tissue region, devices that locate and secure tissue, and devices that help position the tissue-affecting devices along the target tissue. The methods described here comprise advancing a first tissue-affecting device to a first surface of a target tissue, advancing a second tissue-affecting device to a second surface of the target tissue, and positioning the first and second devices so that a lesion may be formed in the tissue between them. In some variations, the devices, systems, and methods described here are used to treat atrial fibrillation by ablating fibrillating tissue from an endocardial surface and an epicardial surface of a heart. Methods of closing, occluding, and/or removing the left atrial appendage are also described.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of affecting tissue within a body comprising:
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advancing a first device comprising tissue-affecting elements to an endocardial surface of a left atrium, wherein the first device comprises a linear delivery configuration and a semi-circular deployed configuration; advancing a second device comprising tissue-affecting elements to an epicardial surface of the left atrium, wherein the second device comprises a linear delivery configuration and a semi-circular deployed configuration, and wherein the second device is configured to align with the first device; positioning the first device in the deployed configuration so that the tissue-affecting elements at least partially circumferentially surround a base of a pulmonary vein on the endocardial surface of the left atrium; positioning the second device in the deployed configuration so that the tissue-affecting elements at least partially circumferentially surround a trunk of the pulmonary vein on the epicardial surface of the left atrium; activating the first device such that the tissue-affecting elements form a lesion in the left atrium around the pulmonary vein from the endocardial surface; and activating the second device such that the tissue-affecting elements form a lesion in the left atrium around the pulmonary vein from the epicardial surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification