Tissue ablation device assembly and method for electrically isolating a pulmonary vein ostium from an atrial wall
First Claim
1. A tissue ablation system for treating atrial arrhythmia by ablating a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium, comprising:
- a circumferential ablation member with a circumferential support member that is adjustable between a first position which is adapted to be delivered through a delivery sheath into the atrium and a second position having a substantially circumferentially looped shape, an ablation element located substantially along the circumferential support member and that is adapted to ablatively couple to a circumferential area adjacent to the support member in the second position, and a positioning assembly coupled to the circumferential support member to adjust the circumferential support member between the first and second positions when the circumferential support member is substantially unconfined within the atrium; and
a delivery assembly cooperating with the circumferential ablation member and which is adapted to at least in-part deliver the circumferential ablation member to the location, wherein the ablation element and the circumferential support member are configured such that the circumferential area coincides with the circumferential region of tissue when the circumferential support member is adjusted to the second position at the location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is related to a tissue ablation system and method that treats atrial arrhythmia by ablating a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium. The system includes a circumferential ablation member with an ablation element and also includes a delivery assembly for delivering the ablation member to the location. The circumferential ablation member is generally adjustable between different configurations to allow both the delivery through a delivery sheath into the atrium and the ablative coupling between the ablation element and the circumferential region of tissue.
196 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A tissue ablation system for treating atrial arrhythmia by ablating a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium, comprising:
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a circumferential ablation member with a circumferential support member that is adjustable between a first position which is adapted to be delivered through a delivery sheath into the atrium and a second position having a substantially circumferentially looped shape, an ablation element located substantially along the circumferential support member and that is adapted to ablatively couple to a circumferential area adjacent to the support member in the second position, and a positioning assembly coupled to the circumferential support member to adjust the circumferential support member between the first and second positions when the circumferential support member is substantially unconfined within the atrium; and
a delivery assembly cooperating with the circumferential ablation member and which is adapted to at least in-part deliver the circumferential ablation member to the location, wherein the ablation element and the circumferential support member are configured such that the circumferential area coincides with the circumferential region of tissue when the circumferential support member is adjusted to the second position at the location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A circumferential ablation member for ablating a circumferential region of tissue comprising:
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a circumferential support member that is adjustable between a first position that is adapted to be delivered through a delivery sheath into a body lumen and a second position having a substantially circumferentially looped shape;
an ablation element located substantially along the circumferential support member and that is adapted to ablatively couple to a circumferential area adjacent to the support member in the second position, wherein the circumferential area is ablatively coupled to the circumferential region of tissue when the circumferential support member is adjusted to the second position at the location.; and
a positioning assembly coupled to the circumferential support member to adjust the circumferential support member between the first and second positions when the circumferential support member is substantially unconfined within the body lumen.
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Specification