Treating arrhythmias by altering properties of tissue

• US 20040106952A1
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Lafontaine, Daniel M.
• Application Number:
  US10/308,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20040106952A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• 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 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00375 Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body

Abstract

A device for treating arrhythmia comprising an endoluminal member implantable within a region of a vascular lumen, wherein the member is configured to contact an inner wall of the lumen and alter the properties of tissue proximate the region. Methods of treating arrhythmias using the device are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A device for treating arrhythmia comprising:

an endoluminal member implantable within a region of a vascular lumen, said member configured to contact an inner wall of said vascular lumen and alter the properties of tissue proximate said region.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said endoluminal member, when implanted, supports said region with sufficient strength to prevent stenoses.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a delivery assembly coupled with said endoluminal member.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising an ablation element formed integrally with said endoluminal member.

5. A medical device comprising

a generally tubular body sized for implantation within an ostium of a vascular lumen into a heart chamber, said tubular body, when implanted within the ostium, enables blood to flow through the tubular body, and said tubular body having

an outer surface shaped substantially complementary with the shape of an inner wall of the ostium to contact an inner wall of the ostium;

a first outer diameter at one opening of said tubular body; and

a second outer diameter at a location on the tubular body, wherein the second outer diameter is smaller than the first outer diameter, and larger than the smallest inner diameter portion of the ostium, so that the tubular body is restrained within the vascular lumen.

6. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the vascular lumen is a pulmonary vein.

7. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the outer surface of the tubular body comprises a concave arcuate portion.

8. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the outer surface of the tubular body comprises a mesh material.

9. The medical device of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of said tubular body comprises an outer coating comprising a substance that alters the conductive properties of adjacent tissue.

10. The medical device of claim 9, wherein said substance is selected from a group consisting of a tissue growth enhancer, a conductive hydrogel, a beta blocking drug, a sodium blocking drug, potassium blocking drug, and combinations thereof.

11. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the generally tubular body comprises a heat conducting material that raises the temperature of tissue proximate the outer surface of the generally tubular body.

12. The medical device of claim 5, wherein said outer surface becomes heated upon application of radio frequency energy in the vicinity of said tubular body.

13. The medical device of claim 5, further comprising a fastening mechanism attached to said tubular body for securing said device in a desired position within the ostium.

14. The medical device of claim 5, wherein said tubular body supports said tissue of said vascular lumen with sufficient support to prevent stenoses.

15. The medical device of claim 5, wherein said tubular body further comprises a vascular graft.

16. The medical device of claim 5, further comprising an implantation system coupled with said tubular body.

17. The medical device of claim 5, wherein said tubular body is self-expanding.

18. The medical device of claim 5, wherein said tubular body further comprises an anti-stenosis component.

19. The medical device of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of said device has varying longitudinal flexibility.

20. The medical device of claim 5, further comprising a delivery assembly connectable to said tubular body.

21. The medical device of claim 5, further comprising an inflatable balloon sized to expand said tubular body within said vascular lumen.

22. The medical device of claim 20, wherein said delivery assembly comprises a guidewire.

23. The medical device of claim 20, wherein said delivery assembly comprises a catheter.

24. A method of treating arrhythmia, comprising

implanting an endoluminal device in a region within a vascular lumen of a vasculature, wherein said device contacts an inner wall of said vasculature and has a lumen extending through said device;

using said implanted device to alter properties of vascular tissue proximate said implanted device.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising using said implanted device to alter the conductive properties of said vascular tissue.

26. The method according to claim 24, further comprising inducing necrosis on a portion of said tissue proximate said device.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein necrosis is induced by altering the temperature of said device.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein necrosis is induced by applying electrical current to said device.

29. The method according to claim 26, wherein necrosis is induced by using said device to expose said tissue to a coolant material.

30. The method according to claim 24, wherein said device comprises an electrode element and the method further comprises

transmitting radio frequency energy to said electrode;

and

allowing said radio frequency energy to transfer from said device to said tissue.

31. The method according to claim 24, further comprising attaching said device to said inner wall of said vasculature.

32. The method according to claim 24, wherein using said implanted device applies sufficient pressure on said tissue to alter the conductive properties of said tissue.

33. The method according to claim 24, wherein said device comprises a substance comprising a therapeutic drug;

and said method further comprises allowing said drug to elute onto said tissue.

34. The method according to claim 24, wherein said therapeutic drug comprises a material selected from a group consisting of a tissue growth enhancer, a conductive hydrogel, a beta blocking drug, a sodium blocking drug, potassium blocking drug, and combinations thereof.

35. The method according to claim 24, wherein said vascular lumen is within a pulmonary vein.

36. The method according to claim 24, wherein said region is at an ostium of a heart chamber.