Method and apparatus for altering conduction properties along pathways in the heart and in vessels in conductive communication with the heart.

• US 20040187875A1
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Ott, Peter, He, Sheng Ding
• Application Number:
  US10/475,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20040187875A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/898
• 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 2017/00053 Mapping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00357 Endocardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00363 Epicardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00755 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1435 Spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation

Abstract

The invention relates to one or more catheterization methods of altering conduction properties along pathways in the heart, and in vessels in conductive communication with the heart, and is particularly related to methods of ablative catheter treatment of atrial fibrillation and arrhythmias of accessory pathways.

Claims

1. A method of treating a condition of a heart, comprising acts of:

altering the conductivity of at least one first pathway in at least one direction between the left atrium and the right atrium of the heart;

maintaining at least one second pathway between the left atrium and right atrium such that the heart generates a normal sinus rhythm; and

maintaining at least one second pathway includes maintaining an electrical pathway between the left atrium and right atrium via Bachmann'"'"'s bundle.