System and methods for locating and ablating arrhythomogenic tissues
First Claim
1. A catheter for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region, comprising:
- a handle assembly;
a shaft having a proximal end coupled to the handle assembly, and a distal end, the shaft extending along an axis;
a distal ring provided at the distal end and oriented perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, the distal ring having a plurality of electrodes positioned in spaced-apart manner about the distal ring;
an ablation element positioned spaced apart from the distal ring;
means for introducing contrast medium to the distal ring.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region has a handle assembly, and a shaft having a proximal end coupled to the handle assembly. The catheter also has a mapping element provided adjacent its distal end, and an ablation element positioned spaced apart along the shaft from the mapping element. The mapping element is first positioned distally to the desired treatment location in the selected annulus region and the distal location is mapped. The expandable member enclosing the ablation element is inflated and contrast medium injected to determine the orientation of the ablation element with respect to the annulus region. After the target ablation site is determined and the PV potentials verified, the ablation element is activated for therapeutic energy delivery.
19 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A catheter for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region, comprising:
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a handle assembly;
a shaft having a proximal end coupled to the handle assembly, and a distal end, the shaft extending along an axis;
a distal ring provided at the distal end and oriented perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, the distal ring having a plurality of electrodes positioned in spaced-apart manner about the distal ring;
an ablation element positioned spaced apart from the distal ring;
means for introducing contrast medium to the distal ring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region, comprising:
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a catheter having;
a handle assembly;
a shaft having a proximal end coupled to the handle assembly, and a distal end, the shaft extending along an axis;
a distal ring provided at the distal end and oriented perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, the distal ring having a plurality of electrodes positioned in spaced-apart manner about the distal ring;
an ablation element positioned spaced apart from the distal ring;
means for introducing contrast medium to the distal ring;
an energy source coupled to the ablation element; and
means coupled to the plurality of electrodes for processing electrical signals received from the plurality of electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of ablating tissue in a body cavity, comprising:
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providing a catheter having a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, with the distal end of the shaft having a mapping element and an ablation element that is separate and spaced apart from the mapping element;
positioning the mapping element at the desired treatment location in the body cavity, including injecting contrast medium to the distal ring of the catheter;
mapping distally to the desired treatment location; and
ablating the desired treatment location. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region, comprising:
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(a) a first catheter having;
a handle assembly;
a shaft having a proximal end coupled to the handle assembly, and a distal end, the shaft extending along an axis; and
an ablation element provided adjacent the distal end of the shaft;
(b) a second catheter having;
a handle assembly;
a shaft having a proximal end coupled to the handle assembly of the second catheter, and a distal end, the shaft of the second catheter extending along an axis; and
a distal ring provided at the distal end of the shaft of the second catheter and oriented perpendicular to the axis of the shaft of the second catheter, the distal ring having a plurality of electrodes positioned in spaced-apart manner about the distal ring of the second catheter;
(c) an energy source coupled to the ablation element; and
(d) means coupled to the plurality of electrodes for processing electrical signals received from the plurality of electrodes.
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22. A catheter for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region, comprising:
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a handle assembly;
a shaft having a proximal end coupled to the handle assembly, and a distal end, the shaft extending along an axis;
a distal ring provided at the distal end and oriented perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, the distal ring having a plurality of electrodes positioned in spaced-apart manner about the distal ring;
an ablation element positioned spaced apart from the distal ring;
means for introducing a guidewire to the distal ring.
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Specification