Apparatus and method for ablating tissue
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Abstract
A control system alters one or more characteristics of an ablating element to ablate tissue. In one aspect, the control system delivers energy nearer to the surface of the tissue by changing the frequency or power. In another aspect, the ablating element delivers focused ultrasound which is focused in at least one dimension. The ablating device may also have a number of ablating elements with different characteristics such as focal length.
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Citations
114 Claims
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1-70. -70 (Canceled).
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71. A device for ablating cardiac tissue, comprising:
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a body having a longitudinal axis and a contact surface configured to be positioned adjacent tissue to be ablated;
a first transducer coupled to the body;
a second transducer coupled to the body and spaced apart from the first transducer by a space, wherein the first and second transducers each emit ultrasound energy to the tissue to be ablated; and
means for changing the direction of the ultrasound energy from the first transducer toward tissue beneath the gap between the first and second transducers. - View Dependent Claims (72)
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73. A method of ablating cardiac tissue, comprising the step of:
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providing an ablating device including a body having a longitudinal axis and a contact surface, the ablating device also having a first transducer and a second transducer both coupled to the body, the second transducer being spaced apart from the first transducer by a gap, wherein the first and second transducers each emit ultrasound energy to the tissue to be ablated, the first transducer being movable to redirect the energy emitted by the first transducer to tissue beneath the gap between the first and second transducers;
positioning the ablating device against cardiac tissue;
activating the first and second transducers to ablate cardiac tissue;
moving the first transducer to ablate cardiac tissue beneath the gap between the first and second transducers. - View Dependent Claims (74)
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75. A method of ablating a cardiac tissue, comprising the steps of:
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providing an ablating device having a first transducer and a second transducer;
positioning the ablating device against cardiac tissue;
activating the first transducer at a first frequency to ablate cardiac tissue; and
activating the second transducer at a second frequency to ablate cardiac tissue. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78)
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79. A method of ablating a cardiac tissue, comprising the steps of:
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providing an ablating device having a first transducer and a second transducer, the first and second transducers both being focused, the first and second transducers having different focal lengths;
positioning the ablating device against cardiac tissue;
activating the first transducer to ablate cardiac tissue; and
activating the second transducer. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81, 82, 83)
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84. A device for ablating tissue, comprising:
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a body;
a source of focused ultrasound mounted to the body, the focused ultrasound having a focus; and
a flexible membrane filled with a substance which receives the focused ultrasound and transmits the ultrasound energy to the tissue.
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88. A system for ablating tissue with ultrasound energy, comprising:
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an ablating element which emits ultrasound energy;
a control system coupled to the ablating element, the control system controlling activation of the ablating element to automatically change a characteristic of the ablating element when ablating the same tissue structure during a first time period and a second time period. - View Dependent Claims (89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
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96-106. -106 (Canceled).
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107. A system for ablating tissue with ultrasound comprising the steps of:
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an ablating device which emits focused ultrasound in at least one dimension; and
a control system operably coupled to the ablating device, the control system activating the ablating device at a frequency and a power to direct the ultrasonic energy into the tissue structure for a period of time, the control system also changing at least one of the frequency, power, period of time and location of the focus relative to the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114)
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Specification