Tissue ablation device assembly and method for electrically isolating a pulmonary vein ostium from an atrial wall

• US 20050165391A1
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atrionix, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Atrionix, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Lesh, Michael D., Peacock, James C. III, Maguire, Mark A., Carcamo, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US10/996,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20050165391A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• 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 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22054 with two balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22067 Blocking; Occlusion A61B2017/22054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00065 porous
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00101 low, i.e. thermally insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00148 with metal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00232 having an irregular shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00238 porous
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00273 Anchoring means for temporary attachment of a device to tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00369 : Heart valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00375 : Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 : measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00815 : measured by a thermistor
• 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 2018/00898 : Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 : combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 : multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 : characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 : Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

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.

Claims

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 delivery member with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion having a longitudinal axis and a radial axis; and

a circumferential ablation member coupled to the distal end portion and having a plurality of cantilevered splines, each with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and also having one or more ablation elements each supported along a support region of one of the splines, wherein the plurality of splines are circumferentially spaced around the longitudinal axis, each of the splines being adjustable between a first condition and a second condition wherein the respectively supported ablation element is adjustable between a first radial position and a second radial position,

wherein each spline in the first condition is substantially radially collapsed and extends substantially along the longitudinal axis such that the circumferential ablation member is adapted to be delivered through a delivery sheath into the atrium, and in the second condition the support region of each spline extends at least in part radially away from the longitudinal axis such that each of the individual ablation elements is held by the supporting spline in the second radial position with the one or more ablation elements being spaced along a circumferential pattern that surrounds the longitudinal axis, said circumferential pattern being configured such that the one or more ablation elements is adapted to engage and ablate the circumferential region of tissue when the splines are adjusted to the second condition at the location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the splines has a memory to the second condition.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of the splines comprises a shape-memory material.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the splines comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an outer member with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion which surrounds the distal end portion of the delivery member, wherein the splines are adapted to be withdrawn into the outer member in the first position.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of each of the splines in the second position has a radius of curvature away from the longitudinal axis.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of each of the splines in the second position has a radius of curvature toward the longitudinal axis.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises an electrical current ablation element.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises a thermal ablation element.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises an ultrasound ablation element.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises a microwave ablation element

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises a thermal ablation element.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises a cryoablation element.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises a fluid ablation element.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises a light emitting ablation element.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises an ablation means.

17. A tissue ablation system for ablating a circumferential region of tissue comprising:

a delivery member with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion having a longitudinal axis and a radial axis; and

a circumferential ablation member coupled to the distal end portion and having a plurality of cantilevered splines, each with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and also having one or more ablation elements each supported along a support region of one of the splines, wherein the plurality of splines are circumferentially spaced around the longitudinal axis, each of the splines being adjustable between a first condition and a second condition wherein the respectively supported ablation element is adjustable between a first radial position and a second radial position.

18. A circumferential ablation member comprising:

A plurality of cantilevered splines circumferentially spaced around a longitudinal axis, each of the splines being adjustable between a first condition and a second condition;

and one or more ablation elements each supported along a support region of one of the splines, wherein the respectively supported ablation element is adjustable between a first radial position and a second radial position when the supporting spline is adjusted between the first condition and the second condition.