Method and devices for treating atrial fibrillation by mass ablation
First Claim
1. A method of ablating target tissue including a non-linear area of tissue in a left atrium of a patient, the method comprising:
- selecting an ablation apparatus having an ablator with a tissue engagement section;
penetrating a chest cavity of the patient;
identifying the target tissue;
positioning the ablation apparatus adjacent to the target tissue so that the tissue engagement section can transfer ablation energy to the target tissue; and
energizing the tissue engagement section with ablation energy in order to create a footprint on the non-linear area of tissue in the left atrium and to reduce an overall mass of excitable tissue in the left atrium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for ablating target tissue including a non-linear area of tissue in the left atrium of a patient. The method can include selecting an ablation apparatus having an ablator with a tissue engagement section, penetrating a chest cavity of the patient, and identifying the target tissue. The method can also include positioning the ablation apparatus adjacent to the target tissue so that the tissue engagement section can transfer ablation energy to the target tissue. The method can further include energizing the tissue engagement section with ablation energy in order to create a footprint on the non-linear area of tissue in the left atrium and to reduce an overall mass of excitable tissue in the left atrium.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of ablating target tissue including a non-linear area of tissue in a left atrium of a patient, the method comprising:
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selecting an ablation apparatus having an ablator with a tissue engagement section;
penetrating a chest cavity of the patient;
identifying the target tissue;
positioning the ablation apparatus adjacent to the target tissue so that the tissue engagement section can transfer ablation energy to the target tissue; and
energizing the tissue engagement section with ablation energy in order to create a footprint on the non-linear area of tissue in the left atrium and to reduce an overall mass of excitable tissue in the left atrium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An ablation apparatus for ablating target tissue of a patient, the ablation apparatus comprising:
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an insertion tool having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen;
an ablator including a conductor and a tissue engagement portion, the conductor having a source end extending from the proximal end of the insertion tool and a delivery end coupled to the tissue engagement portion, the ablator removably inserted in the lumen; and
an energy source connected to the conductor;
the insertion tool being inserted into a patient so that the distal end is adjacent the target tissue, the conductor urging the ablator out of the lumen to engage the target tissue;
energy being conducted from the energy source to the ablator to create a footprint on the target tissue to reduce an overall mass of excitable tissue. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification