Clamping ablation tool and method

• US 20060020263A1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Rothstein, Paul T., Briscoe, Roderick E., Daigle, Tom P., Cormack, Terri Jean, Lutterman, Alison, Christian, Steven C., Francischelli, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00065 porous
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00363 Epicardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00375 Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

Method and apparatus for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient. A clamping ablation tool can include an upper arm having an upper neck, a link assembly, and an upper actuator. The link assembly can include a distal electrode and a proximal electrode. The clamping ablation tool can include a lower arm that mates with the upper arm. The lower arm can include a lower neck, a distal jaw, and a lower actuator. The distal jaw can include a jaw electrode, and the lower actuator can control movement of the distal jaw.

Claims

1. A clamping ablation tool for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient, the clamping ablation tool comprising:

an upper arm including an upper neck, a link assembly, and an upper actuator, the link assembly including a distal electrode and a proximal electrode, the link assembly capable of being guided around the pulmonary veins, the upper actuator controlling movement of the link assembly; and

a lower arm that mates with the upper arm, the lower arm including a lower neck, a distal jaw, and a lower actuator, the distal jaw including a jaw electrode, the lower actuator controlling movement of the distal jaw;

the upper actuator and the lower actuator being independently operable in order to position the link assembly and the distal jaw independently;

the distal electrode and the proximal electrode receiving energy independently of the jaw electrode in order to allow partial blood flow through the pulmonary veins and create a continuous lesion.

2. The clamping ablation tool of claim 1 wherein the link assembly includes a short link, a middle link, and an end link.

3. The clamping ablation tool of claim 1 wherein at least one of the upper actuator and the lower actuator includes a thumb slide, a rotary control, a trigger, a torque screw, and a lever.

4. The clamping ablation tool of claim 1 wherein the proximal electrode is approximately half a length of the distal electrode.

5. The clamping ablation tool of claim 1 wherein the jaw electrode is approximately half a length of the distal electrode.

6. The clamping ablation tool of claim 1 wherein at least one of the distal electrode, the proximal electrode, and the jaw electrode receives at least one of radio frequency energy, thermal energy, cryogenic energy, and microwave energy.

7. A clamping ablation tool for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient, the clamping ablation tool comprising:

an upper arm including an upper neck, an upper left link, an upper right link, and an upper actuator, the upper left link including a first proximal electrode and the upper right link including a first distal electrode, the upper arm capable of being guided around the pulmonary veins, the upper actuator controlling movement of the upper left link and the upper right link; and

a lower arm that mates with the upper arm, the lower arm including a lower neck, a lower left link, a lower right link, and a lower actuator, the lower left link including a second proximal electrode and the lower right link including a second distal electrode, the lower actuator controlling movement of the lower left link and the lower right link;

the upper actuator and the lower actuator being independently operable in order to position the upper left link and the upper right link independently of the lower left link and the lower right link;

the first proximal electrode and the second proximal electrode receiving energy independently of first distal electrode and the second distal electrode in order to allow partial blood flow through the pulmonary veins and create a continuous lesion.

8. The clamping ablation tool of claim 7 wherein at least one of the upper left link, the upper right link, the lower left link, and the lower right link is coupled to at least one of a cable, a wire, and a rod.

9. The clamping ablation tool of claim 7 wherein at least one of the upper left link, the upper right link, the lower left link, and the lower right link include electrode faces and mating surfaces.

10. The clamping ablation tool of claim 7 wherein at least one of the upper left link, the upper right link, the lower left link, and the lower right link rotates out of a plane with a clamping area section.

11. The clamping ablation tool of claim 7 and further comprising a stiffener coupled to at least one of the upper arm and the lower arm.

12. The clamping ablation tool of claim 7 wherein at least one of the upper arm and the lower arm includes a curved recess that can receive at least one of the upper left link, the upper right link, the lower left link, and the lower right link.

13. The clamping ablation tool of claim 7 wherein at least one of the upper arm and the lower arm includes a tube coupled to a clamping area section and one of the upper left link, the upper right link, the lower left link, and the lower right link.

14. The clamping ablation tool of claim 7 wherein at least one of the upper left link, the upper right link, the lower left link, and the lower right link includes a first member coupled to a second member, with the first member being coupled to a clamping area section.

15. The clamping ablation tool of claim 7 and further comprising at least one capture coupling a portion of the upper arm to a portion of the lower arm.