Compound bipolar ablation device and method

• US 20060036236A1
• Filed: 06/02/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• 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., Lutterman, Alison, Francischelli, David E., Kim, David J. S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,580 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 2017/2938 Independently actuatable jaw members, e.g. two actuating rods
• 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

Abstract

Method and apparatus for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient. The ablation device can include a lower jaw assembly including a proximal jaw having a proximal electrode and a distal jaw having a distal electrode, and an upper jaw assembly including an upper jaw having an upper electrode. A proximal actuator can be movable between a first position in which the proximal jaw is open and a second position in which the proximal jaw is clamped with respect to the upper jaw. A distal actuator can be movable between a third position in which the distal jaw is open and a fourth position in which the distal jaw is clamped with respect to the upper jaw.

Claims

1. An ablation device for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient, the ablation device comprising:

A lower jaw assembly including a proximal jaw having a proximal electrode and a distal jaw having a distal electrode;

an upper jaw assembly including an upper jaw having an upper electrode;

a proximal actuator movable between a first position in which the proximal jaw is open and a second position in which the proximal jaw is clamped with respect to the upper jaw; and

a distal actuator movable between a third position in which the distal jaw is open and a fourth position in which the distal jaw is clamped with respect to the upper jaw.

2. The ablation device of claim 1 wherein the proximal electrode, the distal electrode, and the upper electrode capable of receiving ablation energy individually

3. The ablation device of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the proximal electrode, the distal electrode, and the upper electrode includes a cover that creates a chamber that receives a liquid.

4. The ablation device of claim 3 wherein the liquid includes saline.

5. The ablation device of claim 1 and further comprising a cable coupled to at least one of the proximal actuator and the distal actuator and coupled to at least one of the proximal jaw, the distal jaw, and the upper jaw.

6. The ablation device of claim 1 wherein the upper jaw assembly includes an upper handle and the lower jaw assembly includes a lower handle.

7. The ablation device of claim 6 wherein the upper handle is coupled to the lower handle with at least one magnet.

8. The ablation device of claim 1 wherein the upper jaw assembly is coupled to the lower jaw assembly with a cable that can be moved by a clamp actuator.

9. The ablation device of claim 8 wherein the cable forms a loop that receives the upper jaw assembly after the lower jaw assembly is positioned within the patient.

10. The ablation device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the proximal actuator and the distal actuator is coupled to a handle with a ratcheting mechanism.

11. The ablation device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the proximal jaw and the distal jaw is coupled to an arm with a biased hinge.

12. The ablation device of claim 1 and further comprising a distal release button coupled to the distal jaw, the distal release button causing the distal jaw to open after a distal ablation.

13. The ablation device of claim 1 wherein the ablation energy includes at least one of radio frequency energy, thermal energy, cryogenic energy, and microwave energy.

14. The ablation device of claim 1 wherein the proximal actuator includes a knob and the distal actuator includes a trigger.

15. The ablation device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the proximal actuator and the distal actuator includes a lever that moves from a first position along an axis of an arm to a second position perpendicular to the axis of the arm.

16. A method of ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient, the method comprising:

inserting a lower jaw assembly through an incision in the patient;

inserting an upper jaw assembly through the incision;

coupling the upper jaw assembly to the lower jaw assembly;

moving at least one of a proximal actuator and a distal actuator in order to position at least one of a proximal jaw and a distal jaw with respect to an upper jaw; and

providing ablation energy to at least one of an upper electrode, a proximal electrode, and a distal electrode.

17. The method of claim 16 and further comprising providing ablation energy individually to at least one of an upper electrode, a proximal electrode, and a distal electrode.

18. The method of claim 16 and further comprising providing a liquid to at least one of an upper electrode, a proximal electrode, and a distal electrode.

19. The method of claim 16 and further comprising coupling the upper jaw assembly to the lower jaw assembly with at least one of a magnet and a cable.

20. The method of claim 16 and further comprising moving at least one of the proximal actuator and the distal actuator perpendicular to an arm of at least one of the upper jaw assembly and the lower jaw assembly.

21. The method of claim 16 and further comprising moving at least one of a trigger, a knob, and a lever to move at least one of the proximal actuator and the distal actuator.

22. The method of claim 16 and further comprising moving a distal release button to release distal jaw after performing an ablation.

23. The method of claim 16 and further comprising providing at least one of radio frequency energy, thermal energy, cryogenic energy, and microwave energy.