Electrical Block Positioning Devices And Methods Of Use therefor

• US 20060247607A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Syntach AG
• Original Assignee: Syntach AG
• Inventors: Cornelius, Richard, Swanson, William
• Application Number:
  US11/457,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247607A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like 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 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00247 Making holes in the wall of the heart, e.g. laser Myocardial revascularization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3484 Anchoring means, e.g. spreading-out umbrella-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3486 Balloon
• 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 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00279 deployable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00375 Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• 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 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/144 : Wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 : Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 : with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 : Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 : Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 : Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 : Catheter tip comprising a tool
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 : in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 : Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 : Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 : Shape memory

Abstract

The present invention provides positioning mechanisms for devices that cause conduction blocks or ablation in desired areas of tissue. The positioning mechanisms allow for variable geometry of the target sites and enable more accurate therapy at the tissue site.

Claims

1. A method of creating a conduction block within a body comprising:

providing a treatment device comprising a plurality of anchoring members, at least some of said plurality of anchoring members being connected to each other with an associated connective element;

positioning said treatment device adjacent to a target tissue area within a body;

directing said anchoring members into a tissue of said target tissue area;

contacting each connective element associated with said anchoring members against said target tissue area; and

allowing said anchoring members and each associated connective element to induce a healing response in said target tissue area within said body so as to form a conduction block in said target tissue area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of a treatment device includes providing a treatment device wherein said plurality of anchoring members and said associated connective element form a substantially circular treatment device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to positioning said treatment device adjacent to a target tissue area said treatment device is loaded into a delivery device and wherein said positioning of said treatment device includes expanding a plurality of arms of said delivery device such that said plurality of arms place said anchoring members adjacent said target tissue.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said directing said anchoring members into a tissue includes urging each of said plurality of anchoring members into said target tissue with said plurality of arms of said delivery device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said directing said anchoring members into a tissue of said target tissue area includes piercing said target tissue with said anchoring members.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said allowing said anchoring members and each associated connective element to induce a healing response in said target tissue includes allowing said anchoring members and each associated connective element to induce ablation of said target tissue.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the target tissue area includes a path around an ostium of a pulmonary vein.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said connective element is a tether.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said connective element is comprised of an ablation-causing material.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said ablation-causing material is selected from a group consisting of:

polyorthoesters, polycaprolactone, and copper.

11. A method of reducing conduction pathways in heart tissue comprising:

piercing target heart tissue with a plurality of pins so as to anchor said pins in said target heart tissue;

contacting a tether linking each of said pins together to target heart tissue between each of said pins; and

,

allowing said pins and said tether to induce a healing response on said target heart tissue until a substantially continuous line of electrical block is formed by said pins and said tether in said target heart tissue.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein prior to said piercing, said pins and said tether are delivered to said target heart tissue with a delivery device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said piercing said target heart tissue with a plurality of pins includes urging arm members of said delivery device against said plurality of pins so that said plurality of pins pierce said target heart tissue.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said piercing said target heart tissue with said plurality of pins comprises urging said plurality of pins into heart tissue surrounding an ostium of a pulmonary vein.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said contacting a tether to target heart tissue between each of said pins includes contacting a tether comprised of an ablative material to said target heart tissue.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the forming of a substantially continuous line of electrical block comprising generating a continuous line of electrical block around an ostium of a pulmonary vein.

17. A device for causing ablation within tissue comprising:

a plurality of pins, each of said pins having a first end shaped to pierce a target tissue;

an elongated flexible member coupling each of said pins together; and

, said elongated flexible member comprised of a material that causes a healing response in tissue.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said elongated flexible member couples said pins together so as to form a generally circular shape.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said elongated flexible couples said pins together so as to form a shape that at least partially encircles an ostium of a pulmonary vein.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein said plurality of pins and said elongate flexible member combine to generate a substantially continuous line of electrical block in said tissue.