Methods and devices for performing ablation and assessing efficacy thereof
First Claim
1. A device for performing an ablation procedure comprising:
- a main body having proximal and distal end portions and first and second sides extending between said proximal and distal end portions;
at least one ablation element configured to apply an ablation energy or substance to tissue to be ablated; and
at least one electrode movably positioned with respect to at least one of said sides, each said electrode configured to assume a retracted position along said respective at least one side, and an extended position extending beyond a perimeter of said main body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for performing an ablation procedure. One embodiment of a device includes a main body having proximal and distal end portions and first and second sides extending between the proximal and distal end portions. At least one ablation element is configured to apply an ablation energy or substance to tissue to be ablated. At least one electrode is movably positioned with respect to at least one of the sides of the main body, and each such electrode may be configured to assume a retracted position along that respective side of the main body, and an extended position extending beyond a perimeter of the main body. In one method embodiment, a method of performing ablation includes delivering an ablation energy or substance from an ablation device to a target area of tissue to form a lesion therein; delivering an electrical signal via said ablation device to non-ablated tissue on one side of the lesion; and monitoring non-ablated tissue on an opposite side of the lesion to assess whether electrical conduction through the lesion has occurred.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A device for performing an ablation procedure comprising:
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a main body having proximal and distal end portions and first and second sides extending between said proximal and distal end portions;
at least one ablation element configured to apply an ablation energy or substance to tissue to be ablated; and
at least one electrode movably positioned with respect to at least one of said sides, each said electrode configured to assume a retracted position along said respective at least one side, and an extended position extending beyond a perimeter of said main body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of performing ablation, said method comprising the steps of:
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delivering an ablation energy or substance from an ablation device to a target area of tissue to form a lesion therein;
delivering an electrical signal via said ablation device to non-ablated tissue on one side of the lesion; and
monitoring non-ablated tissue on an opposite side of the lesion to assess whether electrical conduction through the lesion has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of assessing the efficacy of an ablation procedure, said method comprising the steps of:
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contacting an electrode, extending from a device used to perform an ablation, to non-ablated tissue on one side of a target area for lesion formation by the ablation procedure;
delivering an electrical signal via said electrode to the non-ablated tissue contacted by the electrode; and
monitoring non-ablated tissue on an opposite side of the target area to assess electrical conduction from said electrode to said non-ablated tissue on the opposite side of the target area. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of performing atrial ablation, said method comprising the steps of:
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delivering an ablation energy or substance from an ablation device to a target area of tissue to form one or more lesions to surround one or more pulmonary vein ostia;
delivering an electrical signal via said ablation device to non-ablated tissue on one side of the lesion formation made by said one or more lesions; and
monitoring non-ablated tissue on an opposite side of the lesion formation to assess whether electrical conduction across at least one of the lesions, or through a gap between lesions has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification