Ablation device with lockout feature

• US 20070203483A1
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kim, David, Skarda, James, Podbelski, Adam, Daigle, Thomas, Dickerson, Darrin, Bilitz, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/698,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20070203483A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• 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 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00363 Epicardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

A device for ablating tissue at a desired location in a body, the device comprising: a pair of jaws moveable between a spaced apart open position and a closed position, the pair of jaws comprising at least one ablating element for ablating tissue located between the jaws; a handle comprising controls for remotely controlling the movement of the jaws and the at least one ablative element, wherein the controls for the at least one ablative element comprise a trigger mechanism for applying ablative energy to the at least one ablating element; a neck connecting the jaws and handle; and a lockout mechanism for preventing the trigger mechanism from applying ablative energy when the jaws are in the open position.

Claims

1. A device for ablating tissue at a desired location in a body, the device comprising:

a pair ofjaws moveable between a spaced apart open position and a closed position, the pair ofjaws comprising at least one ablating element for ablating tissue located between the jaws;

a handle comprising controls for remotely controlling the movement of the jaws and the at least one ablative element, wherein the controls for the at least one ablative element comprise a trigger mechanism for applying ablative energy to the at least one ablating element;

a neck connecting the jaws and handle; and

a lockout mechanism for preventing the trigger mechanism from applying ablative energy when the jaws are in the open position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the trigger mechanism is positioned on the handle and moveable from a locked position to an unlocked position and in the locked position the trigger mechanism prevents ablative energy from being applied.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the lockout mechanism comprises a lockout flag and the trigger mechanism comprises a trigger, and wherein when the jaws are in the open position, the lockout flag prevents the trigger from being able to activate application of ablative energy.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the jaws comprise floating jaws.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the neck is flexible so as to permit the jaws to be maneuverable in the body with respect to the handle.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a lever to move the jaws from the open position to the closed position, the trigger mechanism comprises a trigger, and the lockout mechanism comprises a movable element that is movable between a first position to prevent movement of the trigger and a second position permitting movement of the trigger and an operative connection and the movable element is operatively connected to the lever such that once the lever moves the jaws to the closed position the movable element is moved to the second position.

7. A device for ablating tissue at a desired location in a body, the device comprising:

a pair of jaws moveable between a spaced apart open position and a closed position, the pair of jaws comprising at least one ablating element for ablating tissue located between the jaws;

a handle comprising controls for remotely controlling the movement of the jaws and the at least one ablative element, wherein the controls for the at least one ablative element comprise a trigger mechanism for applying ablative energy to the at least one ablating element and the controls for the movement of the jaws comprise a lever adapted to close the jaws as the lever is squeezed and to lock when the jaws are in the closed position;

a neck connecting the jaws and handle; and

a lockout mechanism for preventing the trigger mechanism from applying ablative energy when the jaws are in the open position.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein before the lever locks, the lockout mechanism prevents the trigger mechanism from applying ablative energy.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein after the lever is locked and the jaws in the closed position, the trigger mechanism may apply ablative energy.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the lockout mechanism comprises a lockout flag and the trigger mechanism comprises a trigger, and wherein when the jaws are in the open position, the lockout flag prevents the trigger from being able to activate application of ablative energy.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the lockout flag prevents the trigger from activating ablative energy by preventing pulling of the trigger.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the lockout flag is a visual and tactile indicator that the trigger may not apply ablative energy.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein when the jaws are in a closed position and locked, the lockout flag recesses into an aperture in the trigger and allows the trigger to activate application of ablative energy.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein the jaws comprise floating jaws.

15. The device of claim 7, wherein the neck is flexible so as to permit the jaws to be maneuverable in the body with respect to the handle.