Method and apparatus for tissue ablation

• US 20070270799A1
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Francischelli
• Original Assignee: David Francischelli
• Inventors: Francischelli, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,262,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• 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 2018/00994 combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes

Abstract

A method for ablation in which a portion of atrial tissue around the pulmonary veins of the heart is ablated by a first elongated ablation component and a second elongated ablation component movable relative to the first ablation component and having means for magnetically attracting the first and second components toward one another. The magnetic means draw the first and second components toward one another to compress the atrial tissue therebetween, along the length of the first and second components and thereby position the device for ablation of the tissue.

Claims

1. A method of ablating tissue comprising:

selecting a first elongated ablation component carrying a longitudinally extending first means for delivery of ablation energy and a second elongated ablation component and movable relative to the first ablation component, wherein the first and second components are provided with means mounted to and extending along the first and second components for magnetically attracting the first and second ablation components toward one another along the length of the first means for delivery of ablation energy;

placing selected one of the first and second components along a first portion of tissue of the atrium on an external portion of the heart adjacent one or more pulmonary veins;

placing the other of the first and second components along a second portion of tissue of the atrium on an external portion of the heart adjacent the one or more pulmonary veins to allow the magnetically attracting means to draw the first and second components toward one another to compress the first and second portions of tissue therebetween, along the length of the first and second components; and

applying ablation energy.

2. A tissue ablation method comprising:

placing a first cryo-ablation ablation component on a first portion of tissue of a hollow organ;

placing a second component on a second portion of tissue of the hollow organ, wherein the second component is coupled to the first component, wherein the first and second components are magnetically attracted toward one another to compress the first and second portions of tissue therebetween;

applying cryo-ablation ablation energy to the tissue therebetween to create an ablation lesion.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein the hollow organ is a heart or portion thereof.

4. A method as in claim 2 wherein the first portion of tissue is a portion of atrial tissue.

5. A method as in claim 2 wherein the second portion of tissue is a portion of atrial tissue.

6. A method as in claim 2 wherein the first portion of tissue is a portion of tissue adjacent the base of a pulmonary vein.

7. A method as in claim 2 wherein the second portion of tissue is a portion of tissue adjacent the base of a pulmonary vein.

8. A method as in claim 2 wherein the first or second component comprises a rare earth magnet.

9. A method as in claim 2 wherein the first or second component comprises an electromagnet.

10. A method as in claim 2 wherein the first or second component comprises a rigid portion.

11. A method as in claim 2 wherein the first component comprises a rigid portion and the second component comprises a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portion is sufficiently flexible to be magnetically deflected into alignment with the first component.

12. A method as in claim 2 wherein the first and second components are pivotally coupled to one another.

13. A method as in claim 2 wherein the first and second components comprise jaws of a hemostat.

14. A method as in claim 2 wherein one of the first and second components is provided with a pre-formed curve portion.

15. A method as in claim 2 wherein each of the first and second components is provided with a pre-formed curve portion.

16. A method as in claim 2 wherein the second component is a second ablation component for delivery of an ablation energy.

17. A tissue ablation device comprising:

a first cryo-ablation ablation component for delivery of cryo-ablation energy, the first component comprising a first magnetically attractive element, a portion of the first component being manually shapeable; and

,

a second component comprising a second magnetically attractive element for magnetically attracting the first and second components toward one another, the second component coupled to the first component;

a portion of the second component being sufficiently flexible to be deflected into alignment with the first component by the magnetically attractive elements.

18. A system as in claim 17 wherein second component is a second ablation component for delivery of an ablation energy.

19. A system as in claim 17 wherein at least one of the magnetically attractive elements comprises a rare earth magnet.

20. A system as in claim 17 wherein at least one of the magnetically attractive elements comprises an electromagnet.

21. A system as in claim 17 wherein the first and second components are pivotally coupled to one another.

22. A system as in claim 17 wherein the first and second components comprise jaws of a hemostat.