ATRIAL ABLATION CATHETER AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20080306477A1
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kunis, Christopher G., Werneth, Randell L., Sherman, Marshall L., Castellano, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,273,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• 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 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 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing

Abstract

An atrial ablation catheter and methods for its use. The endocardial catheter includes an electrode array particularly adapted to locate and ablate foci of arrhythmia which are required for sustained atrial fibrillation is provided. The array is easily deployed and retracted from the catheter, and presents a distally oriented electrode array that can be pressed against the wall of the atrium.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. An ablation catheter adapted to ablate atrial wall tissue, comprising:

an inner catheter tube;

an outer catheter tube slidably mounted on the inner catheter tube;

at least one resilient arm disposed on the inner catheter tube, the at least one resilient arm having a delivery configuration and an expanded configuration and comprising a distal arm section, a proximal arm section, and a bend section disposed between the distal arm section and the proximal arm section; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal arm section of the at least one resilient arm,

wherein the at least one resilient arm is adapted to expand from the delivery configuration to the expanded configuration when the outer catheter tube is withdrawn proximally over the inner catheter tube.

20. The ablation catheter of claim 19, wherein the at least one resilient arm is adapted to bend at the bend section when it expands from the delivery configuration to the expanded configuration.

21. The ablation catheter of claim 19 wherein the proximal arm section forms an acute angle with the distal arm section at the bend section when the at least one resilient arm is in the expanded configuration.

22. The ablation catheter of claim 19 wherein the at least one resilient arm comprises a wire.

23. The ablation catheter of claim 19 further comprising a pin extending into the inner catheter tube, the pin being longitudinally slidable relative to the inner catheter tube.

24. The ablation catheter of claim 23 wherein the proximal arm section is attached to the inner catheter tube and the distal arm section is attached to the pin.

25. The ablation catheter of claim 19 further adapted to map atrial wall tissue.

26. The ablation catheter of claim 19 wherein the bend section is pre-formed in the at least one resilient arm.

27. An ablation catheter adapted to ablate atrial wall tissue, comprising:

an inner catheter tube;

an outer catheter tube slidably mounted on the inner catheter tube;

at least one resilient arm disposed on the inner catheter tube, the at least one resilient arm having a delivery configuration and an expanded configuration and comprising a distal arm section, a proximal arm section, and a bend section disposed between the distal arm section and the proximal arm section; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal arm section of the at least one resilient arm,

wherein the at least one resilient arm is adapted to self-expand from the delivery configuration to the expanded configuration.

28. The ablation catheter of claim 27, wherein the at least one resilient arm is adapted to bend at the bend section when it expands from the delivery configuration to the expanded configuration.

29. The ablation catheter of claim 27 wherein the proximal arm section forms an acute angle with the distal arm section at the bend section when the at least one resilient arm is in the expanded configuration.

30. The ablation catheter of claim 27 wherein the at least one resilient arm comprises a wire.

31. The ablation catheter of claim 27 further comprising a pin extending into the inner catheter tube, the pin being longitudinally slidable relative to the inner catheter tube.

32. The ablation catheter of claim 31 wherein the proximal arm section is attached to the inner catheter tube and the distal arm section is attached to the pin.

33. The ablation catheter of claim 27 further adapted to map atrial wall tissue.

34. The ablation catheter of claim 27 wherein the bend section is preformed in the at least one resilient arm.