Endocardial Dispersive Electrode for Use with a Monopolar RF Ablation Pen
First Claim
1. A device for facilitating cardiac tissue ablation, the device comprising:
- a shaft having a proximal region and a distal region;
an electrode including an envelope, the envelope having an interior and an electrically conductive surface disposed near the shaft distal region, wherein the surface has a first configuration having a first interior volume within the conductive surface and a second, expanded configuration having a second interior volume within the conductive surface, wherein the second to volume is greater than the first volume.
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Abstract
Methods and devices for forming a lesion in a target tissue having a cavity within a first RF electrode and a second RF electrode can be coupled to opposite poles of an RF current source. The second electrode can be inserted into the tissue cavity and expanded to contact the target tissue from within. The first electrode can be externally disposed against the target tissue while applying RF current between the first and second electrodes to ablate the target tissue. Some methods are directed to ablating tribiculated atrial wall tissue to treat atrial fibrillation. The second electrode can contact the tribiculated tissue directly from within to provide a direct path between the two electrodes. In some methods, the second electrode is inserted through an incision made to remove an atrial appendage. The methods can provide deeper, narrower lesions relative to those made using remote, indifferent electrodes. Atrial fibrillation ablation procedures can be performed using the invention, requiring fewer incisions than conventional methods.
102 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for facilitating cardiac tissue ablation, the device comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal region and a distal region; an electrode including an envelope, the envelope having an interior and an electrically conductive surface disposed near the shaft distal region, wherein the surface has a first configuration having a first interior volume within the conductive surface and a second, expanded configuration having a second interior volume within the conductive surface, wherein the second to volume is greater than the first volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for forming a lesion in a target tissue having a cavity within, the method comprising:
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providing a first RF electrode coupled to one pole of an RF current source; providing a second RF electrode electrically coupled to the other pole of the RF current source, wherein the second RF electrode has an electrically conductive expandable surface; inserting the second electrode into the tissue cavity; expanding the second electrode to contact the target tissue from within the cavity; and disposing the first electrode against the target tissue while applying RF current between the first and second electrodes to ablate the target tissue. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for performing a maze procedure to treat atrial fibrillation by ablating atrial tissue to form at least one lesion in the atrial tissue, the method comprising:
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providing a first RF electrode coupled to one pole of an RF current source; providing a second RF electrode electrically coupled to the other pole of the RF current source; inserting the second electrode into the atrial chamber; and disposing the first electrode against the target tissue and drawing paths with the first electrode to form the maze lesions while applying RF current between the first and second electrodes to ablate the target tissue in a maze pattern, wherein the inserting is done through an incision made at the atrial appendage. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification