INTRA-ATRIAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

• US 20100030204A1
• Filed: 02/03/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CardioNova Ltd.
• Original Assignee: CardioNova Ltd.
• Inventors: Stein, Uri, Sela, Nathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/21
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• 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 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1059 having different inflatable sections mainly depending on the response to the inflation pressure, e.g. due to different material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1072 having balloons with two or more compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1097 with perfusion means for enabling blood circulation only while the balloon is in an inflated state, e.g. temporary by-pass within balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1002 characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters

Abstract

An intra-atrial ablation therapy apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a balloon adapted for intra-atrial inflation to fill at least part of the atrium, the balloon being adapted to permit a flow of blood from a pulmonary vein to a mitral valve when inflated in the atrium. The apparatus further comprises an inflation lumen being in fluid communication with the balloon and adapted for conducting an inflation fluid to the balloon. The apparatus also comprises an ablation tool connected to the catheter.

Claims

1. An intra-atrial ablation therapy apparatus comprising:

a plurality of balloons adapted for intra-atrial inflation to fill at least part of the atrium, said balloons being adapted to permit a flow of blood from a pulmonary vein to a mitral valve when inflated in the atrium, wherein said plurality of balloons are spaced within the atrium so as to permit blood flow between said plurality of balloons when inflated in the atrium;

an inflation lumen being in fluid communication with said balloons and adapted for conducting an inflation fluid to said balloons;

an expandable ablation tool configured as a loop, and a catheter adapted to deliver the ablation tool and said balloons to the atria.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said balloons is asymmetric.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of balloons is adapted to occupy at least 70% of an atrial volume when inflated in the atria.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of at least one of said balloons comprises at least one structural element constructed so as to allow blood flow between said outer surface and an inner wall of the atrium.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least one structural element is selected from the group consisting of protrusions extending from said outer surface and slits formed in said outer surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a spacer positioned between said ablation tool and at least one of said balloons, said spacer adapted to prevent contact between a portion of at least one of said balloons and an inner wall of the atrium.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said spacer comprises an additional balloon.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said ablation tool comprises a cryo-ablation element.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a longitudinal section of said ablation tool is characterized in that a thermal conductivity of a first circumferential section of said longitudinal section is higher than the thermal conductivity of at least one second circumferential section of said longitudinal section, said at least one second circumferential section being complementary to said first circumferential section.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said ablation tool comprises an ablation element which ablates by heating.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the loop of said ablation tool is connected to additional tool material in said catheter.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein supply of additional tool material from said catheter causes expansion of the loop.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein expansion of the loop moves additional tool material from said catheter to the loop.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein inflation of at least one of said balloons causes said ablation tool to expand and move towards an ablation location.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, comprising an arrangement of rings installed on a surface of at least one of said balloons, said ablation tool passing through the rings such that inflation of said balloon causes said ablation tool to expand.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of balloons and said catheter comprises an arrangement of rings adapted for receiving a guidewire for guiding said ablation tool to an ablation location.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a net of strings stretched over at least part of a surface of at least one of said balloons, and an arrangement of rings connected to said net.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said ablation tool is mounted on an outer surface of at least one of said balloons.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said ablation tool is mounted by a connection mechanism selected such that when at least one of said balloons is inflated said ablation tool is detached from said outer surface of at least one of said balloons.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said ablation tool is embedded in a wall of at least one of said balloons.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said ablation tool is disposed within an inner cavity of at least one of said balloons.

24. The apparatus of claim 50, further comprising an inflation controller adapted to independently inflate each of said chambers of each of said balloons, wherein a relative position of said ablation tool with respect to an ablation location is adjustable by regulating a degree of inflation of each of said chambers.

50. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of balloons comprises at least two independently inflatable chambers.

6. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

25-49. -49. (canceled)