IMPLANTABLE TISSUE MARKER ELECTRODE

• US 20100114287A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Inventors: Robinson, R. Scott, Privitera, Salvatore, Edgerton, James R., Miller, Kenneth Lance, Drachman, David J.
• Application Number:
  US12/609,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20100114287A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/130
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3904 specially adapted for marking specified tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3908 Soft tissue, e.g. breast tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3987 Applicators for implanting markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium

Abstract

The present application discloses a tissue marker that may be permanently applied to cardiac (or other) tissue by means such as, but not limited to, a minimally-invasive procedure to allow for pre- and post-op lesion site testing, with the marker also preferably being radiopaque to facilitate post-op imaging. More specifically, the marker may preferably comprise or include an electrode as part of an integrated assembly. The marker may be mounted on the tissue with a suitable tissue retention member for securing the marker in place. The disclosed examples include one or more tissue retention members, and in an exemplary embodiment comprises a pair of clips for securing the assembly to a target tissue. Each retention member or clip has a conductive lead with an electrically conductive surface in the form of a patch associated therewith. Each clip is preferably associated with a discrete electrically conductive area on the surface of the patch so that the assembly may function as a bi-polar electrode, with a voltage applied between the discrete conductive areas.

Claims

1. A marker for application to a target tissue comprising:

a patch having an electrically-conductive surface for contacting the target tissue;

at least one retainer associated with the patch for securing the electrically-conductive surface in contact with the target tissue; and

a conductive lead in conductive contact with the electrically conductive surface of the patch for transmitting and receiving electrical impulses.

2. A marker in accordance with claim 1 in which a portion of the marker is radiopaque.

3. The marker of claim 1 in which the conductive lead is secured to the marker by the retainer.

4. The marker of claim 1 in which the retainer comprises a clip having a pair of depending legs for extending through the patch and penetrating into the target tissue.

5. The marker of claim 1 in which the electrically conductive surface comprises two discrete electrically conductive surfaces with a retainer and conductive lead associated with each electrically conductive surfaces.

6. The marker of claim 5 in which the conductive leads are secured to the marker by their associated retainers.

7. The marker of claim 5 in which the retainers comprise clips, each clip having a pair of depending legs for extending through the patch and penetrating into the target tissue.

8. The marker of claim 3 in which the retainer comprises an eyelet for receiving the conductive lead.

9. The marker of claim 6 in which the retainer comprises an eyelet for receiving the conductive lead.

10. The marker of claim 2 in which at least a portion of the patch is radiopaque.

11. The marker of claim 5 in which at least a portion of the patch is radiopaque.

12. The marker of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the retainer is radiopaque.

13. The marker of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of the retainer is radiopaque.

14. A combination marker/electrode assembly for application to a target tissue comprising:

a patch having electrically-conductive surface thereon for contacting the target tissue;

at least one clip associated with the patch for securing the patch to the target tissue, the clip having a pair of depending legs extending through the patch for penetrating into the target tissue and being made of a radiopaque material.

a conductive lead associated with the clip and in conductive contact with the electrically conductive surface of the patch for transmitting and receiving electrical impulses.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the clip comprises an eyelet for receiving the conductive lead.

16. The continuation of claim 14 herein at least one of the patch and clip is radiopaque.