ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY ELECTRODE HAVING MULTIPLE POWER CONNECTIONS AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY DEVICES INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20100121322A1
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Endoscopic Technologies Incorporated (Atricure, Inc.)
• Inventors: Swanson, David K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,518,038 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/49
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00125 with nanostructure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1435 Spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1495 Electrodes being detachable from a support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 for high-frequency therapy

Abstract

An electrophysiology electrode having multiple power connections and electrophysiology devices including the same.

Claims

1. A method of delivering coagulation energy to a patient tissue with an electrode of an electrophysiological device, the method comprising:

positioning a clamp member of the electrophysiological device relative to the patient tissue, so that an electrode carried by the clamp member contacts the patient tissue; and

supplying power sufficient to coagulate the tissue to first and second longitudinally spaced locations on the electrode via first and second power supply lines, respectively, such that a percentage of the power supplied to the first location of the electrode is dissipated prior to reaching the second location to which power is applied by the second power supply line,

wherein the power supplied via the first power supply line to the first location is supplied independently of the power supplied via the second power supply line to the second location.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein power is simultaneously supplied to the first and second longitudinally spaced locations on the electrode via the first and second power supply lines.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second longitudinally spaced locations on the electrode are separated by a distance of about 2 cm to about 8 cm.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising supplying power sufficient to coagulate the tissue to a third location on the electrode via a third power supply line.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling the power supplied to the first location based on a temperature sensed by a first temperature sensor associated with the electrode, and controlling the power supplied to the second location based on a temperature sensed by a second temperature sensor associated with the electrode.

6. A method of delivering coagulation energy to a patient tissue with an electrophysiological device, the method comprising:

positioning the electrophysiological device relative to a patient tissue, so that an electrode of the electrophysiological device contacts the patient tissue; and

supplying power sufficient to coagulate the tissue to first and second longitudinally spaced locations on the electrode via first and second power supply lines, respectively, such that a percentage of the power supplied to the first location of the electrode is dissipated prior to reaching the second location to which power is applied by the second power supply line,

wherein the power supplied via the first power supply line to the first location is supplied independently of the power supplied via the second power supply line to the second location.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising controlling the power supplied to the first location based on a temperature sensed by a first temperature sensor of the electrophysiological device, and controlling the power supplied to the second location based on a temperature sensed by a second temperature sensor of the electrophysiological device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first and second temperature sensors are coupled with the electrode.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first and second temperature sensors are coupled with a return electrode of the electrophysiological device.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein power is simultaneously, supplied to the first and second longitudinally spaced locations on the electrode via the first and second power supply lines.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first and second longitudinally spaced locations on the electrode are separated by a distance of about 2 cm to about 8 cm.

12. The method according to claim 6, further comprising supplying power sufficient to coagulate the tissue to a third location on the electrode via a third power supply line.

13. A method of delivering coagulation energy to a patient tissue with an electrophysiological device, the method comprising:

positioning the electrophysiological device relative to a patient tissue, so that an electrode assembly of the electrophysiological device contacts the patient tissue; and

supplying power sufficient to coagulate the tissue to first and second locations on the electrode assembly via first and second power supply lines, respectively, such that power supplied to the first location of the electrode assembly is diminished prior to reaching the second location to which power is applied by the second power supply line,

wherein the power supplied via the first power supply line to the first location is supplied independently of the power supplied via the second power supply line to the second location.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first location of the electrode assembly is disposed on a first delivery electrode of the electrode assembly, and the second location of the electrode assembly is disposed on a second delivery electrode of the electrode assembly.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising controlling the power supplied to the first location based on a temperature sensed by a first temperature sensor of the electrophysiological device, and controlling the power supplied to the second location based on a temperature sensed by a second temperature sensor of the electrophysiological device.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first and second temperature sensors are coupled with the electrode assembly.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first and second temperature sensors are coupled with a return electrode of the electrophysiological device.

18. The method according to claim 13, Wherein power is simultaneously supplied to the first and second locations on the electrode assembly via the first and second power supply lines.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first and second locations on the electrode assembly are separated by a distance of about 2 cm to about 8 cm.

20. The method according to claim 13, further comprising supplying power sufficient to coagulate the tissue to a third location on the electrode assembly via a third power supply line.