CRYOPROBE CLAMP HAVING TRANSMURALITY ASSESSMENT WINDOW

• US 20100298819A1
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic ATS Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: ATS Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Malewicz, Andrzej M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,764,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/20
• 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 18/0218 with open-end cryogenic probe, e.g. for spraying fluid directly on tissue or via a tissue-contacting porous tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2808 Clamp, e.g. towel clamp
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0225 using an instrument for clamping tissue, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/025 by circulating liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0256 by circulating gas, e.g. air

Abstract

A cryoprobe clamp for creating a lesion in a target tissue comprises a housing portion, a handle extending from the housing portion, a clamp assembly including a distal blade and a proximal blade structured for clamping a target tissue therebetween, a trigger mechanism positioned adjacent the handle and operably coupled to the clamp assembly, and an ablation tool extending between the housing portion and the clamp assembly. The distal blade includes receiving means structured to receive a distal portion of the ablation tool, and the proximal blade includes an outer frame surrounding an open window portion. Upon clamping the target tissue between the distal and proximal blades, a lesion formed by the distal end of the ablation tool is visible through the window portion of the proximal blade.

Claims

1. A cryoprobe clamp comprising:

a housing portion;

a handle extending from the housing portion;

a clamp assembly including a distal blade and a proximal blade, the distal and proximal blades structured for clamping a target tissue therebetween,

a trigger mechanism positioned adjacent the handle and operably coupled to the clamp assembly; and

an ablation tool extending between the housing portion and the clamp assembly;

wherein the distal blade includes receiving means structured to receive a distal portion of the ablation tool, and the proximal blade includes an outer frame surrounding an open window portion; and

wherein upon clamping the target tissue between the distal and proximal blades, a lesion formed by the distal end of the ablation tool is visible through the window portion of the proximal blade.

2. The cryoprobe clamp of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the ablation tool includes a thermally transmissive region.

3. The cryoprobe clamp of claim 1, wherein the receiving means of the distal blade includes a channel structured to receive the distal portion of the ablation tool so that only a limited segment of an outer surface of the ablation tool is exposed.

4. The cryoprobe clamp of claim 3, wherein the receiving means further includes retaining means structured to cover a portion of the channel to prevent separation of the ablation tool from the distal blade.

5. The cryoprobe clamp of claim 1, wherein the outer frame of the proximal blade has a distal side defining a tissue engaging surface that is structured to engage the target tissue when the target tissue is clamped between the distal and proximal blades.

6. The cryoprobe clamp of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the ablation tool is aligned substantially with the window portion of the proximal blade when the target tissue is clamped between the distal and proximal blades.

7. The cryoprobe clamp of claim 1, wherein the window portion of the proximal blade includes a transparent cover.

8. The cryoprobe clamp of claim 1, wherein the distal blade is at a fixed longitudinal position, and wherein the proximal blade is longitudinally slideable relative to the distal blade upon actuation of the trigger mechanism.

9. The cryoprobe clamp of claim 1, wherein the trigger mechanism is structured to be actuated from a first trigger position wherein the distal and proximal blades are in an unclamped positioned to a second trigger position wherein the distal and proximal blades are in a clamped position.

10. The cryoprobe clamp of claim 9, wherein the trigger mechanism has an upper surface with an inlaid track formed therein, the inlaid track being structured to operably engage a coupling member attached to the housing portion, and wherein the inlaid track includes a first pathway, a locking channel, and a second pathway leading back to the first pathway.

11. The cryoprobe clamp of claim 10, wherein actuating the trigger mechanism from the first trigger position to the second trigger position causes the coupling member to slide along the first pathway and into the locking channel, and wherein actuating the trigger mechanism from the second trigger position back to the first trigger position causes the coupling member to slide along the second pathway and back into the first pathway.

12. The cryoprobe clamp of claim 11, wherein the locking channel is a generally V-shaped channel disposed between the first pathway and the second pathway in the inlaid track.

13. A method of using an ablating device comprising:

providing an ablating device having first and second opposing blades moveable between a first spaced apart position and a second spaced apart position, wherein the first opposing blade includes an ablation tool disposed within a holding channel therewithin, and wherein the second opposing blade includes a window longitudinally disposed along a length of the second opposing blade;

positioning the first and second opposing blades in the first spaced apart position;

placing the first and second opposing blades about a tissue;

positioning the first and second opposing blades in the second spaced apart position such that the first and second opposing blades grasp the tissue;

forming a lesion in the tissue with the ablation device; and

assessing transmurality of the lesion without removing the first and second opposing blades from the target tissue by visualizing the lesion through the window in the second opposing blade.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the ablation tool is a flexible ablation tool.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second opposing blade includes an outer frame surrounding the window.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the outer frame of the second opposing blade has a tissue engaging surface.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the ablation device further comprises a trigger mechanism for controlling movement of the first and second opposing blades between the first spaced apart position and the second spaced apart position.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of positioning the first and second opposing blades in the second spaced apart position such that the first and second opposing blades grasp the target tissue to be treated further comprises locking the first and second opposing blades in the second spaced apart position with a locking mechanism.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the first opposing blade further includes retaining means structured to cover a portion of the holding channel to prevent separation of the ablation tool from the first opposing blade.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the holding channel of the first opposing blade is positioned such that the ablation tool is aligned substantially with the window of the second opposing blade.