SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING MEDICAL ABLATION SYSTEMS AND HAVING MAPPING CATHETERS WITH IMPROVED ANCHORING ABILITY
First Claim
1. A mapping catheter comprising:
- an elongated body configured and arranged for insertion into patient vasculature, wherein adistal end of the elongated body comprises;
a distal portion comprising a plurality of electrodes,a proximal portion disposed proximal to the distal portion, anda reduced-dimension portion disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the reduced-dimension portion having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than corresponding cross-sectional dimensions of both a proximally-positioned adjacent section of the distal portion and a distally-positioned adjacent section of the proximal portion;
wherein the distal end is formed, at least in part, from a memory shape material that bends into a preformed shape upon release from a confined space, the preformed shape comprising a first loop formed, at least in part, by the distal portion, wherein the first loop is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the proximal portion,wherein the reduced-dimension portion is configured and arranged to bend such that the reduced-dimension section advances distally through the first loop when the first loop is held in a fixed position and a force is applied along the longitudinal axis of the proximal portion in a distal direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mapping catheter includes an elongated body for inserting into patient vasculature. A distal end of the elongated body includes a distal portion that includes a plurality of electrodes, a proximal portion disposed proximal to the distal portion, and a reduced-dimension portion disposed between the proximal and distal portions. The distal end is formed, at least in part, from a memory shape material that bends into a preformed shape upon release from a confined space. The preformed shape includes a first loop formed, at least in part, by the distal portion. The first loop is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the proximal portion. The reduced-dimension portion is configured and arranged to bend such that the reduced-dimension section advances distally through the first loop when the first loop is held in a fixed position and a force is applied distally along the longitudinal axis of the proximal portion.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mapping catheter comprising:
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an elongated body configured and arranged for insertion into patient vasculature, wherein a distal end of the elongated body comprises; a distal portion comprising a plurality of electrodes, a proximal portion disposed proximal to the distal portion, and a reduced-dimension portion disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the reduced-dimension portion having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than corresponding cross-sectional dimensions of both a proximally-positioned adjacent section of the distal portion and a distally-positioned adjacent section of the proximal portion; wherein the distal end is formed, at least in part, from a memory shape material that bends into a preformed shape upon release from a confined space, the preformed shape comprising a first loop formed, at least in part, by the distal portion, wherein the first loop is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the proximal portion, wherein the reduced-dimension portion is configured and arranged to bend such that the reduced-dimension section advances distally through the first loop when the first loop is held in a fixed position and a force is applied along the longitudinal axis of the proximal portion in a distal direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An ablation system comprising:
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an ablation catheter having a distal portion, a proximal portion, and a longitudinal length, the ablation catheter configured and arranged for insertion into patient vasculature, the ablation catheter comprising a body and defining at least one coolant outtake region extending along at least a portion of the ablation catheter; a guide tube at least partially disposed in the ablation catheter; an expansion element coupled to the distal portion of the body of the ablation catheter, the expansion element configured and arranged for ablating patient tissue; a mapping catheter comprising an elongated body insertable into the guide tube, the elongated body comprising a distal end that is extendable from a distal end of the guide tube, the distal end of the elongated body comprising; a distal portion comprising a plurality of electrodes, a proximal portion disposed proximal to the distal portion, and a reduced-dimension portion disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the reduced-dimension portion having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than corresponding cross-sectional dimensions of both a proximally-positioned adjacent section of the distal portion and a distally-positioned adjacent section of the proximal portion; wherein the distal end is formed, at least in part, from a memory shape, material that bends into a preformed shape upon release from a confined space, the preformed shape comprising a first loop formed, at least in part, by the distal portion, wherein the first loop is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the proximal portion, wherein the reduced-dimension portion is configured and arranged to bend such that the reduced-dimension section advances distally through the first loop when the first loop is held in a fixed position and a force is applied along the longitudinal axis of the proximal portion in a distal direction; and a control module coupled to the ablation catheter and the mapping catheter, the control module configured and arranged for controlling the mapping of electrical activity of the mapping catheter and the ablation of patient tissue by ablation catheter. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of mapping a pulmonary vein, the method comprising:
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guiding a mapping catheter in proximity to an ostium of a pulmonary vein, the mapping catheter comprising an elongated body with a distal end formed, at least in part, from a memory shape material that bends into a preformed shape upon release from a confined space, the distal end of the elongated body comprising; a distal portion comprising a plurality of electrodes, a proximal portion disposed proximal to the distal portion, and a reduced-dimension portion disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the reduced-dimension portion having a cross-sectional dimension that is less than corresponding cross-sectional dimensions of both a proximally-positioned adjacent section of the distal portion and a distally-positioned adjacent section of the proximal portion, wherein the preformed shape comprises a first loop formed, at least in part, by the distal portion, wherein the first loop is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the proximal portion, inserting the mapping catheter into the pulmonary vein such that the first loop abuts inner walls of the pulmonary vein; providing a force distally along the axis of the proximal portion sufficient to cause the reduced-dimension portion to preferentially bend such that the reduced-dimension portion advances distally through the first loop; and mapping electrical activity within walls of the pulmonary vein using a plurality of mapping electrodes disposed along the first loop. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification