Intravascular system for treating arrhythmia

• US 5,685,322 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sichuan Jinwangtong Electronic Science & Technology Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Cardima, Inc.
• Inventors: Samson, Gene, Sung, Ruey
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US08/482,126
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 128/642, 128/897, 128/772, 606/32, 606/41, 606/108, 607/116, 607/122
• US Class Current: 128/897
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1214 Coils or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12145 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1215 comprising additional materials, e.g. thrombogenic, having filaments, having fibers, being coated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12163 having a string of elements connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12168 having a mesh structure A61B17/1214 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12063 electrolytically detachable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]

Abstract

A method and system for treating a patient'"'"'s heart exhibiting arrhythmia by first detecting electrical activity within the patient'"'"'s heart to determine the location of the arrhythmogenic site or conductive pathway causing the arrhythmia and then creating an infarct within the region of the patient'"'"'s heart where the arrhythmogenic site or the conductive pathway causing the arrhythmia is located by delivering an occluding element to a coronary artery which delivers oxygenated blood to said region of the patient'"'"'s heart. In one presently preferred embodiment the occluding element is a flaccid or limp coil which when disposed in a coronary arterial passageway forms a randomly shaped, intertwined mass which quickly forms thrombus within the coronary artery to block the passage of oxygenated blood therethrough. The flaccid coil may be delivered through an inner lumen of a catheter which has a distal portion extending within the coronary artery.

Claims

1. An elongated intravascular device for treating a patient'"'"'s heart which exhibits arrhythmia, comprising:

a) an elongated shaft having a proximal section and a distal section which is much shorter than the proximal section and which is configured to be advanced within a coronary artery disposed within a region of the patient'"'"'s heart from which electrical activity causing the arrhythmia originates or is conducted;

b) a plurality of sensing electrodes spacially disposed on the distal shaft section which are adapted to receive electrical signals from within the coronary artery disposed within the region of the patient'"'"'s heart;

c) a plurality of electrical conductors which are electrically connected to separate sensing electrodes on the distal shaft section, which extend to a proximal extremity of the elongated shaft, and which are adapted to transfer electrical signals received by the sensing electrode connected thereto; and

d) a occluding element releaseably secured to the distal section of the elongated shaft which is adapted to form thrombus when disposed within a patient'"'"'s coronary artery and to thereby occlude the artery.

2. The elongated intervascular device of claim 1 wherein the occluding element is a helical coil.

3. The elongated intravascular device of claim 2 wherein a proximal portion of the helical coil is secured by a solder to the distal section of the shaft.