Anchoring tip assembly for microwave ablation catheter
First Claim
1. An ablation catheter comprising:
- an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, the flexible tubular member including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion having a first diameter;
a transmission line disposed within the tubular member, the transmission line having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of the transmission line is suitable for connection to an electromagnetic energy source;
a transducer coupled to the transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation; and
a flexible anchoring tip extension immovably attached to and integrally formed with the distal portion of the catheter, the anchoring tip extension being more flexible than the distal portion of the elongated flexible tubular members wherein the anchoring tip extension is not arranged to penetrate a body wall of the patient during use.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ablation catheter with an anchoring tip extension includes an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient. A transmission line is disposed within the tubular member, and a transducer is coupled to the transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation. An anchoring tip extension, which is located at the distal end of the catheter, lodges into the wall of a cardiac chamber and serves to anchor the catheter both during an ablation procedure and during the process of conforming the catheter to the wall. In one preferred embodiment, the catheter includes a shape memory wire. In another embodiment, the transmission line of the catheter is a co-axial cable, and the transducer is a helical antenna coil that is adapted to radiate electromagnetic energy in the microwave frequency range. Methods for manufacturing and using such ablation catheters are also described.
409 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An ablation catheter comprising:
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an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, the flexible tubular member including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion having a first diameter; a transmission line disposed within the tubular member, the transmission line having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of the transmission line is suitable for connection to an electromagnetic energy source; a transducer coupled to the transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation; and a flexible anchoring tip extension immovably attached to and integrally formed with the distal portion of the catheter, the anchoring tip extension being more flexible than the distal portion of the elongated flexible tubular members wherein the anchoring tip extension is not arranged to penetrate a body wall of the patient during use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An ablation catheter comprising:
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an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, the flexible tubular member including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion having a first diameter; a transmission line disposed within the tubular member, the transmission line having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of the transmission line is suitable for connection to an electromagnetic energy source; a transducer coupled to the transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation; and a flexible anchoring tip extension immovably attached to the distal portion of the catheter, the anchoring tip extension having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the distal portion of the elongated flexible tubular member, wherein the anchoring tip extension is not arranged to penetrate a body wall of the patient during use. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for medical treatment using an ablation catheter system that includes a catheter having a transmission line disposed within a flexible tubular member, a transducer coupled to the transmission line at a tip portion of the catheter for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation, and a flexible anchoring tip extension immovably attached to and integrally formed with a distal portion of the catheter tip, the anchoring tip extension being more flexible than the tip portion of the catheter, the method comprising the steps of
a) introducing the catheter into a patient'"'"'s body such that the anchoring tip extension is lodged against but does not penetrate a wall of a cardiac chamber; -
b) substantially conforming the tip portion of the catheter to the wall of the chamber with the anchoring tip lodged in place; c) applying electromagnetic energy to the transmission line to cause ablation of cardiac tissue in a region adjacent the tip portion of the catheter; d) repositioning the catheter tip, wherein during repositioning of the catheter tip the anchoring tip extension is dislodged from the wall of the chamber; and e) repeating steps (c) and (d) to facilitate the ablation of different regions of cardiac tissue. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification