Systems and methods for conducting electrophysiological testing using high-voltage energy pulses to stun heart tissue
First Claim
1. A method for conducting diagnostic electrophysiological testing of myocardial tissue comprising the steps oftransmitting an electrical energy pulse that temporarily renders a zone of myocardial tissue electrically unresponsive for at least one second, andsensing an electrophysiological effect due to the transmitted pulse.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for diagnosing and treating cardiac disorders transmit an electrical energy pulse that temporarily stuns a zone of myocardial tissue, temporarily rendering it electrically unresponsive. The systems and methods sense an electrophysiological effect due to the transmitted pulse. The systems and methods alter an electrophysiological property of myocardial tissue in or near the zone based, at least in part, upon the sensed electrophysiological effect. The alteration of the electrophysiological property can be accomplished, for example, by tissue ablation or by the administration of medication. In a preferred implementation, radio frequency energy is used to both temporarily stun myocardial tissue and to ablate myocardial tissue through a common electrode.
228 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A method for conducting diagnostic electrophysiological testing of myocardial tissue comprising the steps of
transmitting an electrical energy pulse that temporarily renders a zone of myocardial tissue electrically unresponsive for at least one second, and sensing an electrophysiological effect due to the transmitted pulse.
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11. A method for ablating myocardial tissue comprising the steps of
transmitting an electrical energy pulse that temporarily renders myocardial tissue electrically unresponsive for at least one second, sensing an electrophysiological effect due to the transmitted pulse, and ablating the myocardial tissue based, at least in part, upon the sensed electrophysiological effect.
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15. A method for ablating myocardial tissue comprising the steps of
transmitting a radio frequency energy pulse to temporarily rendered myocardial tissue electrically unresponsive for at least one second, sensing an electrophysiological effect due to the transmitted radio frequency energy pulse, and ablating the myocardial tissue based, at least in part, upon the sensed electrophysiological effect.
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16. A method for ablating myocardial tissue comprising the steps of
transmitting a radio frequency energy pulse into myocardial tissue to temporarily render the myocardial tissue electrically unresponsive for at least one second, sensing an electrophysiological effect due to the transmitted pulse, and transmitting radio frequency energy to ablate the myocardial tissue based at least in part, upon the sensed electrophysiological effect.
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17. A method for ablating heart tissue comprising the steps of
sensing at least one electrical event in a region of myocardial tissue, transmitting into an area of the region an electrical energy pulse that temporarily renders myocardial tissue in the area electrically unresponsive for at least one second, sensing a change in the electrical event while myocardial tissue in the area is electrically unresponsive, and ablating myocardial tissue in or near the area.
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21. A system for conducting diagnostic electrophysiological testing of myocardial tissue comprising
an electrode, a body supporting the electrode proximate to a region of myocardial tissue, a first element coupled to the electrode including means for transmitting through the electrode an electrical energy pulse that temporarily renders a zone of myocardial tissue electrically unresponsive for at least one second, and a second element including means supported proximate to the region of myocardial tissue for sensing an electrophysiological effect due to the transmitted pulse and providing an output.
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31. A system for ablating myocardial tissue comprising
an electrode, a body supporting the electrode in operative association with a region of myocardial tissue, an element coupled to the electrode including transmitting means for transmitting through the electrode an electrical energy pulse that temporarily renders myocardial tissue electrically unresponsive for at least one second, and ablation means, operably connected to the body, supported proximal to the myocardial tissue region for ablating the myocardial tissue region.
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39. A system for ablating myocardial tissue comprising
an electrode, a body supporting the electrode proximal to a region of myocardial tissue, a first element coupled to the electrode including means for transmitting through the electrode an electrical energy pulse that temporarily renders myocardial tissue electrically unresponsive for at least one second, and a second element coupled to the electrode including means for transmitting electrical energy through the electrode to ablate the myocardial tissue region.
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40. A system for ablating myocardial tissue comprising
an electrode, a body supporting the electrode proximal to a region of myocardial tissue, a generator of radio frequency energy coupled to the electrode and operable in a first mode and in a second mode, and a controller conditioning the generator for operation in the first mode, during which the generator generates for transmission by the electrode at least one pulse of radio frequency energy that creates a temporary electrical conduction block in myocardial tissue for at least one second, the controller also conditioning the generator for operation in the second mode, during which the generator generates for transmission by the electrode radio frequency energy that ablates myocardial tissue.
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41. An electrical energy generating device adapted to be coupled to an electrode comprising
first means for, when activated, generating for transmission by the electrode an electrical energy pulse that temporarily renders myocardial tissue electrically unresponsive for at least one second, second means for, when activated, generating for transmission by the electrode electrical energy to ablate myocardial tissue, and a switch to select for activation either the first means or the second means.
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49. A method of treating myocardial tissue, comprising the steps of:
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transmitting an electrical energy pulse that temporarily renders a zone of myocardial tissue electrically unresponsive without propagating a depolarization; and sensing an electrophysiological effect due to the transmitted pulse. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. An apparatus for use proximate to a region myocardial tissue, comprising:
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an electrode; first means for transmitting an electrical energy pulse through the electrode that temporarily renders a zone of myocardial tissue electrically unresponsive without propagating a depolarization; and second means for sensing an electrophysiological effect in the region of myocardial tissue due to the transmitted pulse and providing an output. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58)
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Specification