Intravascular method and system for treating arrhythmia

• US 5,881,732 A
• Filed: 06/21/1996
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rui Xing Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cardima, Inc.
• Inventors: Samson, Gene, Sung, Ruey
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US08/667,394
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 128/897-899, 128/634, 606/195, 606/200, 604/60, 600/342
• US Class Current: 128/898
• 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 on 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. A method for locating and treating an arrhythmogenic site in a patient'"'"'s heart to terminate arrhythmia, comprising:

a) providing an elongated intravascular device having

an elongated shaft with a proximal section and a distal section which is much shorter than the proximal section and which is configured to be advanced though a patient'"'"'s coronary artery,

a plurality of sensing electrodes longitudinally disposed along the distal section of the intravascular device,

a plurality of electrical conductors which are connected to the sensing electrodes and which extend from said electrodes to which they are connected to a proximal section of the intravascular device,

a releasable occluding member secured to the distal section;

b) advancing the elongated intravascular device through the patient'"'"'s vasculature until the distal section of the intravascular device is disposed at a desired location within the patient'"'"'s coronary arterial system;

c) locating the arrythmogenic site by detecting electrical activity of the patient'"'"'s heart by means of the electrodes on the distal section of the intravascular device; and

d) releasing the occluding member within an arterial passageway of the patient'"'"'s coronary arterial system so as to form thrombus and thereby occlude the coronary artery leading to the arrhythmogenic site to thereby terminate the arrhythmia.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the occluding member is a helical coil which is secured to the distal section of the intravascular device by means of a soldered joint and including the steps of disposing the intravascular device within the arterial passageway which is to be occluded and separating the occluding member from the intravascular device by electrolysis of the soldered joint between the intravascular device and the helical coil.