RF ablation apparatus and method using unipolar and bipolar techniques
First Claim
1. An apparatus for delivering energy to a biological site, said apparatus comprising:
- a catheter having a plurality of electrodes at its distal end, the distal end positionable so that the electrodes are located at the biological site;
a backplate positionable proximal the biological site so that the biological site is interposed between the electrodes and the backplate;
a power control system providing power to each of the electrodes, the power having, within a predetermined time duration, a plurality of alternating on periods and off periods, one set of adjacent on and off periods defining a duty cycle;
wherein during the on period of each duty cycle, the power is selected such that at least two electrodes have voltage levels that differ from each other and at least one electrode has a voltage level that differs from the backplate so that current flows between the two electrodes and between at least one electrode and the backplate; and
wherein during the off period of each duty cycle, the power is selected such that each electrode and the backplate have substantially the same voltage levels so that substantially no current flows between the electrodes and between the electrodes and the backplate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for delivering energy to a biological site includes an electrode device having a plurality of electrodes, the electrode device positioned proximal the biological site. A power control system supplies power having a controllable phase angle to each of the electrodes. A backplate is also positioned proximal the biological site so that the biological site is interposed between the electrode device and the backplate. The backplate is maintained at the reference voltage level in relation to the power. The power control system controls the phase angle of the power so that the current flow between the electrodes and between the electrodes and the backplate results in the continuity and depth of lesions desired. In a preferred embodiment, the electrodes are arranged in a substantially linear array.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. An apparatus for delivering energy to a biological site, said apparatus comprising:
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a catheter having a plurality of electrodes at its distal end, the distal end positionable so that the electrodes are located at the biological site; a backplate positionable proximal the biological site so that the biological site is interposed between the electrodes and the backplate; a power control system providing power to each of the electrodes, the power having, within a predetermined time duration, a plurality of alternating on periods and off periods, one set of adjacent on and off periods defining a duty cycle; wherein during the on period of each duty cycle, the power is selected such that at least two electrodes have voltage levels that differ from each other and at least one electrode has a voltage level that differs from the backplate so that current flows between the two electrodes and between at least one electrode and the backplate; and wherein during the off period of each duty cycle, the power is selected such that each electrode and the backplate have substantially the same voltage levels so that substantially no current flows between the electrodes and between the electrodes and the backplate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for delivering energy to heart tissue, said apparatus comprising:
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a catheter having at least three electrodes arranged in a linear array at its distal end, the distal end positionable so that the electrodes are located at the heart tissue; a backplate positionable so that the heart tissue is interposed between the electrodes and the backplate; a power control system providing power to each of the electrodes, the power having, within a predetermined time duration, a plurality of alternating on periods and off periods, one set of adjacent on and off periods defining a duty cycle; wherein during the on period of each duty cycle, at least two of the electrodes have different phase angles and the power at one of the electrodes has a voltage level that differs from the backplate so that current flows between said two electrodes and at least one electrode and the backplate; and wherein during the off period of each duty cycle, the power is selected such that each electrode and the backplate have substantially the same voltage levels so that substantially no current flows between the electrodes and between the electrodes and the backplate. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for delivering energy to a biological site, said method comprising the steps of:
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positioning a catheter having a plurality of electrodes at its distal end at the biological site; positioning a backplate proximal the biological site so that the biological site is interposed between the electrode device and the backplate; providing power to each of the electrodes, the power having, within a predetermined time duration, a plurality of alternating on periods and off periods, one set of adjacent on and off periods defining a duty cycle; during the on period of each duty cycle, selecting the power such that at least two electrodes have voltage levels that differ from each other and at least one electrode has a voltage level that differs from the backplate so that current flows between the two electrodes and between at least one electrode and the backplate; and during the off period of each duty cycle, selecting the power such that each electrode and the backplate have substantially the same voltage levels so that substantially no current flows between the electrodes and between the electrodes and the backplate. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification