Electrophysiological mapping and ablation catheter and method
First Claim
1. A catheter for mapping and ablating biological tissue, the biological tissue being located in a biological structure in which fluids flow past the tissue to be ablated, the catheter having a size such that it can be percutaneously positioned at the tissue to be ablated, the catheter comprising:
- a body member having a size such that it can be percutaneously introduced to a patient and having a distal end and a proximal end;
an electrode mounted at the distal end of the body member with a distal tip extending distally from the body member, the distal tip having a size such that it can provide relatively high resolution mapping and a shape and a length such that when positioned against the tissue for ablation, a portion of the distal tip is not in contact with the tissue and extends into contact with the fluids in the biological structure for communicating heat to the fluids thereby cooling the electrode, the electrode comprising;
an outer surface formed of a biologically compatible material with a thermal conductivity at least as great as platinum 10 iridium that completely covers the distal tip; and
a thermal dissipating mass formed of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than pure platinum, said mass extending into the distal tip and said portion extending into the distal tip being completely covered by the outer surface for dissipating heat received by the electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mapping and ablating catheter having a short distal tip electrode comprising a bio-compatible outer surface and a thermal dissipating mass for dissipating heat received by the electrode. The outer surface may be formed by plating a thin layer of gold or platinum on the dissipating mass, or the entire electrode may be formed of a homogenous material such as a gold alloy that is bio-compatible thereby forming the outer surface with the mass itself. An alloy having a thermal conductivity greater than pure platinum is used so that the ablation procedure can be completed before exceeding the temperature limits. In one case, the entire electrode was formed of a 88% gold 12% nickel alloy. The electrical feed to the electrode is oversized to also dissipate heat received by the electrode. The electrode is no greater than five mm in length yet produces an ablation volume equal to or greater than longer electrodes. One or more band electrodes may also include thermal dissipating masses.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A catheter for mapping and ablating biological tissue, the biological tissue being located in a biological structure in which fluids flow past the tissue to be ablated, the catheter having a size such that it can be percutaneously positioned at the tissue to be ablated, the catheter comprising:
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a body member having a size such that it can be percutaneously introduced to a patient and having a distal end and a proximal end; an electrode mounted at the distal end of the body member with a distal tip extending distally from the body member, the distal tip having a size such that it can provide relatively high resolution mapping and a shape and a length such that when positioned against the tissue for ablation, a portion of the distal tip is not in contact with the tissue and extends into contact with the fluids in the biological structure for communicating heat to the fluids thereby cooling the electrode, the electrode comprising; an outer surface formed of a biologically compatible material with a thermal conductivity at least as great as platinum 10 iridium that completely covers the distal tip; and a thermal dissipating mass formed of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than pure platinum, said mass extending into the distal tip and said portion extending into the distal tip being completely covered by the outer surface for dissipating heat received by the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13)
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11. A catheter for mapping and ablating biological tissue, the biological tissue being located in a biological structure in which fluids flow past the tissue to be ablated, the catheter having a size such that it can be percutaneously positioned at the tissue to be ablated, the catheter comprising:
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a body member having a size such that it can be percutaneously introduced to a patient and having a distal end and a proximal end; an electrode mounted at the distal end of the body member, the electrode having a size such that it can provide relatively high resolution mapping and a shape and a length such that when positioned against the tissue for ablation, a portion of the electrode is not in contact with the tissue and extends into contact with the fluids in the biological structure for communicating heat to the fluids thereby cooling the electrode, the electrode comprising; an outer surface formed of a biologically compatible material with a thermal conductivity at least as great as platinum 10 iridium, wherein the outer surface completely covers the electrode portions to be positioned against tissue and in contact with the fluids of the biological structure; and a thermal dissipating mass formed of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than pure platinum and disposed in contact with the outer surface for dissipating heat received by the electrode; a band electrode mounted at the distal end of the body member and comprising; an outer surface formed of a biologically compatible material with a thermal conductivity at least as great as platinum 10 iridium; and a thermal dissipating mass formed of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than pure platinum and disposed in contact with the outer surface for dissipating heat received by the electrode; wherein the outer surface and the thermal dissipating mass of the band electrode are formed as a unitary structure of a homogenous alloy of material having a thermal conductivity exceeding pure platinum.
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14. A catheter for mapping and ablating biological tissue, the biological tissue being located in a biological structure in which fluids flow past the tissue to be ablated, the catheter having a size such that it can be percutaneously positioned at the tissue to be ablated, the catheter comprising:
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a body member having a size such that it can be percutaneously introduced to a patient and having a distal end and a proximal end; an electrode mounted at the distal end of the body member and having a distal tip extending distally from the body member, the distal tip having a size such that it can provide relatively high resolution mapping and a shape and a length such that when positioned against the tissue for ablation, a portion of the electrode is not in contact with the tissue and extends into contact with the fluids in the biological structure for communicating heat to the fluids thereby cooling the electrode, the electrode comprising a thermal dissipating mass, a portion of which extends into the distal tip, said distal tip portion being formed entirely of a biologically compatible material having a thermal conductivity greater than pure platinum for dissipating heat received by the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A catheter for mapping and ablating biological tissue, the biological tissue being located in a biological structure in which fluids flow past the tissue to be ablated, the catheter comprising:
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a body member having a size such that it can be percutaneously introduced to a patient and having a distal end and a proximal end; and a tip electrode mounted at the distal end of the body member, the electrode having a size such that it can provide relatively high resolution mapping and a shape and a length such that when positioned against the tissue for ablation, a portion of the electrode is not in contact with the tissue and extends into contact with the fluids in the biological structure for communicating heat to the fluids thereby cooling the electrode; wherein the tip electrode is formed of a chemically inert, biocompatible and homogeneous material having a thermal conductivity exceeding pure platinum. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification