Circumferential ablation device assembly
First Claim
1. A tissue ablation device assembly for ablating a substantial portion of a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium in a patient, comprising:
- an elongate body with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion having proximal and distal sections;
an expandable member including a proximal end and a distal end coupled to the proximal and distal sections of the distal end portion, respectively, the expandable member being adjustable between a radially collapsed condition and a radially expanded condition with an expanded outer diameter which is adapted to engage the substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue; and
an ultrasound ablation element secured to the distal section at a fixed position within the expandable member, wherein the ultrasound ablation element is adapted to emit a substantially circumferential pattern of ultrasound energy and to ablatively couple to the substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue engaged by the expandable member in the radially expanded condition when the ultrasound ablation element is coupled to and actuated by an ultrasound ablation actuator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member with a working length that is adjustable from a radially collapsed position to a radially expanded position. An equatorial band circumscribes the outer surface of the working length and is adapted to ablate tissue adjacent thereto when actuated by an ablation actuator. The equatorial band has a length relative to the longitudinal axis of the expandable member that is narrow relative to the working length, and is also substantially shorter than its circumference when the working length is in the radially expanded position. A pattern of insulators may be included over an ablation element which otherwise spans the working length in order to form the equatorial band described. The expandable member is also adapted to conform to the pulmonary vein in the region of its ostium, such as by providing a great deal of radial compliance or by providing a taper along the working length which has a distally reducing outer diameter. A linear ablation element is provided adjacent to the circumferential ablation element in a combination assembly which is adapted for use in a less-invasive "maze"-type procedure in the region of the pulmonary vein ostia in the left ventricle. A cylindrical ultrasound transducer is provided on an inner member within the balloon and forms the circumferential ablation member by emitting a radial ultrasound signal which is circumferential to the transducer and highly collimated to the transducer'"'"'s length. The circumferential ultrasound signal sonically couples to the balloon'"'"'s outer skin to form the circumferential ablation element that is adapted to ablate a circumferential path of tissue engaged to the balloon.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A tissue ablation device assembly for ablating a substantial portion of a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium in a patient, comprising:
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an elongate body with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion having proximal and distal sections; an expandable member including a proximal end and a distal end coupled to the proximal and distal sections of the distal end portion, respectively, the expandable member being adjustable between a radially collapsed condition and a radially expanded condition with an expanded outer diameter which is adapted to engage the substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue; and an ultrasound ablation element secured to the distal section at a fixed position within the expandable member, wherein the ultrasound ablation element is adapted to emit a substantially circumferential pattern of ultrasound energy and to ablatively couple to the substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue engaged by the expandable member in the radially expanded condition when the ultrasound ablation element is coupled to and actuated by an ultrasound ablation actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for treating atrial arrhythmia by ablating a substantial portion of a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium in a patient, comprising:
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providing an ultrasound ablation element coupled to an acoustic energy driver, and coupled to and fixed within a tissue coupling assembly, wherein the ultrasound ablation element is fixed within the tissue coupling assembly; contacting the substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue with at least a portion of the tissue coupling assembly, such that the ultrasound ablation element is positioned to deliver a substantially circumferential pattern of ultrasound energy through the tissue coupling assembly to the substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue; and actuating the acoustic energy driver to ablatively couple the ultrasound ablation element to the substantial portion of the circumferential region of tissue via the tissue coupling assembly. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification