Catheter
First Claim
1. A catheter for tissue ablation, such catheter comprisinga handle a primary shaft extending from the handle an ablation segment, having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the ablation segment extending from a distal end of the primary shaft and configured to receive ablation energy therethrough for ablation of tissue contacting the segment, and a second shaft coupled to the distal end of the ablation segment, wherein the second shaft is configured to extend from the distal end of the ablation segment such that by moving the primary shaft and the second shaft the ablation segment is spatially stabilized by the positioning of the primary shaft and the second shaft to be in contact with tissue for forming tissue ablation.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter for ablating tissue, for example to treat a cardiac arrhythmia, includes a handle, a shapeable shaft and a distal ablation segment. The shaft retains a first position until manipulated to a further position with the application of moderate manual pressure. The shaft incorporates plastically deformable elements and is shapeable to conform to an insertion path or the particular anatomy of a patient for accessing a site to be ablated. Once shaped, the shaft retains its shape as the catheter is inserted or manipulated to the predetermined tissue treatment location and the distal segment is urged into contact with the tissue site. A deflection mechanism may be provided to facilitate navigation to, or to deflect the ablation segment into conformal contact with, the tissue target. In a further or alternative embodiment, a second or auxiliary shaft member extends distally from the ablation segment, allowing the segment to be threaded by or pulled past occluding tissue to a remote target tissue site. By gripping the end of the second shaft, the flexible ablation segment may be either tensioned or pulled inward against, or flexed and pushed outward against a treatment site, such as a region of the posterior epicardial wall, thus providing more effective contact for a broad range of dispositions and tissue orientations. In another embodiment, a thermal shield extends over a portion of the ablation segment, shielding adjacent tissue from damage while still effectively exposing the target tissue to ablation energy. The shield may be rotated or moved axially to delimit an area of cryogenic contact and achieve better protection of surrounding tissue structures in occluded or remote treatment target regions.
378 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A catheter for tissue ablation, such catheter comprising
a handle a primary shaft extending from the handle an ablation segment, having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the ablation segment extending from a distal end of the primary shaft and configured to receive ablation energy therethrough for ablation of tissue contacting the segment, and a second shaft coupled to the distal end of the ablation segment, wherein the second shaft is configured to extend from the distal end of the ablation segment such that by moving the primary shaft and the second shaft the ablation segment is spatially stabilized by the positioning of the primary shaft and the second shaft to be in contact with tissue for forming tissue ablation.
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7. An epicardial ablation device, comprising:
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a handle having a proximal portion and a distal portion;
a shaft having a proximal end extending from the distal portion of the handle and a distal end, the shaft having a stiffness such that the shaft retains a first shape until manipulated to a further shape by a user manually applying pressure to the shaft, wherein the further shape is conformable to an anatomy of a patient;
a steering mechanism; and
a distal segment extending from the distal end of the shaft, said distal segment being coupled to the steering mechanism, and said distal segment being continuously flexibly deflectable, the deflection of said distal segment being controllable to contact tissue along an ablation line for treatment thereof.
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8. A medical instrument, comprising:
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a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft having a malleable conformations such that the shaft retains a first shape until manipulated to a second shape, and being sufficiently rigid for pushing the distal end, a handle coupled to the proximal end of the shaft, the handle having a steering mechanism, a distal segment coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the distal segment having a transitionable radius of curvature, and a pull wire having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being coupled to the steering mechanism, and the distal end being coupled to the distal segment, the radius of curvature of the distal segment being continuously transitionable from a first position to a second position, the handle, shaft, pull wire and distal segment forming a catheter, and operable by shaping the shaft to position the distal segment in contact with tissue. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification