Ablation catheter and method for isolating a pulmonary vein
First Claim
1. A method for forming an ablation pattern to electrically isolate a vessel having an ostium from a chamber formed within a patient for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the method including:
- selecting a catheter assembly comprising a catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion forming a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis, the loop defining a loop axis that is aligned with the longitudinal axis, and at least one electrode displayed along the distal portion;
guiding the distal portion into the chamber;
directing the distal portion to a position spaced from the vessel ostium, whereby the loop axis is substantially aligned with a center of the vessel ostium;
advancing the distal portion in a direction parallel with the loop axis such that the loop contacts the chamber wall about the vessel ostium; and
energizing the electrode to ablate a continuous, closed lesion pattern about the vessel ostium to electrically isolate the vessel from the chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter assembly and method for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, for example, atrial fibrillation, by electrically isolating a vessel, such as a pulmonary vein, from a chamber, such as the left atrium. The catheter assembly includes a catheter body and at least one electrode. The catheter body includes a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion. The intermediate portion extends from the proximal portion and defines a longitudinal axis. The distal portion extends from the intermediate portion and forms a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis. The at least one electrode is disposed along the loop. With this configuration, the loop is axially directed into contact with the chamber wall about the vessel ostium. Upon energization, the electrode ablates a continuous lesion pattern about the vessel ostium, thereby electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for forming an ablation pattern to electrically isolate a vessel having an ostium from a chamber formed within a patient for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the method including:
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selecting a catheter assembly comprising a catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion forming a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis, the loop defining a loop axis that is aligned with the longitudinal axis, and at least one electrode displayed along the distal portion;
guiding the distal portion into the chamber;
directing the distal portion to a position spaced from the vessel ostium, whereby the loop axis is substantially aligned with a center of the vessel ostium;
advancing the distal portion in a direction parallel with the loop axis such that the loop contacts the chamber wall about the vessel ostium; and
energizing the electrode to ablate a continuous, closed lesion pattern about the vessel ostium to electrically isolate the vessel from the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
an elongated guide body having a central lumen and defining a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter body being slidably maintained within the central lumen such that in a deployed position, the distal portion of the catheter body extends distally from the distal end of the guide body, and in a retracted position, the distal portion is proximal the distal end;
wherein the distal portion is substantially straight in the retracted position.
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10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
deploying the distal portion of the catheter body from the distal end of the guide body prior to the loop contacting the chamber wall.
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11. The method of claim 9, wherein the distal portion is made of a shape memory material such that the distal portion forms the loop in the deployed position.
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12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
straightening the distal portion with a stylet slidably disposed within a central lumen formed by the catheter body prior to guiding the distal portion into the chamber.
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13. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a catheter assembly further includes selecting a catheter assembly with the loop defining a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the at least one electrode includes a first section positioned at the proximal end and a second section positioned at the distal end, the loop being configured such that when axially compressed, the first section is immediately adjacent the second section.
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14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first section includes an electrode apart from an electrode of the second section.
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15. A method of electrically isolating a vessel from a chamber formed within a patient, the vessel defining an ostium in a wall of the chamber, for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the method comprising:
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providing a catheter assembly comprising a catheter body having a distal portion forming a closed loop maintaining a plurality of electrodes; and
ablating a continuous, closed lesion pattern in the chamber wall about the vessel ostium by substantially simultaneously energizing the plurality of electrodes, the lesion pattern electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber.
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16. A method of electrically isolating a vessel from a chamber formed within a patient, the vessel defining an ostium in a wall of the chamber, for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the method comprising:
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providing a catheter assembly including a catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion forming a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis, the loop defining a loop axis and maintaining at least one electrode;
positioning the loop about the vessel ostium; and
ablating a continuous, closed lesion pattern in the chamber wall about the vessel ostium, the lesion pattern electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
directing the distal portion into the chamber such that the loop axis is substantially aligned with a center of the vessel ostium; and
advancing the distal portion in a direction substantially parallel with the loop axis such that the loop contacts the chamber wall about the vessel ostium.
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18. The method of claim 16, wherein the loop maintains a plurality of electrodes, the method further including:
determining which of the plurality of electrodes are in contact with chamber wall before ablating the continuous, closed lesion pattern.
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19. A method of electrically isolating a vessel from a chamber formed within a patient, the vessel defining an ostium in a wall of the chamber, for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the method comprising:
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ablating only a continuous, closed lesion pattern in the chamber wall about the vessel ostium, the lesion pattern electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
substantially simultaneously energizing the plurality of electrodes.
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23. The method of claim 19, wherein a catheter assembly is provided and includes a catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion forming a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis, the loop defining a loop axis and maintaining at least one electrode, the method further including:
positioning the loop about the vessel ostium prior to ablating the continuous, closed lesion pattern.
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24. The method of claim 23, wherein positioning the loop includes:
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directing the distal portion into the chamber such that the loop axis is substantially aligned with a center of the vessel ostium; and
advancing the distal portion in a direction substantially parallel with the loop axis such that the loop contacts the chamber wall about the vessel ostium.
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25. The method of claim 23, wherein the loop maintains a plurality of electrodes, the method further including:
determining which of plurality of electrodes are in contact with the chamber wall before ablating the continuous, closed lesion pattern.
Specification