Balloon anchor wire

• US 6,595,989 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atrionix, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Atrionix, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Schaer, Alan K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddy, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/569,735
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 600/373, 600/381, 600/585, 606/41-50, 607/101, 607/102, 607/122, 607/126, 607/127
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22004 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic shock waves A61B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22069 Immobilising; Stabilising
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09008 having a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09083 having a coil around a core
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 : Shape memory

Abstract

The present invention relates to an anchor device comprising an elongated tubular body having an expandable member disposed on its distal end portion. The invention also relates to a system adapted to position and anchor the distal end of an ablation device at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from the atrium.

Claims

1. A tissue ablation system for ablating a region of tissue, comprising:

an anchor device having an elongate body with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion that is adapted to be positioned within the pulmonary vein, and also having an expandable member along the distal end portion adjustable between a radially collapsed condition and a radially expanded condition that is adapted to engage the pulmonary vein; and

an ablation device comprising an elongate catheter having a proximal region and a distal region, and an ablation element located along the distal region, the ablation element being adapted to form a substantially linear lesion along the region of tissue, wherein the ablation device is adapted to slideably engage and track over the anchor device, such that the ablation element can be ablatively coupled to the region of tissue by advancing the ablation device distally over the anchor device.

2. The tissue ablation system of claim 1, wherein the expandable member is an inflatable balloon.

3. The tissue ablation system of claim 2, wherein the anchor device further comprises an inflation lumen, a pressurizable fluid source and a removable adapter on the proximal end portion of the elongate body, which is adapted to couple the pressurizable fluid source to the inflation lumen.

4. The tissue ablation system of claim 2, wherein the balloon has an outer diameter of from about 0.114″

to about 0.122″

when inflated.

5. The tissue ablation system of claim 2, wherein the balloon is made from a low density polymer or copolymer.

6. The tissue ablation system of claim 5, wherein the low density polymer or copolymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefins, PET, nylon, urethane, silicon, and Cflex.

7. The tissue ablation system of claim 1, wherein the anchor device further comprises a shaped distal tip distal to the expandable member.

8. The tissue ablation system of claim 7, wherein the anchor device is configured so as to be torquable and steerable, such that the anchor device may be directed into the pulmonary vein by manipulation of the proximal end portion.

9. The tissue ablation system of claim 1, wherein the elongate body of the anchor device further comprises a polymeric tube.

10. The tissue ablation system of claim 1, wherein the distal end portion of the elongate body of the anchor device is more flexible than the proximal end portion.

11. The tissue ablation system of claim 1, wherein the elongate body of the anchor device further comprises an intermediate region disposed between the distal and proximal end portions, and wherein the proximal end portion has a wall thickness which is greater than a wall thickness of the intermediate region, such that the proximal end portion possess a sufficient push force and kink resistance.

12. The tissue ablation system of claim 1, further comprising a wire within the elongate body, extending proximally from the distal end portion of the elongate body through at least a portion of the elongate body.

13. The tissue ablation system of claim 12, wherein the elongate body further comprises a guidewire passageway and wherein the wire is a guidewire slideably engaged in the guidewire passageway.

14. The tissue ablation system of claim 13, wherein the guidewire passageway has a proximal port along the proximal end portion of the elongate body and a distal port along the distal end portion of the elongate body.

15. The tissue ablation system of claim 13, wherein the guidewire passageway extends only through a portion of the elongate body.

16. The tissue ablation system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises a microwave ablation element.

17. The tissue ablation system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises a cryogenic ablation element.

18. The tissue ablation system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises a thermal ablation element.

19. The tissue ablation system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises a light-emitting ablation element.

20. The tissue ablation system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises an ultrasound transducer.

21. The tissue ablation system of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises an electrical ablation element.

22. The tissue ablation system of claim 21, wherein the electrical ablation element is an RF ablation element.

23. A tissue ablation system for ablating a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium in a patient, comprising:

an anchor device having an elongate body with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion that is adapted to be positioned within the pulmonary vein, and also having an expandable member along the distal end portion adjustable between a radially collapsed condition and a radially expanded condition that is adapted to engage the pulmonary vein;

an elongate catheter body having a distal end portion and being adapted to slideably engage and track over the anchor device;

an inflatable balloon located along the distal end portion of the elongate catheter body, the inflatable balloon being adapted for engaging the circumferential region of tissue, the inflatable balloon defining a fluid-filled chamber; and

a circumferential band located along the inflatable balloon for ablatively coupling to the circumferential region of tissue.