Transmural ablation tool and method
First Claim
1. An ablation device comprising:
- a handle at a proximal end;
an ablation head having a substantially planar tissue-contacting surface with a tissue-receiving cavity formed therein and having a plurality of electrodes disposed within the tissue-receiving cavity; and
an elongated body interconnecting the handle and the ablation head;
wherein the tissue-receiving cavity of the ablation head is shaped such that when the tissue-contacting surface of the ablation head is urged against a surface of a tissue layer, the tissue-receiving cavity receives tissue such that inter-electrode paths span a thickness dimension of the tissue to create a fully transmural ablation lesion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ablation method and device contacts one surface of a target layer and positions the tissue to ablate entirely through the layer. The tissue may be a wall of the heart (ablated, for example, to form blocking lesions for atrial fibrillation), and ablation may be performed with the heart stopped or beating, and effected by either endocardial or epicardial contact. Access may be through an open incision or a minimally invasive technique involving a small opening through which one or more elongated surgical tools are inserted. Illustratively, an atrial ablation treatment can be performed prophylactically (after CABG), or independently to treat an existing condition. A tool of the present invention has a handle at a proximal end, a bipolar ablation head, and an elongated body interconnecting the handle and the ablation head. A channel or contoured surface fixes and bends the tissue such that inter-electrode conduction paths span the thickness of the layer, thus dependably creating a fully transmural ablation lesion. The oriented transmural energy conduction paths reduce the possibility of inducing coagulation of blood in the heart chamber. One bipolar assembly has an electrode spacing of approximately ten millimeters across a channel of about five millimeters depth. Preferably the ablation head forms a suction holder, connected through internal passages to a vacuum pressure of about 100-500 mmHg, and immobilizes the contacted tissue.
314 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An ablation device comprising:
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a handle at a proximal end;
an ablation head having a substantially planar tissue-contacting surface with a tissue-receiving cavity formed therein and having a plurality of electrodes disposed within the tissue-receiving cavity; and
an elongated body interconnecting the handle and the ablation head;
wherein the tissue-receiving cavity of the ablation head is shaped such that when the tissue-contacting surface of the ablation head is urged against a surface of a tissue layer, the tissue-receiving cavity receives tissue such that inter-electrode paths span a thickness dimension of the tissue to create a fully transmural ablation lesion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An ablation method comprising:
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providing an ablation head having a substantially planar tissue-contacting surface adapted to be disposed on a target tissue layer, the tissue-contacting surface including a tissue-receiving cavity formed therein with multiple electrodes disposed within the tissue-receiving cavity;
placing the tissue-contacting surface of the ablation head into contact with a target tissue layer; and
applying force to the ablation head such that the target tissue layer is forced into the cavity;
whereby actuation of the electrodes in the ablation head is effective to ablate tissue along inter-electrode conduction paths forming a lesion extending entirely through the target tissue layer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An ablation device comprising:
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a handle at a proximal end;
an ablation head having a tissue-receiving cavity formed within a substantially planar tissue-contacting surface of the head, the cavity having a plurality of electrodes disposed therein; and
an elongated body interconnecting the handle and the ablation head;
wherein the tissue-receiving cavity is shaped such that when urged against a surface of a tissue layer the cavity has a depth about equal to the thickness dimension of the tissue and defines an electrode spacing greater than approximately said thickness dimension.
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22. An ablation method comprising:
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providing an ablation head having a tissue-receiving cavity formed therein with ablation electrodes disposed therein;
placing the tissue-contacting surface of the ablation head into contact with a target tissue layer; and
applying suction through the tissue-receiving cavity to draw tissue into the tissue-receiving cavity and position the tissue adjacent to the ablation electrodes;
whereby actuation of the ablation electrodes is effective to ablate tissue along inter-electrode conduction paths forming a lesion extending entirely through the tissue layer.
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Specification