Ablation catheter assembly with radially decreasing helix and method of use

• US 6,702,811 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2001
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Stewart, Mark T., Skarda, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/848,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/49, 607/99, 607/105, 607/113, 607/122
• US Class Current: 606/41
• 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 2017/00044 Sensing electrocardiography, i.e. ECG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00065 porous
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00375 Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1435 Spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes

Abstract

A catheter assembly for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia. The catheter assembly includes a catheter body and an ablative energy source. 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 includes an ablation section and a tip. The ablation section forms a loop defining a diameter greater than an outer dimension of a pulmonary vein ostium. The tip extends distally from the ablation section and is configured to locate a pulmonary vein. Finally, the ablative energy source is associated with the ablation section. With this configuration, upon activation of the energy source, the ablation section ablates a desired lesion pattern. In one preferred embodiment, the ablation section forms a distally decreasing radius helix, whereas the tip includes a relatively linear leader section. With this one preferred configuration, the tip readily locates a pulmonary vein and guides the ablation section to a seated relationship about a pulmonary vein ostium (or extra-ostial).

Claims

1. A catheter assembly for electrically isolating a pulmonary vein for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the catheter assembly comprising:

a catheter body including;

a proximal portion,

an intermediate portion extending from the proximal portion and defining a longitudinal axis,

a distal portion extending from the intermediate portion and including;

an ablation section forming a loop transverse to the longitudinal axis and defining a diameter greater than an outer dimension of a pulmonary vein ostium,

a tip extending distally from the ablation section, the tip configured for locating a pulmonary vein; and

an ablative energy source associated with the ablation section;

wherein upon activation of the energy source, the ablation section ablates a desired lesion pattern.

2. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a segment of the distal portion defines a distally decreasing radius helix.

3. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the tip includes a relatively linear leader section.

4. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the ablation section curves along a uniform diameter greater than a maximum outer diameter defined by the proximal section.

5. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the ablative energy source is selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, RF energy, microwave energy, laser, cryogenic energy, and thermal energy.

6. A catheter assembly for electrically isolating a vessel from a chamber wall for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the catheter assembly comprising:

a catheter body including;

a proximal portion,

an intermediate portion extending from the proximal portion and defining a longitudinal axis,

a distal portion extending from the intermediate portion and including;

an ablation section forming a loop,

a tip extending distally from the ablation section, the tip configured for locating a vessel,

wherein the tip is characterized as having a feature different from the ablation section, the feature being selected from the group consisting of shape, material, durometer and porosity; and

an ablative energy source associated with the ablation section;

wherein upon activation of the energy source, the ablation section ablates a desired lesion pattern.

7. The catheter assembly of claim 6, wherein the ablation section curves along a uniform diameter greater than a maximum outer diameter defined by the tip.

8. The catheter assembly of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the tip forms a distally decreasing radius helix.

9. The catheter assembly of claim 6, wherein the tip includes a distal leader section.

10. The catheter assembly of claim 9, wherein the distal leader section is linear.

11. The catheter assembly of claim 6, wherein the ablative energy source is selected from the group consisting of ultrasound, RF energy, microwave energy, laser, cryogenic energy, and thermal energy.

12. A catheter assembly for electrically isolating a vessel from a chamber wall for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the catheter assembly comprising:

a catheter body including;

a proximal portion,

an intermediate portion extending from the proximal portion and defining a longitudinal axis,

a distal portion extending from the intermediate portion and comprising;

an ablation section forming a loop transverse to the longitudinal axis,

a tip extending distally from the ablation section, the tip defining a shape different from a shape defined by the ablation section;

an ablative energy source associated with the ablation section;

wherein upon activation of the energy source, the ablation section ablates a desired lesion pattern.

13. The catheter assembly of claim 12, wherein the shape defined by the tip includes a substantially linear segment.

14. The catheter assembly of claim 12, wherein the shape defined by the ablation section is a uniform diameter loop of greater than one revolution.

15. The catheter assembly of claim 14, wherein the shape defined by the tip includes a substantially linear segment.