Expandable-collapsible electrode structures made of electrically conductive material
First Claim
1. An electrode assembly for ablation of heart tissue, comprising:
- a catheter tube having a distal end;
a body having a wall, a proximal end secured to the distal end of the catheter tube, and a distal end that is distal to the distal end of the catheter tube, the body capable of assuming an expanded geometry having a first diameter and a collapsed geometry having a second diameter less than the first diameter, the expanded geometry having a profile that resembles a circular or an elliptical shape; and
an electrically conductive material located within the wall of the body, thereby creating an electrically conductive body having a resistivity for ablation of a tissue.
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Abstract
Electrode assemblies and associated systems employ a nonporous wall having an exterior for contacting tissue. The exterior peripherally surrounds an interior area. The wall is essentially free of electrically conductive material. The wall is adapted to assume an expanded geometry having a first maximum diameter and a collapsed geometry having a second maximum diameter less than the first maximum diameter. The assemblies and systems include a lumen that conveys a medium containing ions into the interior area. An element free of physical contact with the wall couples the medium within the interior area to a source of electrical energy to enable ionic transport of electrical energy from the source through the medium to the wall for capacitive coupling to tissue contacting the exterior of the wall.
269 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An electrode assembly for ablation of heart tissue, comprising:
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a catheter tube having a distal end;
a body having a wall, a proximal end secured to the distal end of the catheter tube, and a distal end that is distal to the distal end of the catheter tube, the body capable of assuming an expanded geometry having a first diameter and a collapsed geometry having a second diameter less than the first diameter, the expanded geometry having a profile that resembles a circular or an elliptical shape; and
an electrically conductive material located within the wall of the body, thereby creating an electrically conductive body having a resistivity for ablation of a tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of ablating heart tissue, comprising:
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providing an ablation device having a catheter tube and a body, the body having a wall and an electrically conductive material located in the wall, thereby creating an electrically conductive body having a resistivity for ablation of a tissue, the electrically conductive body capable of assuming an expanded geometry having a first diameter and a collapsed geometry having a second diameter less than the first diameter, the body having a proximal end secured to a distal end of the catheter tube, and a distal end that is distal to the distal end of the catheter tube;
expanding the electrically conductive body so that the electrically conductive body is in contact with heart tissue;
ablating the heart tissue by transmitting ablation energy to the heart tissue through the electrically conductive body. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of manufacturing an ablation device, comprising:
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determining a desired lesion dimension to be created by the conductive body;
selecting a material having a resistivity for creating the desired lesion dimension; and
providing a body capable of assuming an expanded geometry having a first diameter and a collapsed geometry having a second diameter less than the first diameter; and
disposing the selected material within a wall of the body; and
securing a proximal end of the body to a distal end of a catheter tube, such that a distal end of the body is distal to the distal end of the catheter tube. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification