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Ultrasound-guided ablation catheter and methods of use

  • US 6,824,515 B2
  • Filed: 11/25/2002
  • Issued: 11/30/2004
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of precisely positioning a catheter with respect to a tissue, the method comprising:

  • providing a catheter system comprising;

    a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;

    a plurality of spaced apart electrodes operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end;

    a plurality of transducer elements disposed between at least some of the electrodes; and

    a controller electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes and the plurality of transducer elements;

    inserting the flexible elongate body into a patient;

    positioning the elongate body to be proximate a tissue using the plurality of transducer elements; and

    activating at least one of the electrodes to ablate the tissue if the controller determines that at least two of the transducer elements are in contact with the tissue, the at least one electrode being disposed between the two transducer elements.

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