Electrosurgical systems and methods for recanalization of occluded body lumens
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical catheter, comprising:
- a shaft having a shaft proximal end portion and a shaft distal end portion;
an electrode support arranged on the shaft distal end portion, the electrode support having a support distal end;
at least one active electrode disposed on the support distal end, wherein the at least one active electrode comprises a metal wire comprising from about 75% to about 99.95% platinum and from about 0.05% to about 25% iridium; and
at least one return electrode disposed on the shaft distal end portion and wherein the at least one return electrode is arranged on an insulating liner, and the insulating liner is disposed on the shaft.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention comprises electrosurgical apparatus and methods for maintaining patency in body passages subject to occlusion by invasive tissue growth. The apparatus includes an electrode support disposed at a shaft distal end having at least one active electrode arranged thereon, and at least one return electrode proximal to the at least one active electrode. In one embodiment, a plurality of active electrodes each comprising a curved wire loop portion are sealed within a distal portion of the electrode support. The apparatus and methods of the present invention may be used to open and maintain patency in virtually any hollow body passage which may be subject to occlusion by invasive cellular growth or invasive solid tumor growth. Suitable hollow body passages include ducts, orifices, lumens, and the like, with exemplary body passages including the coronary arteries. The present invention is particularly useful for reducing or eliminating the effects of restenosis in coronary arteries by selectively removing tissue in-growth in or around stents anchored therein.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical catheter, comprising:
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a shaft having a shaft proximal end portion and a shaft distal end portion;
an electrode support arranged on the shaft distal end portion, the electrode support having a support distal end;
at least one active electrode disposed on the support distal end, wherein the at least one active electrode comprises a metal wire comprising from about 75% to about 99.95% platinum and from about 0.05% to about 25% iridium; and
at least one return electrode disposed on the shaft distal end portion and wherein the at least one return electrode is arranged on an insulating liner, and the insulating liner is disposed on the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electrosurgical catheter, comprising:
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a shaft having a shaft proximal end portion and a shaft distal end portion;
an electrode support arranged on the shaft distal end portion, the electrode support having a support distal end, a support proximal end, and a belly portion located between the support distal end and the support proximal end, wherein the width of the belly portion is greater than the width of the shaft;
at least one active electrode disposed on the electrode support; and
at least one return electrode disposed on the shaft distal end portion at a location proximal to the electrode support. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electrosurgical catheter, comprising:
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a shaft having a shaft proximal end portion and a shaft distal end portion;
an electrode support arranged on the shaft distal end portion, the electrode support having a support distal end, a support proximal end, and a belly portion located between the support distal end and the support proximal end;
at least one active electrode disposed on the electrode support, wherein the at least one active electrode is located distal to the belly portion; and
a return electrode disposed on the shaft distal end portion proximal to the electrode support, the return electrode in communication with a return electrode lead and wherein each of the at least one active electrodes comprises a metal wire, and the metal wire comprises a material selected from the group consisting of platinum, indium, molybdenum, titanium, aluminum, nickel, tungsten, and tantalum. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification