Tissue ablation device assembly and method for electrically isolating a pulmonary vein ostium from an atrial wall
First Claim
1. A tissue ablation system for treating atrial arrhythmia by ablating a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium, comprising:
- a delivery member with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion with a longitudinal axis and a radial axis;
a circumferential ablation member cooperating with the delivery member, the delivery member being adapted to at least in-part deliver the circumferential ablation member to the location, the circumferential ablation member having, a circumferential support member that is adjustable between a first position which is adapted to be delivered through a delivery sheath into the atrium and a second position having a substantially circumferentially looped shape, the circumferential support member comprising an elongate body which in the first position has a substantially straight shape relative to the longitudinal axis with a proximal end secured to the distal end portion, a distal end extending away from the distal end portion substantially along the longitudinal axis, and an intermediate region extending between the proximal and distal ends, wherein in the second position the elongate body is adjusted to the substantially circumferentially looped shape, an ablation element located substantially along the circumferential support member and that is adapted to ablatively couple to a circumferential area adjacent to the support member in the second position, and a positioning means coupled to the circumferential support member to adjust the circumferential support member between the first and second positions when the circumferential support member is substantially unconfined within the atrium, wherein the ablation element and the circumferential support member are configured such that the circumferential area coincides with the circumferential region of tissue when the circumferential support member is adjusted to the second position at the location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is related to a tissue ablation system and method that treats atrial arrhythmia by ablating a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium. The system includes a circumferential ablation member with an ablation element and also includes a delivery assembly for delivering the ablation member to the location. The circumferential ablation member is generally adjustable between different configurations to allow both the delivery through a delivery sheath into the atrium and the ablative coupling between the ablation element and the circumferential region of tissue.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A tissue ablation system for treating atrial arrhythmia by ablating a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium, comprising:
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a delivery member with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion with a longitudinal axis and a radial axis;
a circumferential ablation member cooperating with the delivery member, the delivery member being adapted to at least in-part deliver the circumferential ablation member to the location, the circumferential ablation member having, a circumferential support member that is adjustable between a first position which is adapted to be delivered through a delivery sheath into the atrium and a second position having a substantially circumferentially looped shape, the circumferential support member comprising an elongate body which in the first position has a substantially straight shape relative to the longitudinal axis with a proximal end secured to the distal end portion, a distal end extending away from the distal end portion substantially along the longitudinal axis, and an intermediate region extending between the proximal and distal ends, wherein in the second position the elongate body is adjusted to the substantially circumferentially looped shape, an ablation element located substantially along the circumferential support member and that is adapted to ablatively couple to a circumferential area adjacent to the support member in the second position, and a positioning means coupled to the circumferential support member to adjust the circumferential support member between the first and second positions when the circumferential support member is substantially unconfined within the atrium, wherein the ablation element and the circumferential support member are configured such that the circumferential area coincides with the circumferential region of tissue when the circumferential support member is adjusted to the second position at the location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A tissue ablation system for treating atrial arrhythmia by ablating a circumferential region of tissue at a location, where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium, comprising:
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a circumferential ablation member having a circumferential support member that is adjustable between a first position which is adapted to be delivered through a delivery sheath into the atrium and a second position having a substantially circumferentially looped shape, an electrical current ablation element located substantially along the circumferential support member and that is adapted to ablatively couple to a circumferential area adjacent to the support member in the second position, and a positioning assembly coupled to the circumferential support member to adjust the circumferential support member between the first and second positions when the circumferential support member is substantially unconfined within the atrium; and
a delivery assembly cooperating with the circumferential ablation member and which is adapted to at least in-part deliver the circumferential ablation member to the location, wherein the electric current ablation element and the circumferential support member are configured such that the circumferential area coincides with the circumferential region of tissue when the circumferential support member is adjusted to the second position at the location;
wherein the electrical current ablation element comprises at least one electrode along the circumferential support member which is adapted to be coupled to an electrical current source, and a porous wall that substantially surrounds the electrode within an enclosed fluid chamber which and is adapted to be fluidly coupled to a source of electrically conductive fluid, wherein the porous wall is adapted to electrically couple an ablative electrical current between the circumferential region of tissue positioned coincident to the circumferential area and the electrode via the electrically conductive fluid.
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Specification