Vacuum-assisted securing apparatus for a microwave ablation instrument

• US 7,052,491 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2002
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: AFX, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Ormsby, Theodore C., Berube, Dany, Matheny, Robert, Erb, Lyndall, Woodard, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, III, Henry M
• Application Number:
  US10/115,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20030036754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,520 Days
• Field of Search: 606 41- 50, 607101-102, 607/122, 600/387
• US Class Current: 606/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00363 Epicardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1437 whereby the windings of the spiral touch each other such as to create a continuous surface

Abstract

A securing apparatus for selectively securing an ablating element of an ablation instrument proximate to a targeted region of a biological tissue. The securing apparatus includes a support base affixed to the ablation instrument relative the ablating element, and having a support face adapted to seat against the biological tissue proximate to the ablation element. The support base further defines a passage having one end communicably coupled to a vacuum source and an opposite end terminating at an orifice at the support face. The support face together with the biological tissue forms a hermetic seal thereagainst during operation of the vacuum source to secure the ablation instrument thereagainst. Essentially, the hermetic seal and the vacuum source cooperate to form a vacuum force sufficient to retain the ablation device against the biological tissue.

Claims

1. An ablation device for ablating cardiac tissue incorporating a securing apparatus for selectively securing at least a portion of the ablation device to a target tissue site, comprising:

an elongated ablating element adapted to emit ablating energy through a window along an elongated distal portion thereof;

a shield disposed along the elongated portion of the ablating element for directing a majority of the ablating energy through the window in a predetermined direction radially outwardly from an elongated axis of the ablating element; and

the securing apparatus includes a vacuum port disposed about a periphery of the window for securing, in response to vacuum applied to the vacuum port, at least the window portion of the ablation device proximate to the target tissue site with an orientation of the ablation device to direct the ablating energy in the predetermined direction, toward the target tissue site.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the shield reflects at least a portion of the ablative energy in the predetermined direction.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the window along the elongated portion of the ablating element defines at least a portion of a desired path for ablating cardiac tissue.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the securing apparatus operatively secures the window portion of the ablation device upon the target tissue site oriented along the desired ablation path.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the securing apparatus includes at least one lumen through the elongated ablating element in fluid communication with at least one vacuum port along the distal portion, and with a proximal end for operable attachment to a vacuum source.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one vacuum port is distal the window along the elongated distal portion of the ablating element.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the at least one vacuum port is proximal the window along the elongated distal portion of the ablating element.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein a first of the vacuum ports is located proximal to the window along the elongated distal portion of the ablating element and a second of the vacuum ports is located distal to the window along the elongated distal portion of the ablating element.

9. The ablation device according to claim 1 including a deformable material disposed about the vacuum port for forming a fluid-tight seal with target tissue.

10. The ablation device according to claim 9 in which the deformable material is configured about the vacuum port as a suction cup.

11. The ablation device according to claim 1 including a plurality of vacuum ports that are disposed peripherally about the window of the ablating element through which a major portion of the ablating energy is directed in the selected direction.