Probes having helical and loop shaped inflatable therapeutic elements

• US 7,081,115 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Issued: 07/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Taimisto, Miriam H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US10/892,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20050004566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 607/99, 607/122
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00148 with metal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00232 having an irregular shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00375 Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0262 using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/046 in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1435 Spiral

Abstract

A probe that facilitates the creation of circumferential lesions in body tissue. The probe includes a probe body and an inflatable helical or loop shaped therapeutic element.

Claims

1. A probe, comprising:

a probe body defining a distal region and a proximal region; and

an inflatable therapeutic element with an outer surface carried by the distal region of the probe body and movable between a coiled state defining a substantially helical shape, where a portion of the outer surface defines an open area interior to the inflatable element, and an uncoiled state.

2. A probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the probe body comprises a catheter body.

3. A probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflatable therapeutic element defines at least one revolution when in the coiled state.

4. A probe as claimed in claim 1, wherein inflatable therapeutic element is biased to the coiled state.

5. A probe, comprising:

a probe body defining a distal region and a proximal region; and

conductive inflatable therapeutic element carried by the distal region of the probe body and movable between a coiled state defining a substantially helical shape and an uncoiled state.

6. A probe, comprising:

a probe body defining a distal region and a proximal region; and

an energy emitting inflatable therapeutic element carried by the distal region of the probe body and movable between a coiled state defining a substantially helical shape and an uncoiled state.

7. A probe, comprising:

a probe body defining a distal region, a proximal region and a probe body axis; and

an inflatable therapeutic element carried by the probe body and defining proximal and distal longitudinal ends, the inflatable therapeutic element being movable between a coiled state wherein the inflatable therapeutic element extends around a therapeutic element axis to define a substantially helical shape and an open region and wherein both of the longitudinal ends are spaced from the therapeutic element axis, and an uncoiled state wherein the longitudinal ends of the inflatable therapeutic element are substantially aligned with the therapeutic element axis.

8. A probe as claimed in claim 7, wherein the probe body comprises a catheter body.

9. A probe as claimed in claim 7, wherein the inflatable therapeutic element comprises a conductive inflatable therapeutic element.

10. A probe as claimed in claim 7, wherein the inflatable therapeutic element comprises an energy emitting inflatable therapeutic element.

11. A probe as claimed in claim 7, wherein the inflatable therapeutic element defines at least one revolution when in the coiled state.

12. A probe as claimed in claim 7, wherein inflatable therapeutic element is biased to the coiled state.

13. A method of performing tissue therapy with a probe including an inflatable therapeutic element, the method comprising the steps of:

advancing the probe to a target tissue region;

coiling the inflatable therapeutic element into a substantially helical shape;

inflating the inflatable therapeutic element with an electrically conductive fluid; and

performing a therapeutic operation with the inflatable therapeutic element coiled and inflated.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of advancing the probe comprises advancing the probe to a target tissue region with the inflatable therapeutic element in an uncoiled state.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of performing a therapeutic operation with the inflatable therapeutic element coiled and inflated comprises transmitting energy to tissue with the inflatable therapeutic element coiled and inflated.

16. A method of performing tissue therapy with a probe including an inflatable therapeutic element, the method comprising the steps of:

advancing the probe to a target tissue region;

coiling the inflatable therapeutic element into a substantially helical shape;

inflating the inflatable therapeutic element; and

forming a lesion with the inflatable therapeutic element coiled and inflated.

17. A probe, comprising:

a probe body; and

an energy emitting inflatable therapeutic element carried by the probe body and defining proximal and distal longitudinal ends, the energy emitting inflatable therapeutic element being movable between a relaxed state wherein the energy emitting inflatable therapeutic element defines a substantially helical shape which extends around a therapeutic element axis and the longitudinal ends are substantially adjacent to one another, and a substantially straightened state wherein the longitudinal ends are substantially spaced apart and substantially aligned with the therapeutic element axis.

18. A probe as claimed in claim 17, wherein the probe body comprises a catheter body.

19. A probe as claimed in claim 17, wherein the energy emitting inflatable therapeutic is conductive.

20. A probe as claimed in claim 17, wherein the energy emitting inflatable therapeutic element defines at least one revolution when in the relaxed state.

21. A probe, comprising:

a probe body defining a proximal member having a distal end and a distal member associated with the distal end of the proximal member, the distal member being movable between a coiled state defining a substantially helical shape, which extends distally from the distal end of the proximal member, and an uncoiled state; and

an inflatable therapeutic element carried by the distal member.

22. A probe as claimed in claim 21, wherein the probe body comprises a catheter body.

23. A probe as claimed in claim 21, wherein the inflatable therapeutic element comprises a conductive inflatable therapeutic element.

24. A probe as claimed in claim 21, wherein the inflatable therapeutic element comprises an energy emitting inflatable therapeutic element.

25. A probe as claimed in claim 21, wherein the inflatable therapeutic element defines at least one revolution when in the coiled state.

26. A probe as claimed in claim 21, wherein inflatable therapeutic element is biased to the coiled state.