Method of Forming a Lesion in Heart Tissue
First Claim
1. A method of forming a lesion in heart tissue of a patient to treat atrial fibrillation, consisting essentially of:
- providing an electrophysiological ablating device comprising at least one electrode;
creating an opening in a patient'"'"'s chest, the opening passing through the chest wall and into the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;
passing the electrode through the opening;
positioning the electrode adjacent to heart tissue; and
ablating the heart tissue with the electrode to create a lesion in the heart tissue while the heart is beating to treat atrial fibrillation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods are provided for accessing the interior of the heart and performing procedures therein while the heart is beating. In one embodiment, a tubular access device having an inner lumen is provided for positioning through a penetration in a muscular wall of the heart, the access device having a means for sealing within the penetration to inhibit leakage of blood through the penetration. The sealing means may comprise a balloon or flange on the access device, or a suture placed in the heart wall to gather the heart tissue against the access device. An obturator is removably positionable in the inner lumen of the access device, the obturator having a cutting means at its distal end for penetrating the muscular wall of the heart. The access device is preferably positioned through an intercostal space and through the muscular wall of the heart. Elongated instruments may be introduced through the tubular access device into an interior chamber of the heart to perform procedures such as septal defect repair and electrophysiological mapping and ablation. A method of septal defect repair includes positioning a tubular access device percutaneously through an intercostal space and through a penetration in a muscular wall of the heart, passing one or more instruments through an inner lumen of the tubular access device into an interior chamber of the heart, and using the instruments to close the septal defect. Devices and methods for closing the septal defect with either sutures or with patch-type devices are disclosed.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of forming a lesion in heart tissue of a patient to treat atrial fibrillation, consisting essentially of:
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providing an electrophysiological ablating device comprising at least one electrode;
creating an opening in a patient'"'"'s chest, the opening passing through the chest wall and into the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;
passing the electrode through the opening;
positioning the electrode adjacent to heart tissue; and
ablating the heart tissue with the electrode to create a lesion in the heart tissue while the heart is beating to treat atrial fibrillation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of forming a lesion in heart tissure of a patient, comprising:
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provding a device comprising a rigid shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, a flexible tip attached to the distal end of the shaft, and at least one ablating element carried on the flexible tip;
creating an opening in a patient'"'"'s chest, the opening passing through the chest wall and into the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;
passing at least a portion of the flexible tip of the device through the opening;
positioning the flexible tip of the device adjacent to hear tissue; and
ablating the heart tissue with energy delivered form the energy source to create a lesion in the heart tissue while the heart is beating. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of forming a lesion in heart tissue of a patient, comprising:
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providing a device comprising a rigid shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, a flexible tip attached to the distal end of the shaft, and at least one ablating element carried on the flexible;
creating an opening in a patient'"'"'s chest, the opening passing through the chest wall and into the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;
passing the distal end of the device through the opening;
positioning the distal end of the device adjacent to heart tissue; and
delivering energy via the device to the distal end of the device to create a lesion in the heart tissue while the heart is beating.
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31. A method of forming a lesion in heart tissue of a patient, comprising:
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providing a device comprising a rigid shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, a flexible tip attached to the distal end of the shaft, and at least one ablating element carried on the flexible tip;
creating an opening in a patient'"'"'s chest without retracting the sternum, the opening passing through the chest wall and into the patient'"'"'s thoracic cavity;
passing at least the distal end of the device through the opening;
positioning the distal end of the device adjacent to heart tissue; and
delivering energy via the device to the distal end of the device to create a lesion in the heart tissue while the heart is beating. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification