Transmural ablation device

• US 7,113,831 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Inventors: Hooven, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US10/015,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20020091382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,749 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/45, 606/48, 606/49, 606/50, 606/51, 606/52, 606/542, 607/96, 607/101, 607/102, 607/105, 607/113
• US Class Current: 607/101
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00363 Epicardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00738 Depth, e.g. depth of ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00755 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0225 using an instrument for clamping tissue, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0262 using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/145 wherein the effectors remain parallel during closing and opening

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transmural ablation using an instrument containing two electrodes or cryogenic probes. A clamping force is exerted on the two electrodes or probes such that the tissue of the hollow organ is clamped therebetween. Bipolar RF energy is then applied between the two electrodes, or the probes are cryogenically cooled, thus ablating the tissue therebetween. A monitoring device measures a suitable parameter, such as impedance or temperature, and indicates when the tissue between the electrodes has been fully ablated.

Claims

1. A device for clamping and ablating cardiac tissue comprising:

a first handle member;

a second handle member;

first and second opposed jaws associated with the first and second handle members, respectively, the jaws being movable by the handle members between a first open position and a second clamped position;

a first electrical conductive member carried by the first jaw;

a second electrical conductive member carried by the second jaw;

at least one jaw including a surface for engaging tissue clamped between the jaws, the surface comprising insulative material, an aperture extending through the insulative material and the respective conductive member of such jaw being carried at least in part in the jaw and conductive of electrical energy through the aperture to tissue clamped between the jaws;

such conductive member having a width within the jaw greater than the width of the aperture and including a solid, electrically conductive surface for engaging cardiac tissue clamped between the jaws.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the conductive members is between approximately 3 to 8 cm in length and approximately 0.12 to 0.6 mm in width.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the conductive members comprises gold-plated copper.

4. The device of claim 1 in which at least one of the conductive members defines an inner lumen.

5. The device of claim 1 in which at least one of the conductive members defines a generally annular cross-sectional shape.

6. The device of claim 1 in which the aperture comprises a slot extending along at least a portion of the jaw.

7. The device of claim 1 in which the other jaw includes a surface for engaging tissue clamped between the jaws, the surface comprising insulative material, an aperture extending through the insulative material and the respective conductive member of such other jaw being carried at least in part in the jaw and conductive of electrical energy through the aperture to tissue clamped between the jaws.

8. The device of claim 7 in which the aperture in each jaw comprises a slot extending along at least a portion of the jaw and the conductive member in each jaw is elongated.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the conductive member of each jaw extends through the respective slot of such jaw.

10. The device of claim 1 in which the at least one conductive member is a solid conductive member.

11. The device of claim 1 in which the at least one conductive member is a T-shaped conductive member.

12. A tissue grasping apparatus comprising:

first and second grasping jaws, the grasping jaws being relatively moveable between open and closed positions;

each jaw including an electrode and a clamping surface in opposed relation with the electrode and clamping surface of the other jaw;

the clamping surfaces of the jaws comprising an insulating material, defining an elongated aperture having a width, and at least one of the opposed electrodes being carried at least in part within the jaw, the electrode having a width within the jaw greater than the width of the elongated aperture and including a solid, electrically conductive surface for engaging cardiac tissue clamped between the jaws; and

such electrode being connectible to a power source for providing an electrical current through tissue clamped between the electrodes.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of the electrodes is between approximately 3 to 8 cm in length and approximately 0.12 to 0.6 mm in width.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least one of the electrodes comprises gold-plated copper.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the respective electrode of at least one of the jaws is carried in the jaw and conductive of electrical energy through the aperture to tissue clamped between the jaws.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the aperture comprises a slot extending along at least a portion of such jaw and the electrode of such jaw extends through the slot of such jaw.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 in which at least one of the electrodes defines a generally annular cross-sectional shape.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 in which an electrode of each jaw defines an inner lumen.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the at least one electrode is a solid electrode.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the at least one electrode is a T-shaped electrode.