Ablation stent for treating atrial fibrillation
First Claim
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1. A method for treating atrial fibrillation, comprising:
- introducing a stent into the left atrium of a patient, wherein the stent is introduced by a stent catheter having a stent mounted at its distal end;
deploying the stent into a pulmonary vein by inflating a balloon at the distal end of the stent catheter to expand the stent within a pulmonary vein,applying radiofrequency energy to the deployed stent in order to ablate surrounding tissue and stop discharges from ectopic foci in the vein from reaching the left atrium,leaving the stent in place in order to prevent stenosis of the vein; and
,transmitting the radiofrequency energy to the stent by an electrode mounted on the surface of the balloon.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for treating atrial fibrillation with ablation therapy in which a stent is deployed within a pulmonary vein and tissue surrounding the stent is ablated with radiofrequency energy to stop discharges from ectopic foci in the vein from reaching the left atrium. The deployed stent can then be left in place to prevent stenosis of the vein as well as allowing repeat ablation procedures as needed.
166 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for treating atrial fibrillation, comprising:
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introducing a stent into the left atrium of a patient, wherein the stent is introduced by a stent catheter having a stent mounted at its distal end; deploying the stent into a pulmonary vein by inflating a balloon at the distal end of the stent catheter to expand the stent within a pulmonary vein, applying radiofrequency energy to the deployed stent in order to ablate surrounding tissue and stop discharges from ectopic foci in the vein from reaching the left atrium, leaving the stent in place in order to prevent stenosis of the vein; and
,transmitting the radiofrequency energy to the stent by an electrode mounted on the surface of the balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for treating atrial fibrillation, comprising:
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a stent catheter having a stent mounted thereon for deployment in a pulmonary vein, the catheter including a balloon at its distal end for expanding the stent within a pulmonary vein and, an electrode located on the surface of the balloon for making contact with the deployed stent and for transmitting radiofrequency energy thereto in order to ablate surrounding tissue and stop discharges from ectopic foci in the vein from reaching the left atrium. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for treating atrial fibrillation, comprising:
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a stent catheter means having a stent mounted thereon for deployment in a pulmonary vein, the catheter including a balloon at its distal end for expanding the stent within a pulmonary vein, wherein the stent is coated with an anti-coagulant to prevent thrombus formation; one or more anchoring devices mounted on the surface of the stent to prevent dislodgment after the stent is deployed; and
,an electrode located on the surface of the balloon for transmitting radiofrequency energy to the deployed stent in order to ablate surrounding tissue and stop discharges from ectopic foci in the vein from reaching the left atrium.
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Specification