Method of positioning a medical instrument

• US 7,303,560 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: AFX, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Mody, Dinesh I., Berube, Dany, Chin, Sing Fatt, Norris, Nancy
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US10/949,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 600/121, 600/123, 600/128, 600/143, 600/144, 600/146, 600/528, 600/585, 606/41, 606 46- 50, 607101-102
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• 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 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 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00375 Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1497 Electrodes covering only part of the probe circumference

Abstract

A system and method for positioning a medical instrument at a desired biological target tissue site is provided. The system includes an elongated sheath having a deflectable distal end configured to deflect or otherwise position at least a portion of a medical instrument during a surgical procedure allowing for the placement of the deflected portion adjacent or proximate to a predetermined target tissue surface. The positioning system may be incorporated into the medical instrument. The medical instrument may be an ablation system.

Claims

1. A method of positioning a medical instrument within a patient'"'"'s body using a guide sheath having a sharp tip at a deflectable distal end during a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:

introducing into the patient'"'"'s body the guide sheath having the deflectable distal end and having a longitudinal axis and at least one lumen passing therethrough that is aligned along the longitudinal axis near the distal end;

dissecting tissue with the sharp tip;

deflecting the deflectable distal end of the sheath within the patient'"'"'s body;

introducing the medical instrument into the guide sheath positioned within the patient'"'"'s body toward a target tissue site; and

advancing the distal end of the medical instrument through the at least one lumen to the deflectable distal end thereof for positioning at least a portion of the medical instrument within the deflected distal end of the guide sheath near the target tissue site.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein deflecting the deflectable distal end includes deflecting by an angular amount skewed from the longitudinal axis of about 180°

.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein dissecting tissue comprises advancing the sharp tip to extend distally past the deflectable distal end.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the medical instrument includes a tissue-ablating element and the method further comprises positioning the tissue-ablating element within the deflectable distal end.