Method and system for treatment of atrial tachyarrhythmias
First Claim
1. A method of ablation to provide a desired set of lesions, comprising:
- (a) providing an ablation apparatus having a pair of jaw components, each jaw component having an elongated shapeable section, each elongated shapeable section having one or more ablation elements extending along its length for applying ablation energy along the shapeable section, at least one jaw component having a sharpened distal tip;
(b) shaping the shapeable section of each jaw component to display a desired configuration corresponding to one of the desired lesions;
(c) piercing an atrial wall with the sharpened distal tip;
(d) employing the ablation apparatus to create the desired lesion;
(e) thereafter reshaping the shapeable section of each jaw component to display a desired configuration corresponding to another of the desired lesions;
(f) repeating steps b, c, d and e as necessary provide the desired set of lesions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for ablating tissue to provide a desired set of lesions. The system includes an ablation apparatus having an elongated shapeable section carrying a mechanism such as an electrode for applying ablation energy along the shapeable section. The shapeable section includes a member of shape memory material having a memorized configuration. The shapeable section is shaped manually or using fixtures to display a configuration corresponding to one of the desired lesions and is then employed to create the desired lesion. Thereafter the shapeable section is heated to cause it to resume its memorized configuration. Shaping, heating and ablating to create lesions are continued as necessary provide the desired set of lesions. In some embodiments of the invention, heating may be accomplished using heating elements built into the shapeable section.
394 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of ablation to provide a desired set of lesions, comprising:
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(a) providing an ablation apparatus having a pair of jaw components, each jaw component having an elongated shapeable section, each elongated shapeable section having one or more ablation elements extending along its length for applying ablation energy along the shapeable section, at least one jaw component having a sharpened distal tip; (b) shaping the shapeable section of each jaw component to display a desired configuration corresponding to one of the desired lesions; (c) piercing an atrial wall with the sharpened distal tip; (d) employing the ablation apparatus to create the desired lesion; (e) thereafter reshaping the shapeable section of each jaw component to display a desired configuration corresponding to another of the desired lesions; (f) repeating steps b, c, d and e as necessary provide the desired set of lesions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for providing a desired set of lesions, comprising:
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(a) an ablation apparatus having a pair of jaw components, each jaw component having an elongated shapeable section, each elongated shapeable section having one or more ablation elements extending along its length for applying ablation energy along the shapeable section, each shapeable section comprising a member of shapeable material, at least one jaw component having a sharpened distal tip for piercing atrial wall tissue; and (b) fixturing apparatus for shaping the shapeable section of each jaw component to display multiple, predetermined configurations corresponding to the desired lesions. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A system for providing a desired set of lesions, comprising:
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an ablation apparatus comprising an electrosurgical hemostat having elongated shapeable jaws, each jaw carrying means for applying ablation energy along the shapeable section, the shapeable section comprising a member of shapeable material, and a sharpened distal tip for piercing atrial wall tissue; and a bending fixture for shaping the shapeable section of each jaw to display multiple, predetermined configurations corresponding to the desired lesions, wherein the bending fixture comprises means for retaining the jaws in a parallel arrangement.
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25. A system for providing a desired set of lesions, comprising:
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an ablation apparatus comprising an electrosurgical hemostat having elongated shapeable jaws having electrodes extending along their length for applying ablation energy along the shapeable section, the shapeable section comprising a member of shapeable material, and a sharpened distal tip for piercing atrial wall tissue; and fixturing means for shaping the shapeable section to display multiple, predetermined configurations corresponding to the desired lesions. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification