Composite structures and methods for ablating tissue to form complex lesion patterns in the treatment of cardiac conditions and the like

• US 7,413,568 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EP Technology (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EP Technology (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Swanson, David K., Fleischman, Sidney D., Kordis, Thomas F., McGee, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US09/870,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20010029366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,639 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606 45- 50, 607/101, 607/102, 607/116, 607/122
• US Class Current: 606/41
• 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 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1437 whereby the windings of the spiral touch each other such as to create a continuous surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1497 Electrodes covering only part of the probe circumference

Abstract

A method of ablating tissue in the heart to treat atrial fibrillation introduces into a selected atrium an energy emitting element. The method exposes the element to a region of the atrial wall and applies ablating energy to the element to thermally destroy tissue. The method forms a convoluted lesion pattern comprising elongated straight lesions and elongated curvilinear lesions. The lesion pattern directs electrical impulses within the atrial myocardium along a path that activates the atrial myocardium while interrupting reentry circuits that, if not interrupted, would cause fibrillation. The method emulates the surgical maze procedure, but lends itself to catheter-based procedures that do not require open heart surgical techniques. A composite structure for performing the method is formed using a template that displays in planar view a desired lesion pattern for the tissue. An array of spaced apart element is laid on the template. Guided by the template, energy emitting and non-energy emitting zones are formed on the elements. By overlaying the elements, the composite structure is formed, which can be introduced into the body to ablate tissue using catheter-based, vascular access techniques.

Claims

1. A tissue ablation device, comprising:

a member defining an expanded size and shape that corresponds to a circumferential region of tissue associated with an orifice of a vein that carries blood to an atrium; and

an ablation element associated with the member and adapted to form a continuous circumferential lesion in the circumferential region of tissue associated with an orifice of a vein that carries blood to an atrium.

2. A tissue ablation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member comprises a collapsible member.

3. A tissue ablation device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the collapsible member comprises a collapsible loop structure.

4. A tissue ablation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises an energy emitting structure.

5. A tissue ablation device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the ablation element comprises a plurality of spaced energy emitting elements.

6. A catheter, comprising:

a catheter body; and

means, associated with the catheter body, for forming a lesion in at least a substantial portion of a circumferential region of tissue associated with an orifice of a vein that carries blood to an atrium.

7. A catheter as claimed in claim 6, further comprising:

a connector adapted to connect the catheter to an energy source.

8. A catheter, comprising:

a catheter body including at least one energy transmission line; and

means, operably connected to the at least one energy transmission line, for simultaneously coupling a continuous circumferential region of tissue that surrounds an orifice of a vein that carries blood to an atrium to energy from the at least one energy transmission line.

9. A catheter as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a connector adapted to connect the at least one energy transmission line to an energy source.

10. A catheter as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one energy transmission line comprises a plurality of energy transmission lines.

11. A catheter, comprising:

a catheter body; and

means, associated with the catheter body, for expanding within an atrium, contacting a circumferential region of tissue that surrounds an orifice of a vein that carries blood to the atrium, and forming a continuous lesion in the circumferential region of tissue.

12. A catheter as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a connector adapted to connect the catheter to an energy source.