Vacuum-based catheter stabilizer
First Claim
1. A medical probe for use with tissue, comprising:
- an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end;
an operative element carried at the distal end of the elongate member, wherein the operative element comprises an expandable-collapsible body and one or more of a tissue ablation element and a tissue sensing element; and
a stabilizing shroud circumscribing at least a portion of the operative element, the shroud configured for applying a vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical probe for use with tissue includes an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end, an operative element carried at the distal end of the elongate member, and a stabilizer configured for applying a vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue. A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient includes introducing a medical probe having an operative element within the patient, the operative element being adjacent a target tissue, applying a vacuum force between the medical probe and the target tissue to secure the operative element relative to the target tissue, and operating the operative element to perform the medical procedure on the target tissue while the operative element is secured relative to the target tissue.
117 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A medical probe for use with tissue, comprising:
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an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; an operative element carried at the distal end of the elongate member, wherein the operative element comprises an expandable-collapsible body and one or more of a tissue ablation element and a tissue sensing element; and a stabilizing shroud circumscribing at least a portion of the operative element, the shroud configured for applying a vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A medical probe for use with tissue, comprising:
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an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; an operative element carried at the distal end of the elongate member; and a stabilizing shroud secured to the distal end of the elongate member and circumscribing at least a portion of the operative element, the shroud comprising a wall and a plurality of vacuum ports located on the wall for applying a vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A medical probe for use with tissue, comprising:
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an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; an operative element carried at the distal end of the elongate member; and a stabilizing shroud circumscribing at least a portion of the operative element, the shroud configured for applying a vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue, wherein the shroud is pre-shaped to expand in the absence of a compressive force. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient using a medical probe having an operative element and a shroud circumscribing at least a portion of the operative element, comprising:
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introducing the medical probe within the patient to place the operative element adjacent a target epicardial tissue site, wherein the shroud has a plurality of vacuum ports; applying a vacuum force to the plurality of vacuum ports of the shroud to secure the operative element relative to the target tissue site; and sensing a signal at the target tissue site with the operative element while the operative element is secured relative to the target tissue site. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A medical probe for use with tissue, comprising:
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an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; an operative element carried at the distal end of the elongate member, wherein the operative element comprises an expandable-collapsible body; and a conically-shaped stabilizing shroud circumscribing at least a portion of the operative element, the shroud configured for applying a vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A medical probe for use with tissue, comprising:
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an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; an operative element carried at the distal end of the elongate member, wherein the operative element comprises an expandable-collapsible body; and a stabilizing shroud circumscribing at least a portion of the operative element, the shroud configured for applying a vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue, wherein the shroud is not secured to an exterior of the operative element.
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27. A medical probe for use with tissue, comprising:
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an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; an operative element carried at the distal end of the elongate member; and a stabilizing shroud circumscribing at least a portion of the operative element, the shroud configured for applying a vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue, wherein the shroud is configured to assume a collapsed configuration in the presence of an external compressive force. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient using a medical probe having an operative element and a shroud circumscribing at least a portion of the operative element, comprising:
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introducing the medical probe within the patient to place the operative element adjacent a target tissue site; applying a vacuum force to the shroud to secure the operative element relative to the target tissue site; expanding the operative element; and operating the expanded operative element to perform the medical procedure on the target tissue site while the operative element is secured relative to the target tissue site. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient using a medical probe having an operative element and a shroud circumscribing at least a portion of the operative element, comprising:
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introducing the medical probe within the patient to place the operative element adjacent a target tissue site; expanding the shroud; applying a vacuum force to the expanded shroud to secure the operative element relative to the target tissue site; and operating the operative element to perform the medical procedure on the target tissue site while the operative element is secured relative to the target tissue site. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A medical probe for use with tissue, comprising:
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an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; an operative element carried at the distal end of the elongate member, wherein the operative element comprises an expandable-collapsible body; and a stabilizing shroud circumscribing at least a portion of the operative element, the shroud configured for applying a vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue, wherein the shroud has a first configuration when the expandable-collapsible body is inflated, and a second configuration when the expandable-collapsible body is deflated. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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43. A medical probe for use with tissue, comprising:
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an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; an operative element carried at the distal end of the elongate member; and a stabilizing shroud circumscribing at least a portion of the operative element, the shroud comprising a wall, one or more vacuum ports located on the wall for applying a vacuum force to secure the operative element relative to the tissue, and one or more lumens extending along the wall in fluid communication with the one or more vacuum ports, wherein the wall has one or more enlarged planar regions carrying the one or more lumens and one or more thinner planar regions between the one or more enlarged planar regions. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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Specification