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Catheter having circular ablation assembly

  • US 7,575,566 B2
  • Filed: 12/31/2003
  • Issued: 08/18/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for ablating tissue within a tubular region of or near the heart having an inner circumference, the method comprising:

  • inserting into the tubular region an ablation assembly at a distal end of a catheter, the catheter comprising an elongated tubular catheter body having proximal and distal ends, an axis, and at least one lumen extending therethrough, and wherein the ablation assembly has a preformed generally circular curve having an outer circumference and being generally transverse to the axis of the catheter body, the ablation assembly further comprising a generally straight distal region extending beyond the generally circular curve and substantially tangentially from the generally circular curve, wherein the ablation assembly comprises a generally circularly curved flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends, the flexible tubing carrying a generally bulb-shaped tip electrode at its distal end;

    contacting the inner circumference of the tubular region with at least a portion of the outer circumference of the generally circular curve so that the tip electrode is in a first position in contact with tissue along the inner circumference of the tubular region;

    ablating the tissue along the inner circumference of the tubular region at the first position with the tip electrode;

    rotating the catheter so that the tip electrode is in a second position in contact with other tissue along the inner circumference of the tubular region; and

    ablating the other tissue at the second position with the tip electrode.

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