Transmural ablation device

• US 7,604,634 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Inventors: Hooven, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen; Victoria W
• Application Number:
  US10/015,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20020107513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,869 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32, 606/34, 606/37, 606 41- 52, 606/38, 606/40, 606/205, 606/207, 606/1, 607/98, 607/101, 607/102, 607/105, 607/96, 607/100
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00363 Epicardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00738 Depth, e.g. depth of ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00755 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0225 using an instrument for clamping tissue, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0262 using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/145 wherein the effectors remain parallel during closing and opening

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transmural ablation using an instrument containing two electrodes or cryogenic probes. A clamping force is exerted on the two electrodes or probes such that the tissue of the hollow organ is clamped therebetween. Bipolar RF energy is then applied between the two electrodes, or the probes are cryogenically cooled, thus ablating the tissue therebetween. A monitoring device measures a suitable parameter, such as impedance or temperature, and indicates when the tissue between the electrodes has been fully ablated.

Claims

1. A cardiac tissue ablation apparatus comprising:

first and second jaw assemblies, the jaw assemblies being relatively moveable between open and closed positions, respectively, to receive and compress cardiac tissue therebetween;

each jaw assembly having an elongated electrically conductive member for ablating tissue between the jaw assemblies, the conductive members of the jaw assemblies being in face-to-face relation and connectible to a bipolar energy power source so as to be of opposite polarity when so connected for providing an electrical current through a selected tissue ablation area that is located between the jaw assemblies; and

each jaw assembly including at least one internal jaw support member and including an insulative cover that sufficiently surrounds the internal jaw support member to prevent contact of such internal jaw support member with the selected ablation area, wherein each jaw assembly has a clamping surface and each insulative cover is located on each side of the respective elongated conductive member of the corresponding jaw assembly and forms the clamping surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each jaw assembly includes an opening disposed for receiving the respective conductive member therein.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each respective insulative cover includes an opening disposed for receiving the respective conductive member therein.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each elongated conductive member protrudes through an opening in the respective insulative cover.