Method and device for epicardial ablation
First Claim
1. A method of cryogenically ablating a predetermined portion of tissue on an exterior surface of a blood vessel of a patient, the method comprising:
- inserting a medical instrument having a thermally-transmissive segment into the patient'"'"'s body;
guiding the instrument to a predetermined portion of the patient'"'"'s body and positioning the thermally-transmissive segment adjacent tissue on an exterior surface of the blood vessel to be ablated;
directing a flow of cryogenic fluid to the thermally-transmissive segment;
effecting a cooling of the cryogenic fluid adjacent the thermally-transmissive segment; and
removing the fluid from the thermally-transmissive segment.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is disclosed for treating heart and vascular tissue with cryotreatment. A medical instrument, such as a catheter is positioned to contact a target region of cardiac tissue such as the epicardial tissue. The instrument or catheter provided includes a cryotreatment element that has thermally-transmissive properties. The cryotreatment element may be a cryochamber for enclosing the flow of a fluid refrigerant therein. The cryotreatment element is disposed at the situs of heart or vascular tissue to be treated, usually by piercing the epicardium sac via an opening in the patient'"'"'s body. A refrigerant flow within the cryochamber creates endothermic cooling with respect to the targeted heart or vascular tissue, inducing hypothermia and forming iceballs proximate the tissue. The cooling may be reversible and non-permanent, or may be permanent leading to cell death, necrosis, apoptosis and/or surgical excision or ablation of tissue.
71 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of cryogenically ablating a predetermined portion of tissue on an exterior surface of a blood vessel of a patient, the method comprising:
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inserting a medical instrument having a thermally-transmissive segment into the patient'"'"'s body; guiding the instrument to a predetermined portion of the patient'"'"'s body and positioning the thermally-transmissive segment adjacent tissue on an exterior surface of the blood vessel to be ablated; directing a flow of cryogenic fluid to the thermally-transmissive segment; effecting a cooling of the cryogenic fluid adjacent the thermally-transmissive segment; and removing the fluid from the thermally-transmissive segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification