Clamping ablation tool and method
First Claim
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1. A clamping ablation tool for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient, the clamping ablation tool comprising:
- an upper arm including an upper neck, a link assembly coupled to the upper neck at a first pivot point, and an upper actuator, the link assembly including a distal electrode and a proximal electrode, and the link assembly capable of being guided around the pulmonary veins, the upper actuator controlling movement of the link assembly; and
a lower arm that mates with the upper arm, the lower arm including a lower neck, a distal jaw coupled to the lower neck at a second pivot point, and a lower actuator, the distal jaw including a jaw electrode, the lower actuator controlling movement of the distal jaw;
the upper actuator and the lower actuator being independently operable in order to position the link assembly and the distal jaw independently;
the first pivot point being spaced apart longitudinally along a length of the tool from the second pivot point;
the distal electrode and the proximal electrode receiving energy independently of the jaw electrode in order to allow partial blood flow through the pulmonary veins and create a continuous lesion.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient. A clamping ablation tool can include an upper arm having an upper neck, a link assembly, and an upper actuator. The link assembly can include a distal electrode and a proximal electrode. The clamping ablation tool can include a lower arm that mates with the upper arm. The lower arm can include a lower neck, a distal jaw, and a lower actuator. The distal jaw can include a jaw electrode, and the lower actuator can control movement of the distal jaw.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A clamping ablation tool for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient, the clamping ablation tool comprising:
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an upper arm including an upper neck, a link assembly coupled to the upper neck at a first pivot point, and an upper actuator, the link assembly including a distal electrode and a proximal electrode, and the link assembly capable of being guided around the pulmonary veins, the upper actuator controlling movement of the link assembly; and a lower arm that mates with the upper arm, the lower arm including a lower neck, a distal jaw coupled to the lower neck at a second pivot point, and a lower actuator, the distal jaw including a jaw electrode, the lower actuator controlling movement of the distal jaw; the upper actuator and the lower actuator being independently operable in order to position the link assembly and the distal jaw independently; the first pivot point being spaced apart longitudinally along a length of the tool from the second pivot point; the distal electrode and the proximal electrode receiving energy independently of the jaw electrode in order to allow partial blood flow through the pulmonary veins and create a continuous lesion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A clamping ablation tool for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient, the clamping ablation tool comprising:
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a first arm including a first neck portion, a first proximal link movably coupled to the first neck portion, a first distal link movably coupled to the first neck portion distally from the first proximal link, and a first actuator, the first proximal link including a first proximal electrode and the first distal link including a first distal electrode, the first arm capable of being guided around the pulmonary veins, the first actuator controlling movement of at least one of the first proximal link and the first distal link; and a second arm that is operatively connectable with the first arm, the second arm including a second neck portion, a second proximal link movably coupled to the second neck portion, a second distal link movably coupled to the second neck portion distally from the second proximal link, and a second actuator, the second proximal link including a second proximal electrode and the second distal link including a second distal electrode, the second arm capable of being guided around the pulmonary veins, the second actuator controlling movement of at least one of the second proximal link and the second distal link; the first actuator and the second actuator being independently operable in order to move and position at least one of the first proximal and distal links independently of at least one of the second proximal and distal links while the first and second arms are operatively connected so as to be non-movable with respect to one another; the first proximal electrode and the second proximal electrode receiving energy independently of the first distal electrode and the second distal electrode in order to selectively create proximal and distal lesion portions on the target tissue adjacent to the pulmonary veins. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification