Expandable catheter having two sets of electrodes
First Claim
1. Apparatus for applying energy to a hollow anatomical structure, said apparatus comprising:
- an outer sheath, said outer sheath having a distal end and an inflatable, occlusive balloon located at said distal end of said sheath, said sheath defining an inflation lumen which is in fluid communication with said balloon via at least one port underlying said balloon, said balloon having an inflated state wherein said balloon is of sufficient size to occlude a deep vein in a human leg;
a fluid delivery lumen extending through said outer sheath and distal of said balloon; and
an elongate treatment device extending through said outer sheath;
said elongate treatment device having a distal end located distal of said balloon, said elongate treatment device being configured to apply energy to a wall of said hollow anatomical structure;
wherein said apparatus is adapted for a flow of liquid to pass through said fluid delivery lumen, distal of said balloon and toward said distal end of said elongate treatment device;
wherein said elongate treatment device comprises a catheter having a distal end and first and second pluralities of expandable electrode leads mounted at the distal end, the second plurality of leads being separate from and longitudinally spaced apart from the from the first plurality.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter includes a first plurality of expandable leads and a second plurality of expandable leads separate and longitudinally spaced-apart from the first plurality to deliver energy to a hollow anatomical structure, such as vein, fallopian tube, hemorrhoid, esophageal varix, to effectively ligate that structure. Each of the leads includes an electrode located at the distal end of the respective electrode lead. Polarizations of the leads may be selected to achieve the power distribution desired. Each electrode lead includes an outward bend such that when a movable sheath is moved out of contact with the leads, they expand outwardly into apposition with an inner wall of the structure to be ligated. High frequency energy can be applied from the leads to create a heating effect in the surrounding tissue of the anatomical structure. The diameter of the hollow anatomical structure is reduced by the heating effect, and the electrodes are freely moved inward by the shrinking structure while still maintaining apposition with the inner wall of the shrinking structure.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. Apparatus for applying energy to a hollow anatomical structure, said apparatus comprising:
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an outer sheath, said outer sheath having a distal end and an inflatable, occlusive balloon located at said distal end of said sheath, said sheath defining an inflation lumen which is in fluid communication with said balloon via at least one port underlying said balloon, said balloon having an inflated state wherein said balloon is of sufficient size to occlude a deep vein in a human leg; a fluid delivery lumen extending through said outer sheath and distal of said balloon; and an elongate treatment device extending through said outer sheath;
said elongate treatment device having a distal end located distal of said balloon, said elongate treatment device being configured to apply energy to a wall of said hollow anatomical structure;wherein said apparatus is adapted for a flow of liquid to pass through said fluid delivery lumen, distal of said balloon and toward said distal end of said elongate treatment device; wherein said elongate treatment device comprises a catheter having a distal end and first and second pluralities of expandable electrode leads mounted at the distal end, the second plurality of leads being separate from and longitudinally spaced apart from the from the first plurality. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for applying energy to a hollow anatomical structure, said apparatus comprising:
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a catheter having a shaft with a working end at which energy can be applied to the hollow anatomical structure; an occlusive balloon mounted near the working end of the catheter; a first plurality of expandable electrode leads mounted at the working end of the catheter; a second plurality of expandable electrode leads mounted at the working end of the catheter, the second plurality of leads being separate from the first plurality, each lead of the first and second pluralities having an electrode; wherein the electrodes of the first and second pluralities each have an expanded position at which the electrodes are located outward from the catheter shaft and a contracted position at which the electrodes are located nearer the shaft; wherein the first plurality of electrodes are configured to operate at a polarity which differs from that of the second plurality of electrodes; a deployment device mounted to the catheter, the deployment device having a first position at which the electrodes are in the contracted position and a second position at which the electrodes are in the expanded position; wherein the electrode leads are formed of a material having a strength selected such that when the sheath is in its second position, the leads are strong enough to move into apposition with the hollow anatomical structure, and the leads have a strength such that they permit the hollow anatomical structure to shrink but remain in apposition with the shrinking structure. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification