Method and device for cardiac tissue ablation
First Claim
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1. A cardiac ablation instrument for preventative treatment to inhibit exigent physiological aberrations at a treatment site, comprising:
- a catheter body configured for disposition within a heart;
a non-contact energy emitter being slidably disposed within a lumen of the catheter, the non-contact energy emitter configured to forwardly project ablative energy to a target tissue at the treatment site, wherein the non-contact energy emitter is configured and disposed within the catheter such that sliding the energy emitter along the lumen of the catheter permits control over an amount or a shape of ablative energy being projected towards the target tissue;
a reflectance fiber supported by the catheter body, the reflectance fiber being part of a reflective monitor;
a controller in communication with the reflectance fiber and configured to use reflective feedback from the reflectance fiber in order to monitor the state of ablation at the treatment site;
a display providing a visual display of the state of the target tissue, wherein the controller is further configured to provide visual feedback signals to the display that are indicative of at least an onset of tissue carbonization and provide visual feedback to a user.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for forming annular lesions in tissue. The methods include introduction of an optical apparatus proximate to a tissue site, via, for example, a catheter. The optical apparatus includes a pattern-forming optical wave guide in communication with a light transmitting optical fiber. Energy is transmitted through the optical fiber, such that radiation is propagated through the optical fiber and the wave guide projects an annular light pattern, e.g., a circle or a halo.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A cardiac ablation instrument for preventative treatment to inhibit exigent physiological aberrations at a treatment site, comprising:
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a catheter body configured for disposition within a heart; a non-contact energy emitter being slidably disposed within a lumen of the catheter, the non-contact energy emitter configured to forwardly project ablative energy to a target tissue at the treatment site, wherein the non-contact energy emitter is configured and disposed within the catheter such that sliding the energy emitter along the lumen of the catheter permits control over an amount or a shape of ablative energy being projected towards the target tissue; a reflectance fiber supported by the catheter body, the reflectance fiber being part of a reflective monitor; a controller in communication with the reflectance fiber and configured to use reflective feedback from the reflectance fiber in order to monitor the state of ablation at the treatment site; a display providing a visual display of the state of the target tissue, wherein the controller is further configured to provide visual feedback signals to the display that are indicative of at least an onset of tissue carbonization and provide visual feedback to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A cardiac ablation instrument for treating atrial fibrillation at a treatment site, comprising:
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a catheter body adapted for disposition within a heart; an inflatable balloon coupled to the catheter body and adapted to engage cardiac tissue near a pulmonary vein upon inflation; an energy emitter disposed within a distal region of the catheter body, and adapted to be slidably adjustable and independently positionable within the catheter body, the energy emitter being configured to forwardly project ablative energy to create a lesion at a target tissue site near a pulmonary vein; a display providing a visual display of the state of the target tissue site; a reflectance fiber supported by the catheter body; and a controller in communication with the reflectance fiber and configured to use reflective feedback from the reflectance fiber in order to monitor the state of ablation at the target tissue site, the controller being further configured to provide visual feedback signals to the display that are indicative of at least an onset of tissue carbonization. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of treating atrial fibrillation, comprising:
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positioning a distal portion of an ablation instrument in proximity to a pulmonary vein, the instrument having a lumen configured to slidably receive an independently positionable energy emitter within the distal portion of the instrument; inflating a balloon element coupled to the distal portion of the instrument such that the balloon element contacts a treatment site; sliding the energy emitter to a desired position relative to the lumen; activating the energy emitter so as to forwardly transmit energy to the treatment site and thereby form an annular lesion in proximity to the pulmonary vein; and monitoring an amount of light reflected from a treatment site to detect a state of ablation of a target tissue including at least an onset of tissue carbonization. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification