Ablation device with jaws

• US 8,162,941 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Christian, Steven C., Rothstein, Paul T., Daigle, Tom P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scott, Amanda
• Application Number:
  US12/973,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20110087205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 606 50- 52
• US Class Current: 606/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00363 Epicardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00375 Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation

Abstract

System, device and method for ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient through an incision. An ablation device can include a hinge including a cam assembly, a moving arm, a floating jaw, and a lower jaw. Fingers can engage the floating jaw to hold the floating jaw in a first position with respect to the moving arm. Some embodiments of the invention can provide an ablation device including a central support, an upper four-bar linkage coupled to the central support, an upper jaw coupled to the upper linkage, a lower four-bar linkage coupled to the central support, and a lower jaw coupled to the lower linkage. Some embodiments of the invention can provide an ablation device having an upper jaw including a first cannula connection and a lower jaw including a second cannula connection. The system can include a first catheter coupled to the first cannula connection and a second catheter coupled to the second cannula connection. The first and second catheters can be inserted through the incision and can move the upper and lower jaws adjacent the pulmonary veins.

Claims

1. A method of ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient, the method comprising:

providing an ablation device with at least one floating jaw including at least one electrode;

locking the at least one floating jaw;

inserting the at least one floating jaw into a side of the patient;

approaching the pulmonary veins substantially directly from the side of the patient with the at least one floating jaw;

unlocking the at least one floating jaw;

articulating the at least one floating jaw with respect to a central support to accommodate target tissue adjacent the pulmonary veins; and

providing ablation energy to the at least one electrode.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising allowing the floating jaw to float with respect to pivot points.

3. The method of claim 1 and further comprising biasing the floating jaw with respect to the central support.

4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising providing two floating jaws.

5. The method of claim 1 and further comprising providing at fixed jaw.

6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising providing ablation energy including at least one of radio frequency energy, thermal energy, cryogenic energy, and microwave energy.

7. A method of ablating target tissue adjacent pulmonary veins of a patient through an incision in the patient, the method comprising:

inserting a first catheter through the incision and positioning the first catheter on a first side of the pulmonary veins;

inserting a second catheter through the incision and positioning the second catheter on a second side of the pulmonary veins;

coupling an upper jaw of an ablation tool to the first catheter;

coupling a lower jaw of the ablation tool to the second catheter;

moving the upper jaw adjacent the pulmonary veins with the first catheter;

moving the lower jaw adjacent the pulmonary veins with the second catheter; and

providing ablation energy to at least one electrode coupled to at least one of the upper jaw and the lower jaw.

8. The method of claim 7 and further comprising connecting a nipple of at least one of the upper jaw and the lower jaw to at least one of the first catheter and the second catheter.

9. The method of claim 7 and further comprising providing ablation energy including at least one of radio frequency energy, thermal energy, microwave energy, and cryogenic energy.

10. The method of claim 7 and further comprising performing bipolar ablation.

11. The method of claim 7 and further comprising moving a body of the upper jaw with respect to at least one of lateral supports and a central support of the upper jaw.

12. The method of claim 7 and further comprising moving at least one of the upper jaw and the lower jaw within at least one plane with respect to a hinge connection of the ablation tool.

13. The method of claim 7 and further comprising inserting the first catheter and the second catheter through at least one of a third intercostal incision and a sixth intercostal incision.