Ablation catheter assembly with radially decreasing helix and method of use
First Claim
1. A catheter assembly, comprising:
- a catheter body including a proximal portion, an intermediate portion extending from the proximal portion and a distal portion extending from the intermediate portion;
the distal portion forming a distally decreasing radius helix including an ablation section having a predetermined frontal diameter, the ablation section including a plurality of independently operable ablative elements; and
an ablative energy source coupled to the ablation section to activate the ablative elements;
wherein upon activation by the energy source, one or more of the plurality of ablative elements ablates a desired lesion pattern;
wherein the catheter body forms a lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and further wherein the ablation section is formed of a microporous polymer, and further wherein the catheter assembly further comprises a fluid source for supplying a liquid to the lumen such that upon activation of the ablative energy source, an energy is applied to fluid irrigated to an exterior surface of the ablation section.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter assembly for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia. The catheter assembly includes a catheter body and an ablative energy source. The catheter body includes a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion. The intermediate portion extends from the proximal portion and defines a longitudinal axis. The distal portion extends from the intermediate portion and includes an ablation section and a tip. The ablation section forms a loop defining a diameter greater than an outer dimension of a pulmonary vein ostium. The tip extends distally from the ablation section and is configured to locate a pulmonary vein. Finally, the ablative energy source is associated with the ablation section. With this configuration, upon activation of the energy source, the ablation section ablates a desired lesion pattern. In one preferred embodiment, the ablation section forms a distally decreasing radius helix, whereas the tip includes a relatively linear leader section. With this one preferred configuration, the tip readily locates a pulmonary vein and guides the ablation section to a seated relationship about a pulmonary vein ostium (or extra-ostial).
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A catheter assembly, comprising:
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a catheter body including a proximal portion, an intermediate portion extending from the proximal portion and a distal portion extending from the intermediate portion;
the distal portion forming a distally decreasing radius helix including an ablation section having a predetermined frontal diameter, the ablation section including a plurality of independently operable ablative elements; andan ablative energy source coupled to the ablation section to activate the ablative elements; wherein upon activation by the energy source, one or more of the plurality of ablative elements ablates a desired lesion pattern; wherein the catheter body forms a lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and further wherein the ablation section is formed of a microporous polymer, and further wherein the catheter assembly further comprises a fluid source for supplying a liquid to the lumen such that upon activation of the ablative energy source, an energy is applied to fluid irrigated to an exterior surface of the ablation section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for forming an ablation pattern to electrically isolate a pulmonary vein for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, comprising:
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positioning a part of a distal portion of an ablation catheter within an ostium of the pulmonary vein, the distal portion forming a distally decreasing radius helix and including an ablation section, the ablation section including a plurality of independently operable ablative elements; supplying a liquid to a lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion of the catheter body; irrigating an exterior surface of the ablation section with said liquid; and applying energy from one or more of the plurality of ablative elements to the irrigated exterior surface to ablate a desired lesion pattern. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification