Photoablation with infrared radiation
First Claim
1. A method of ablating cardiac tissue, comprising:
- positioning a distal portion of a photoablarion instrument in proximity to a target region of cardiac tissue, the instrument having a hollow housing and a light delivering element coupled to a source of photoablative radiation and disposed within the distal portions the distal portion being transmissive to ablative infrared radiation to permit the distribution of radiation by the light delivering clement in a pattern;
activating the light delivering element to transmit infrared radiant energy at a wavelength ranging from about 800 nm to about 1000 nm through the hollow housing to expose the target region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Infrared surgical photoablation instruments are disclosed for creating lesions in tissue, including cardiac tissue for treatment of arrhythmias and other diseases. The hand held instruments are especially useful in open chest or port access cardiac surgery for rapid and efficient creation of curvilinear lesions to serve as conduction blocks. Photoablative instruments are disclosed that emit radiation at a wavelength in a range from about 800 nm to about 1000 nm, and preferably emit at a wavelength in a range of about 915 nm to about 980 nm. Radiation at a wavelength of 915 nm or 980 nm is commonly preferred, in some applications, because of the optimal absorption of infrared radiation by cardiac tissue at these wavelengths.
306 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of ablating cardiac tissue, comprising:
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positioning a distal portion of a photoablarion instrument in proximity to a target region of cardiac tissue, the instrument having a hollow housing and a light delivering element coupled to a source of photoablative radiation and disposed within the distal portions the distal portion being transmissive to ablative infrared radiation to permit the distribution of radiation by the light delivering clement in a pattern;
activating the light delivering element to transmit infrared radiant energy at a wavelength ranging from about 800 nm to about 1000 nm through the hollow housing to expose the target region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
repeating the steps of positioning and exposing until a composite lesion of a desired shape is formed.
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12. A method of treating cardiac arrhythmias, comprising:
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positioning an ablation instrument in proximity to a target cardiac treatment site, the instrument including a source of penetrating energy; and
activating the instrument to transmit penetrating energy at a wavelength ranging from about 800 nm to about 1000 nm into tissue at the target site to form a lesion by uniform beating of the target tissue.
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Specification