Abstract:
An apparatus for ablating body tissue, and particularly for creating linear lesions within a chamber of a patient's heart, includes an elongate member having an ablation section. The ablation section includes an infusion tube and a plurality of spaced electrodes. The infusion tube and electrodes are covered by a fluid permeable foam material, and the foam material is covered by a fluid impermeable covering having a plurality of holes formed in it. During use, the ablation section is positioned against tissue to be ablated. Radiofrequency energy is delivered to the electrodes while saline or other conductive fluid is delivered to the infusion tube. The fluid exits the infusion tube at the ablation section, contacts the electrodes, and carries RF energy from the electrodes through the foam, through the holes in the covering and into contact with the body tissue to form a burn in the body tissue.
Abstract:
An apparatus (22) for mapping the wall of a chamber of the heart. The apparatus (22) includes a flexible elongate tubular member (23) having proximal and distal extremities (27, 28) and at least one lumen (31) extending therethrough. A plurality of longitudinally and radially spaced-apart electrodes (42, 43) are provided. An expandable device (32) is carried by the distal extremity (28) of the flexible elongate tubular member (23) and is movable between a contracted position and an expanded position. The electrodes (42, 43) are mounted on the expandable device (32) so that when the expandable device (32) is moved to its expanded position in the chamber of the heart the electrodes (42, 43) are moved into engagement with the wall forming the chamber of the heart. Leads (53, 54) for conducting electrical energy are in contact with the electrodes (42, 43) and extend into the flexible elongate tubular member (23). An electrical apparatus is connected to the leads (53, 54) for performing electrical functions with respect to the electrodes (42, 43) and includes at least one semiconductor device (111) carried by the distal extremity (28) of the flexible elongate tubular member (23) in close proximity to the expandable device (32).
Abstract:
An endocardial mapping and ablation system (11) includes a catheter probe (12) comprised of a plurality of flexible longitudinally extending circumferentially spaced apart arms (23). Electrodes (21) are carried by the arms and are adapted to be moved into engagement with the wall of the heart. Markers (66) visibly ultrasonically are carried by the arms for encoding the arms from another. An ablation catheter (13) is carried by and is slidably mounted in probe (12) and has a distal extremity movable into the heart while the probe is disposed therein. An ablation electrode (86) and ultrasonic viewing means (41) are carried by the distal extremity of the ablation catheter. The distal extremity of the ablation catheter is movable into positions to view ultrasonically the markers carried by the arms of the catheter probe so that the arms can be identified and the spacing of the arms can be ascertained.
Abstract:
An apparatus (96) for performing an operation inside a body in the vicinity of a wall therein which includes a flexible elongate member (97) having proximal and distal extremities. The distal extremity (98) is adapted to be inserted into the body for performing the operation therein and the proximal extremity is adapted to be disposed outside the body. A pressure sensor (47) is carried by the distal extremity (98) of the flexible elongate member (97) for sensing the force being applied to the distal extremity in bringing it into engagement with the wall so that the force being applied to the distal extremity can be controlled.
Abstract:
This invention is an assembly (11) for use in performing a medical procedure within a region in a body of a patient (17) having a vessel (18) therein comprising a multi-port introducer (12) adapted to be inserted into a vessel of the patient. The multi-port introducer includes an elongate body (21) having proximal (22) and distal (23) extremities and has spaced apart lumens (28) extending from the proximal extremity toward the distal extremity. The elongate tubular body has ports (26) therein at the proximal extremity in communication with the lumens and openings (29) in the distal extremity in communication with the lumens. The elongate tubular body has a length so that it can extend from the exterior of the body to said region in the body. A plurality of catheters (13) are provided. Each of the catheters is slidably disposed in a separate lumen in the multi-port introducer and has a distal extremity (38) adapted to be disposed in the vessel of the patient.
Abstract:
An apparatus for ablating body tissue, and particularly for creating linear lesions within a chamber of a patient's heart, includes an elongate member having an ablation section. The ablation section includes an infusion tube and a plurality of spaced electrodes. The infusion tube and electrodes are covered by a fluid permeable foam material, and the foam material is covered by a fluid impermeable covering having a plurality of holes formed in it. During use, the ablation section is positioned against tissue to be ablated. Radiofrequency energy is delivered to the electrodes while saline or other conductive fluid is delivered to the infusion tube. The fluid exits the infusion tube at the ablation section, contacts the electrodes, and carries RF energy from the electrodes through the foam, through the holes in the covering and into contact with the body tissue to form a burn in the body tissue.
Abstract:
An apparatus for ablating body tissue, and particularly for creating linear lesions within a chamber of a patient's heart, includes an elongate member having an ablation section. The ablation section includes an infusion tube and a plurality of spaced electrodes. The infusion tube and electrodes are covered by a fluid permeable foam material, and the foam material is covered by a fluid impermeable covering having a plurality of holes formed in it. During use, the ablation section is positioned against tissue to be ablated. Radiofrequency energy is delivered to the electrodes while saline or other conductive fluid is delivered to the infusion tube. The fluid exits the infusion tube at the ablation section, contacts the electrodes, and carries RF energy from the electrodes through the foam, through the holes in the covering and into contact with the body tissue to form a burn in the body tissue.
Abstract:
This invention is an assembly (11) for use in performing a medical procedure within a region in a body of a patient (17) having a vessel (18) therein comprising a multi-port introducer (12) adapted to be inserted into a vessel of the patient. The multi-port introducer includes an elongate body (21) having proximal (22) and distal (23) extremities and has spaced apart lumens (28) extending from the proximal extremity toward the distal extremity. The elongate tubular body has ports (26) therein at the proximal extremity in communication with the lumens and openings (29) in the distal extremity in communication with the lumens. The elongate tubular body has a length so that it can extend from the exterior of the body to said region in the body. A plurality of catheters (13) are provided. Each of the catheters is slidably disposed in a separate lumen in the multi-port introducer and has a distal extremity (38) adapted to be disposed in the vessel of the patient.