Catheter with a double balloon structure to generate and apply a heated ablative zone to tissue
OwnerVirender K. Sharmainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Ablation catheters and systems include coaxial catheter shafts with an inner lumen for delivering an ablative agent and an outer lumen for circulation of a cooling element about the catheter. Induction heating is used to heat a chamber and vaporize a fluid within by wrapping a coil about a ferromagnetic chamber and providing an alternating current to the coil. A magnetic field is created in the area surrounding the chamber which induces electric current flow in the chamber, heating the chamber and vaporizing the fluid inside. Positioning elements help maintain the device in the proper position with respect to the target tissue and also prevent the passage of ablative agent to normal tissues.
Claims20
A method of ablating cardiac tissue comprising:
- positioning a distal end of a catheter proximate cardiac tissue, wherein the catheter comprises:
- an outer shaft having a first lumen extending from a proximal end of the catheter to a first point positioned before the distal end of the catheter;
- an inner shaft having a second lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter to a second point at or before the distal end of the catheter, wherein the inner shaft is positioned within the outer shaft;
- a balloon positioned between said first point and said second point;
- and
- a vapor channel extending through said second lumen, wherein the vapor channel is in fluid communication with the balloon;
- activating a controller to inflate said balloon with air to cause said balloon to inflate to a first pressure;
- and
- activating the controller to cause vapor to pass from the vapor channel into the balloon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.