High-voltage pulse ablation systems and methods
AssigneeAtriCure, Inc.
InventorDavid K. Swanson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
High-voltage pulses ablation systems and methods are used to ablate tissue and form lesions. A variety of different electrophysiology devices, such as catheters, surgical probes, and clamps, may be used to position one or more electrodes at a target location. Electrodes can be connected to power supply lines and, in some instances, the power to the electrodes can be controlled on an electrode-by-electrode basis. High-voltage pulse sequences provide a total amount of heating that is typically less than that which is observed with thermally-based radiofrequency energy ablation protocols.
Claims17
A method, comprising:
- compressing cardiac tissue with a clamp comprising a first jaw on which a first electrode is disposed and a second jaw on which a second electrode is disposed;
- applying at least one high voltage pulse regimen to the cardiac tissue with the first and second electrodes of the clamp to cause a dielectric breakdown of cellular membrane tissue to create a lesion in the cardiac tissue;
- and
- applying another high voltage pulse regimen to the cardiac tissue with the clamp to produce a visible mark proximate the lesion, wherein a second width of one or more second voltage pulses of the other high voltage pulse regimen is greater than a first width of one or more first voltage pulses of the at least one high voltage pulse regimen, wherein the first voltage pulses comprise 1500-3000 volt pulses.
A method, comprising:
- placing a clamp at cardiac tissue, the clamp comprising at least a first electrode and a second electrode;
- applying a plurality of 1500-3000 volt pulses at a frequency comprising a pulse number within a range from about 5 to about 50 pulses discharged over a time interval within a range from about 1 to about 60 seconds to form a lesion in the cardiac tissue;
- and
- applying another plurality of pulses to the cardiac tissue with the clamp, wherein the other plurality of pulses is sufficient to form a visible mark on a surface of the cardiac tissue that corresponds to the lesion.
A method, comprising:
- placing a clamp at cardiac tissue, the clamp comprising at least a first electrode and a second electrode;
- applying a plurality of first pulses having a voltage gradient above 500 volts/centimeter at a frequency comprising a pulse number within a range from about 5 to about 50 pulses discharged over a time interval within a range from about 1 to about 60 seconds to form a lesion in the cardiac tissue;
- and applying a plurality of second pulses to the cardiac tissue with the clamp, wherein a second magnitude of one or more of the plurality second of pulses is greater than a first magnitude of one or more of the plurality of first pulses, wherein the plurality of second pulses is sufficient to form a visible mark on a surface of the cardiac tissue that corresponds to the lesion, wherein the visible mark is formed via radiofrequency energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.