Helically shaped electrophysiology catheter
AssigneeCardima, Inc.
InventorsRichard E. Hill III, Alex L. Lim, Tim Huynh, Eric K.Y. Chan
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Abstract
An electrophysiology (EP) device suitable for ablating tissue within a patient's body lumen. The EP device of the invention generally comprises an elongated shaft having a distal shaft section with a helical shape and at least one electrode on an exterior portion thereof. One aspect of the invention comprises a method of performing a medical procedure, such as treating a patient for atrial arrhythmia, by forming a lesion using an EP device embodying features of the invention.
Claims32
An electrophysiology device for use in a patient's body lumen, comprising:
- a) an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal shaft section with a helical shape having one or more turns configured to conform to an inner diameter of the body lumen;
- and
- b) at least one electrode on an exterior portion of the distal shaft section.
An electrophysiology device, comprising:
- a) an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal shaft section having a proximal portion with a helical shape having one or more turns, and a noncoiled distal portion;
- and
- b) at least one electrode on an exterior portion of the distal shaft section.
An electrophysiology device, comprising:
- a) an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal shaft section having a proximal portion with a helical shape having at least one turn, and a distal portion extending in a substantially straight configuration distally from the helical proximal portion;
- and
- b) at least one electrode on an exterior portion of the distal shaft section.
A method of performing a medical procedure, comprising:
- a) providing an electrophysiology device, comprising
- an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal shaft section having a proximal portion with a helical shape having one or more turns and a distal portion with a noncoiled shape;
- and
- at least one electrode on an exterior portion of the helical proximal portion;
- and
- b) positioning at least a section of the helical proximal portion in contact with a wall defining an ostium of a patient's body lumen;
- and
- c) delivering high frequency energy to the electrodes to form a lesion.
A method of performing a medical procedure, comprising:
- a) providing an electrophysiology device, comprising
- i) an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal shaft section with a helical shape having one or more turns configured to conform to an inner diameter of a body lumen of the patient;
- and
- ii) at least one electrode on an exterior portion of the distal shaft section;
- b) positioning the device within the body lumen, so that the electrodes contact a wall defining the body lumen;
- and
- c) delivering high frequency energy to the electrodes on the device to form a lesion extending at least in part around the wall defining the body lumen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.