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AssigneeESTECH, Inc. (Endoscopic Technologies, Inc.)
InventorsGary S. Kochamba, Suzanne E. Kochamba, Art Bertolero
Estimating the term…
Tissue stabilization and ablation devices and methods provide techniques for stabilizing and ablating body tissues during surgical ablation procedures. In many embodiments, for example, devices may be used in minimally invasive techniques for ablating epicardial tissue adjacent one or more pulmonary veins to treat atrial fibrillation. Tissue stabilization and ablation devices generally include a rigidifying bladder coupled with an ablation member. The devices may additionally include a tissue stabilizing bladder or means within the rigidifying bladder for enhancing tissue stabilization. The rigidifying bladder conforms to a tissue surface and then stiffens to help the device hold its shape and position and to stabilize the tissue. The ablation member is then used to ablate an area of tissue. Such cardiac stabilization and ablation devices and methods may be used to ablate one or more patterns on the epicardial surface of a heart to treat atrial fibrillation and/or other cardiac arrhythmias.
A method of stabilizing and ablating body tissue, the method comprising:
A device for stabilizing and ablating tissue, the device comprising:
A device as in claim. 32, wherein the ablation member further comprises at least one partially retractable member such that when the retractable member is deployed the ablation member contacts epicardial tissue encircling two pulmonary veins.
A device for stabilizing and ablating tissue, the device comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.