Surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation using radiofrequency technology
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorParris S. Wellman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Ablation systems and methods for treating atrial fibrillation utilizing RF energy are provided. The system generally includes a first conductive member having a shape which defines a desired lesion pattern or a portion of a desired lesion pattern, and a second conductive member effective to transmit ablative radiation to the first conductive member. The first conductive member is adapted to be positioned on a first tissue surface, and the second conductive member is adapted to be positioned on a second, opposed tissue surface. In use, ablative radiation is transmitted from the second conductive member through the tissue to the first conductive member to form a lesion having the desired lesion pattern.
Claims21
A surgical ablation system, comprising:
- a first conductive member adapted to be positioned adjacent a first tissue surface and having a shape which conforms to a portion of desired lesion pattern, the first conductive member being effective to communicate with a source of ablative energy;
- and
- a second conductive member adapted to be positioned adjacent a second, opposed tissue surface and effective to communicate with a source of ablative energy, the second conductive member being effective to transmit ablative energy through the tissue to the first conductive member to form a lesion in a desired lesion pattern.
A method for ablating tissue, comprising:
- providing a conductive member having at least one opening and being effective to communicate with a source of ablative energy;
- providing a tissue piercing element electrically isolated from the conductive member and effective to communicate with the source of ablative energy;
- positioning the conductive member on a first surface of a target tissue;
- deploying the tissue piercing element through a first one of the at least one opening to position a distal end of the tissue piercing element adjacent a second, opposed surface of the target tissue;
- communicating ablative energy between the distal end of the tissue piercing element and the conductive member through the tissue to form a lesion segment in the target tissue;
- and
- repeating the steps of deploying and transmitting at each of the at least one opening to form a plurality of lesion segments which together form a lesion pattern.
A method of ablating tissue, comprising:
- providing an introducer element having an inner lumen formed therein, and a return electrode member effective to communicate with a source of ablative energy, the return electrode being movable between a first, retracted position wherein the return electrode is disposed within the inner lumen of the introducer, and a second, open position wherein the return electrode has a substantially circumferential shape;
- inserting the introducer element through a tissue surface with the return electrode in the first, retracted position;
- moving the return electrode to the second, open position;
- providing an energy transmitting electrode having a distal end effective to communicate ablative energy through tissue to the return electrode;
- and
- communicating ablative energy between the energy transmitting electrode and the return electrode through the tissue, while moving the energy transmitting electrode around the circumference of the return electrode, thereby forming a substantially circumferential lesion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.