Irrigated ablation electrode having smooth edges to minimize tissue char
AssigneeSt. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.
InventorsHuisun Wang, Sacha C. Hall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to ablation catheter electrodes that solve in part the problem of tissue charring during radiofrequency ablation. The electrode assemblies of the invention include passageways that lead from the inner lumen of the assemblies to the surface of the assemblies, wherein the passageways have a smooth conjunction with the outer surface. These smooth conjunctions comprise rounded edges or are chamfered. In the case of rounded edges, the rounded edges can have fixed radii of about 0.002″ to about 0.008″.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
An ablation electrode assembly comprising:
- a tip electrode comprising an inner portion and an outer surface configured to deliver ablative energy;
- a plurality of fluid passageways extending from the inner portion of the tip electrode to the outer surface of the tip electrode, at least one fluid passageway of the plurality of fluid passageways extending at an angle of less than 90 degrees from a central longitudinal axis of the tip electrode;
- and
- a plurality of temperature sensors disposed within the inner portion of the tip electrode, at least one temperature sensor located in a distal portion of the ablation electrode assembly and at least one temperature sensor located in a proximal portion of the ablation electrode assembly.
An ablation electrode assembly comprising:
- a tip electrode comprising an inner portion and an outer surface configured to deliver ablative energy;
- a plurality of first fluid passageways extending from the inner portion of the tip electrode to the outer surface of the tip electrode, the plurality of first fluid passageways located along a length of the tip electrode;
- a plurality of second fluid passageways extending from the inner portion of the tip electrode to the outer surface of the tip electrode, the plurality of second fluid passageways located on a distal end of the tip electrode;
- and
- a plurality of temperature sensors disposed within the inner portion of the tip electrode, at least one temperature sensor located in a distal portion of the ablation electrode assembly and at least one temperature sensor located in a proximal portion of the ablation electrode assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.