US 6,161,543 A · Methods of epicardial ablation for creating a lesion around the pulmonary veins

Abstract

The invention provides surgical systems and methods for ablating heart tissue within the interior and/or exterior of the heart. A plurality of probes is provided with each probe configured for introduction into the chest for engaging the heart. Each probe includes an elongated shaft having an elongated ablating surface of a predetermined shape. The elongated shaft and the elongated ablating surface of each probe are configured to ablate a portion of the heart. A sealing device affixed to the heart tissue forms a hemostatic seal between the probe and the penetration in the heart to inhibit blood loss therethrough.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of ablating epicardial tissue around the pulmonary veins, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one ablation device having at least one ablating element;
introducing the ablation device into the patient's chest;
positioning the ablating element in contact with a location on an epicardial surface of the heart;
and
ablating tissue to form a lesion around the pulmonary veins with the at least one ablating element positioned at the location on the epicardial surface to form at least part of the lesion around the pulmonary veins.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

08/943,683Filed 15 Oct 1997 · continuation

Priority

22 Feb 1993

Granted

19 Dec 2000

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification66 codes

A61B 17/00234
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: for minimally invasive surgery
A61B 17/0057
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel…
A61B 17/0218
For holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors: for minimally invasive surgery
A61B 17/0469
For suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials: suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g.…

Family

Serial023,778Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Feb 1993

Serial163,241Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 6 Dec 1993

Serial425,179Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Apr 1995

US 5,452,733 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Sep 1995

Serial735,036Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Oct 1996

US 5,571,215 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Nov 1996

US 5,797,960 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 6,161,543 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Methods of epicardial ablation for creating a lesion around the pulmonary veins

Life of this patent

Methods of epicardial ablation for creating a lesion around the pulmonary veins

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11