Method of ablating tissue around the pulmonary veins
AssigneeEpicor, Inc.
InventorsMatthias Vaska, Benjamin Pless, David A. Gallup, Jack E. Ulstad, Jr., Scott C. Anderson, Roxanne L. Richman
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Abstract
The invention provides apparatus and methods for mapping conduction pathways and creating lesions in the heart wall for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The apparatus may include at least one epicardial ablation probe having a plurality of electrodes for creating a lesion. The apparatus and method facilitate the formation of a lesion which electrically isolates the pulmonary veins from the surrounding myocardium.
Claims19
A method of ablating tissue around the pulmonary veins, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first ablating device having at least one ablating element, the first ablating device having an end;
- introducing the first ablating device into the space between the pericardium and the epicardium;
- positioning the end adjacent to at least one of the right superior and right inferior pulmonary veins;
- and
- ablating tissue near to the pericardial reflection extending between the right superior and right inferior pulmonary veins with the ablating device.
A method of ablating tissue around the pulmonary veins, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first ablating device having at least one ablating element, the first ablating device having an end, a distal portion extending from the end and a proximal portion extending from the distal portion;
- introducing the first ablating device into the space between the pericardium and the epicardium;
- positioning the end superior to the right superior pulmonary vein, the distal portion extending to a position inferior to the right inferior pulmonary vein;
- and
- ablating the tissue lying beneath the distal portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.