Method of ablating tissue from an epicardial location
AssigneeEpicor, Inc.
InventorsMatthias Vaska, Banjamin 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 creating a continuous ablation lesion in heart tissue underlying a pericardial reflection, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first ablating device and a second ablating device, the first and second ablating devices each having an end and an ablating element;
- introducing the first and second ablating devices into the space between the pericardium and the epicardium;
- positioning the first ablating device adjacent to a pericardial reflection;
- positioning the second ablating device on an opposite side of the pericardial reflection;
- ablating tissue with the first and second ablating devices to form a continuous, lesion in the heart tissue underlying the pericardial reflection.
A method of ablating tissue, comprising the steps of:
- providing an ablating device having an ablating element;
- introducing the ablating device into a space between the pericardium and the epicardium;
- advancing the ablating element toward an ablation site;
- positioning the ablating element against the ablation site, the ablating device including a portion having a width and a height, the width being larger than the height to orient the ablating element against the ablation site;
- and
- ablating tissue with the ablating element after the advancing and positioning steps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.