Epicardial myocardial revascularization and denervation methods and apparatus
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorMiriam H. Taimisto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Electrophysiological methods and apparatus are disclosed. An exemplary myocardial treatment method includes the steps of positioning an electrode on the epicardial surface of a ventricle and transmitting energy from the electrode, through the epicardial surface and into the ventricular wall to create a lesion within the ventricular wall. An exemplary apparatus includes a shaft and one or more electrodes that have a main portion and a needle portion.
Claims36
A surgical probe for supplying energy to a body structure defining a surface, the surgical probe comprising:
- a handle;
- a relatively short shaft defining a proximal portion connected to the handle and a distal portion;
- an electrode support member, defining a proximal portion connected to the handle and a distal portion, associated with the shaft and movable relative to the shaft;
- and
- an electrode, associated with the distal portion of electrode support member, including an electrode main portion and an electrode needle portion respectively constructed and arranged relative to one another such that the electrode main portion will rest on the surface of body structure when the electrode needle portion penetrates the body structure.
A surgical probe for supplying energy to a body structure defining a surface, the surgical probe comprising:
- a relatively short shaft defining a longitudinal axis, a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- a plurality of flexible electrode support members, defining respective proximal portions and distal portions, associated with the shaft and movable relative to the shaft, at least one of the electrode support members being shaped such that a portion thereof bends away from the longitudinal axis and the distal portion faces distally when in a relaxed state;
- and
- a plurality of electrodes respectively associated with the distal portions of the plurality of electrode support members, each electrode including an electrode main portion and an electrode needle portion respectively constructed and arranged relative to one another such that the electrode main portion will rest on the surface of body structure when the electrode needle portion penetrates the body structure.
A surgical probe for supplying energy to a body structure defining a surface, the surgical probe comprising:
- a handle;
- a relatively short shaft defining a proximal portion connected to the handle and a distal portion;
- an electrode support member, defining a proximal portion connected to the handle and a distal portion, associated with the shaft and movable relative to the shaft;
- an electrode, associated with the distal portion of electrode support member, including an electrode main portion and an electrode needle portion respectively constructed and arranged relative to one another such that the electrode main portion will rest on the surface of body structure when the electrode needle portion penetrates the body structure, the electrode needle portion being movable relative to the electrode main portion and the electrode main portion defining an opening through which the electrode needle portion passes;
- and
- an electrical connector that electrically connects the electrode main portion to the electrode needle portion.
A surgical probe for supplying energy to a body structure defining a surface, the surgical probe comprising:
- a shaft assembly defining a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- an electrode, associated with the distal portion of the shaft assembly, including an electrode main portion and an electrode needle portion movable relative to the electrode main portion;
- and
- an electrical connector that electrically connects the electrode main portion to the electrode needle portion.
A surgical probe for supplying energy to a body structure defining a surface, the surgical probe comprising:
- a relatively short shaft defining a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- a plurality of flexible electrode support members, defining respective proximal portions and distal portions, associated with the shaft and movable relative to the shaft, the distal portions of the electrode support members defining respective widths;
- and
- a plurality of electrodes respectively associated with the distal portions of the plurality of electrode support members, each electrode including an electrode main portion and an electrode needle portion respectively constructed and arranged relative to one another such that the electrode main portion will rest on the surface of body structure when the electrode needle portion penetrates the body structure, the electrode main portions defining respective widths that are greater that the widths of the electrode support member distal portions.
A surgical probe for supplying energy to a body structure defining a surface, the surgical probe comprising:
- a relatively short malleable shaft defining a proximal portion and a distal portion;
- a relatively short electrode support member, defining a proximal portion and a distal portion, associated with the shaft and movable relative to the shaft from a position within the shaft to a position outside the distal portion of the shaft;
- and
- an electrode, associated with the distal portion of electrode support member, including an electrode main portion and an electrode sharpened portion respectively constructed and arranged relative to one another such that the electrode main portion will rest on the surface of body structure when the electrode sharpened portion penetrates the body structure.
A surgical probe for supplying energy to a body structure defining a surface, the surgical probe comprising:
- a shaft assembly defining a proximal portion, a distal portion, a longitudinal axis and a distal portion perimeter perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
- an electrode, associated with the distal portion of the shaft assembly, including an electrode main portion defining a distal end perimeter perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that is larger that the shaft distal portion perimeter, and an electrode sharpened portion movable relative to the electrode main portion;
- and
- an electrical connector that electrically connects the electrode main portion to the electrode sharpened portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.