US 7,387,126 B2Granted

Surgical system and procedure for treatment of medically refractory atrial fibrillation

AssigneeSt. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.

InventorsJames L. Cox, Stephen W. Boyd, Hanson S. Gifford, III, Matthias Vaska, Daniel D. Merrick

Life of this patent

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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.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of forming an elongate ablation around the pulmonary veins to electrically isolate the pulmonary veins to treat cardiac arrhythmia, comprising the steps of:

providing an ablation device having a first jaw, a second jaw and at least one ablating portion on the first jaw, the first jaw being movable relative to the second jaw to clamp cardiac tissue therebetween;
forming an opening in a patient's body;
forming an opening in the pericardium;
moving the ablation device through the openings in the patient's body and pericardium;
clamping a portion of the patient's heart between the first and second jaws, the at least one ablating portion being positioned to form a first elongate lesion in the patient's heart to electrically isolate tissue;
ablating tissue with the at least one ablating portion to form the first elongate lesion;
and
changing the position of the ablating device and performing the clamping and ablating steps a number of times to create a plurality of lesions in cardiac tissue which electrically isolates the pulmonary veins.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/171,411Filed 12 Jun 2002 · continuation
Priority: 22 Oct 1996
Published: US 2004/0106918 A13 Jun 2004
Granted: 17 Jun 2008
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

Application08/735,036Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Oct 1996
Application08/943,683Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Oct 1997
Application09/606,742Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Jun 2000
US 2004/0106918 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Jun 2004
US 6,161,543 AParent of this continuation
Application08/943,683Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 7,387,126 B2This patent

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