Cardiac ablation devices and methods

Apparatus for ablating heart tissue comprising:

• a tubular introducer cannula having an internal lumen;
• a first elongate jaw and a second elongate jaw, the first and second elongate jaws being sized and configured for insertion through the internal lumen of the introducer cannula in a side-by-side configuration;
• a first ablation electrode located on an inner surface of the first elongate jaw near a distal end of the first elongate jaw and a second ablation electrode located on an inner surface of the second elongate jaw near a distal end of the second elongate jaw;
• and
• a first connection wire extending from the first ablation electrode to a proximal end of the first elongate jaw and a second connection wire extending from the second ablation electrode to a proximal end of the second elongate jaw;
• wherein the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw are configured such that, when inserted through the internal lumen of the tubular introducer cannula in a side-by-side configuration, the first inner surface and second inner surface separate from one another as the distal ends of the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw extend beyond a distal end of the tubular introducer cannula, allowing the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode to be placed on opposing sides of a portion of heart tissue to be ablated, and, when the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw are withdrawn partially into the internal lumen of the tubular introducer cannula. the first inner surface and second inner surface are urged toward one another, pressing the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode against the portion of heart tissue to be ablated, and wherein the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode are configured as helically coiled electrodes.

Apparatus for ablating heart tissue comprising:

• a tubular introducer cannula having an internal lumen;
• a first elongate jaw and a second elongate jaw, the first and second elongate jaws being sized and configured for insertion through the internal lumen of the introducer cannula in a side-by-side configuration;
• a first ablation electrode located on an inner surface of the first elongate jaw near a distal end of the first elongate jaw and a second ablation electrode located on an inner surface of the second elongate jaw near a distal end of the second elongate jaw;
• and
• a first connection wire extending from the first ablation electrode to a proximal end of the first elongate jaw and a second connection wire extending from the second ablation electrode to a proximal end of the second elongate jaw;
• wherein the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw are configured such that, when inserted through the internal lumen of the tubular introducer cannula in a side-by-side configuration, the first inner surface and second inner surface senarate from one another as the distal ends of the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw extend beyond a distal end of the tubular introducer cannula, allowing the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode to be placed on opposing sides of a portion of heart tissue to be ablated, and, when the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw are withdrawn partially into the internal lumen of the tubular introducer cannula. the first inner surface and second inner surface are urged toward one another, pressing the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode against the portion of heart tissue to be ablated, and wherein the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode comprise a deformable conductive material to evenly distribute contact pressure and tissue ablation depth over a variable thickness portion of tissue.

Apparatus for ablating heart tissue comprising:

• a tubular introducer cannula having an internal lumen;
• a first elongate jaw and a second elongate jaw, the first and second elongate jaws being sized and configured for insertion through the internal lumen of the introducer cannula in a side-by-side configuration;
• a first ablation electrode located on an inner surface of the first elongate jaw near a distal end of the first elongate jaw and a second ablation electrode located on an inner surface of the second elongate jaw near a distal end of the second elongate jaw;
• and
• a first connection wire extending from the first ablation electrode to a proximal end of the first elongate jaw and a second connection wire extending from the second ablation electrode to a proximal end of the second elongate jaw;
• wherein the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw are configured such that, when inserted through the internal lumen of the tubular introducer cannula in a side-by-side configuration, the first inner surface and second inner surface separate from one another as the distal ends of the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw extend beyond a distal end of the tubular introducer cannula, allowing the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode to be placed on opposing sides of a portion of heart tissue to be ablated, and, when the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw are withdrawn partially into the internal lumen of the tubular introducer cannula, the first inner surface and second inner surface are urged toward one another, pressing the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode against the portion of heart tissue to be ablated, and wherein the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw each include a remotely steerable hinge joint to facilitate accessing a desired target tissue, while maintaining the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode in an approximately parallel alignment.

A method of ablating heart tissue within a patient, comprising:

• positioning a tubular introducer cannula having an internal lumen through a thoracic access incision in the chest of the patient;
• inserting a distal end of a first elongate jaw and a distal end of a second elongate jaw through the internal lumen of the introducer cannula in a side-by-side configuration, the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw having, respectively, a first ablation electrode located on an inner surface of the first elongate jaw near the distal end of the first elongate jaw and a second ablation electrode located on an inner surface of the second elongate jaw near the distal end of the second elongate jaw, and a first connection wire extending from the first ablation electrode to proximal end of the first elongate jaw and a second connection wire extending from the second ablation electrode to proximal end of the second elongate jaw;
• advancing the distal ends of the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw beyond a distal end of the tubular introducer cannula, causing the first inner surface and second inner surface to separate from one another;
• placing the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode on opposing sides of a portion of heart tissue to be ablated;
• withdrawing the first elongate jaw and the second elongate jaw partially into the internal lumen of the tubular introducer cannula, urging the first inner surface and second inner surface toward one another, pressing the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode against the portion of heart tissue to be ablated;
• applying bipolar ablation energy to the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode through the first connection wire and the second connection wire to ablate the portion of heart tissue between the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electode;
• further comprising inserting a guidewire through a first guidewire lumen extending through the first elongate jaw and withdrawing the guidewire through a second guidewire lumen extending through the second elongate jaw, thereby capturing the portion of heart tissue and positioning it between the first ablation electrode and the second ablation electrode.