# US 7,608,072 B2 · Surgical methods and apparatus for maintaining contact between tissue and electrophysiology elements and confirming whether a therapeutic lesion has been formed > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,608,072 B2 - Document ID: US7608072B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/727,149 - Filed: 2003-12-02 - Published: 2005-06-02 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2003-12-02 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Inventors: David K. Swanson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608072B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/05: for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode (A61N1/06 takes precedence) - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61B 18/1442: {Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps} - A61B 2018/00291: {using suction} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Surgical systems, devices and methods including one or more tissue stimulation elements that, in some instances, may also be used for sensing purposes. Some of the surgical devices also include a tissue coagulation element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for use with an electrophysiology device that includes a coagulation element for ablating tissue, the apparatus comprising: a main body; a suction region associated with the main body; a non-coagulative stimulation element on the main body; a stimulation energy sensing element on the main body, the suction region being between the non-coagulative stimulation element and the stimulation energy sensing element; and a connector located between the stimulation element and the stimulation energy sensing element, the connector being configured to secure the coagulation element of the electrophysiology device within the main body adjacent to the suction region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suction region comprises a plurality of suction regions and the stimulation element comprises a plurality of stimulation elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stimulation element comprises a stimulation electrode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stimulation element comprises a stimulation electrode pair. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stimulation energy sensing element comprises a stimulation energy sensing electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stimulation energy sensing element comprises a stimulation energy sensing electrode pair. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suction region comprises first and second suction ports and the connector is positioned between the first and second suction ports. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the stimulation energy sensing element is adjacent to the first suction port; and the stimulation element is adjacent to the second suction port. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to removably secure the coagulation element of the electrophysiology device adjacent to the suction region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stimulation element and the stimulation energy sensing element are each too small to form a transmural myocardial lesion. ### Claim 11 A system for use with an electrophysiology device that includes a coagulation element for ablating tissue, the system comprising: a suction source; and an apparatus, adapted to be operably connected to the suction source, including a main body, a suction region associated with the main body, a non-coagulative stimulation element on the main body, a stimulation energy sensing element on the main body, the suction region being between the non-coagulative stimulation element and the stimulation energy sensing element, and a connector located between the stimulation element and the stimulation energy sensing element, the connector being configured to secure the coagulation element of the electrophysiology device within the main body adjacent to the suction region. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the suction region comprises a plurality of suction regions and the stimulation element comprises a plurality of stimulation elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the stimulation element comprises a stimulation electrode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the stimulation element comprises a stimulation electrode pair. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the stimulation energy sensing element comprises a stimulation energy sensing electrode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the stimulation energy sensing element comprises a stimulation energy sensing electrode pair. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the suction region comprises first and second suction ports and the connector is positioned between the first and second suction ports. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the stimulation energy sensing element is adjacent to the first suction port; and the stimulation element is adjacent to the second suction port. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the connector is configured to removably secure the coagulation element of the electrophysiology device adjacent to the suction region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the stimulation element and the stimulation energy sensing element are each too small to form a transmural myocardial lesion. ### Claim 21 A system, comprising: an electrophysiology device including a support structure and a coagulation element for ablating tissue, the coagulation element being carried on the support structure; and a stimulation apparatus including a main body, a suction region associated with the main body, a non-coagulative stimulation element on the main body, a stimulation energy sensing element on the main body, the suction region being between the non-coagulative stimulation element and the stimulation sensing element, and a connector located between the stimulation element and the stimulation energy sensing element, the connector being configured to secure the coagulation element of the electrophysiology device within the main body adjacent to the suction region. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the electrophysiological device support structure defines a cross-sectional size and shape and the connector defines a corresponding cross-sectional size and shape. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A system as claimed in claim 21, further comprising: a suction source adapted to be operably connected to the stimulation apparatus. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) A system as claimed in claim 21, further comprising: a stimulation energy source adapted to be operably connected to the stimulation apparatus. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) A system as claimed in claim 21, further comprising: a coagulation energy source adapted to be operably connected to the electrophysiology device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the electrophysiological device includes a plurality of spaced coagulation elements, the stimulation apparatus includes a plurality of spaced stimulation elements, and the electrophysiological device and stimulation apparatus are respectively configured such that the coagulation elements will be adjacent to respective stimulation elements when the electrophysiology device is connected to the stimulation apparatus. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the stimulation element comprises a stimulation electrode. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the stimulation element comprises a stimulation electrode pair. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the stimulation energy sensing element comprises a stimulation energy sensing electrode. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the stimulation energy sensing element comprises a stimulation energy sensing electrode pair. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) A system as claimed in claim 21, further comprising: an electrophysiology recording apparatus adapted to be operably connected to the stimulation energy sensing element on the stimulation apparatus. ### Claim 32 (depends on 21) A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the connector is configured to removably secure the coagulation element of the electrophysiology device adjacent to the suction region. ### Claim 33 (depends on 21) A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the stimulation element and the stimulation energy sensing element are each too small to form a transmural myocardial lesion. ### Claim 34 An apparatus for use with an electrophysiology device that includes a coagulation element for ablating tissue, the apparatus comprising: a main body defining a longitudinal axis; a suction region associated with the main body; a connector configured to secure the coagulation element of the electrophysiology device within the main body adjacent to the suction region; non-coagulative means, carried by the main body, for stimulating tissue that is adjacent to the main body and on one side of the longitudinal axis; and means, carried by the main body, for sensing stimulation energy in tissue that is adjacent to the main body and on the other side of the longitudinal axis, the suction region being between the non-coagulative means for stimulating tissue and the means for sensing stimulation energy.