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EP0774926B1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

r-f ablation apparatus

Assignee: Medtronic Inc
•
Filing: 1994-07-25
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Granted: 1999-06-09
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Expires: 2014-07-25
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Abstract

Abstract An ablation cathetere and a method of performing cardiac ablation. The catheter is provided with a hollow, helical electrode, which is screwed into cardiac tissue at a desired ablation site and connected to a source of R-F electrical energy to ablate the tissue adjacent the electrode. Prior to ablation, a conductive fluid may be injected through the hollow needle, both to provide for cooling of the tissue adjacent the needle and to increase the conductivity of the tissue in the area of the electrode.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter M. J. Mulier
  • 👤 Michael F. Hoey

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 09:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1477; A61B18/1492; A61B10/00; A61B10/02; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00092; A61B2017/00097; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00274; A61B2017/00292; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22072; A61B2017/22074; A61B2017/22077; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00023; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00065; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00452; A61B2018/00476; A61B2018/00547; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00821; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/1253; A61B2018/126; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1425; A61B2018/1435; A61B2018/1472; A61B90/00; A61B90/06; A61B2090/064; A61B90/39; A61B2090/3925; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0082; A61M25/0084; A61M2025/0089; A61M2230/00; A61M2230/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 132 words
An ablation catheter system, comprising: an elongate catheter body (10) having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a longitudinal lumen; a hollow needle (14) for penetrating body tissue at a desired location, mounted to a distal portion of said catheter body (10) and having an internal lumen coupled to the lumen of said catheter body (10); and a source of conductive fluid, coupled to the internal lumen of said catheter body, for delivering a conductive fluid to said lumen of said catheter body (10); characterised by a conductive electrode surface (14) for delivering R-F energy to said desired location, mounted to said distal portion of said catheter body (10); and a source of R-F electrical energy, coupled to said electrode surface (14), and wherein said hollow needle is a helical needle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 25 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 wherein said hollow needle is conductive and wherein said electrode surface comprises a surface of said hollow needle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 21 words
A catheter system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said fluid delivery means comprises means for delivering Ringer's solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
A catheter system according to any preceding claim wherein said conductive fluid delivery means comprises a reservoir containing said conductive fluid and a means for controlling fluid flow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
A catheter system according to any preceding claim, wherein said catheter body comprises a torque transfer cable, extending longitudinally along said catheter body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
A catheter system according to claim 5 wherein said torque transfer cable is conductive and extends longitudinally along said catheter body (10), coupled to said hollow needle (14) and to said source of R-F energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
A catheter system according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein said catheter body comprises a conductive tube, extending longitudinally along said catheter body, coupled to said hollow needle and to said source of R-F energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
A catheter system according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein said catheter body comprises a plastic tube, extending longitudinally along said catheter body, coupled to said hollow needle and to said fluid delivery means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 20 words
A catheter system according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for sensing electrical signals, coupled to said electrode surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
A catheter system according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for delivering stimulus pulses, coupled to said electrode surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 138 words
An ablation catheter comprising: an elongate catheter body (10) having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a longitudinal lumen; a hollow needle (14) for penetrating body tissue at a desired location, mounted to a distal portion of said catheter body (10) and having an internal lumen coupled to the lumen of said catheter body (10); and means (22) for coupling the internal lumen of the catheter body (10) to a source of conductive fluid, for delivering a conductive fluid to said lumen of the catheter body (10), characterised by a conductive electrode surface (14) for delivering R-F energy to said desired location, mounted to said distal portion of said catheter body (10); and means (24) for coupling a source of R-F electrical energy to said electrode surface (14), and wherein said hollow needle is a helical needle.

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