Patent US5423811A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5423811A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for RF ablation using cooled electrode

Assignee: Boston Scientific Corp
•
Filing: 1994-03-16
•
Granted: 1995-06-13
•
Expires: 2014-03-16
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A catheter for radio frequency ablation with a cooled electrode for use in tissue having a surface comprising an elongate member having proximal and distal extremities. A metal conducting electrode secured to the distal extremity of the elongate member and having a chamber therein. A conductor extends through the elongate member from the proximal to the distal extremity for supplying radio frequency energy to the electrode. The elongate member has a lumen in the distal extremity which is in communication with the chamber. A coolant is disposed in the chamber and in contact with the electrode for dissipating heat created in the electrode by the application of radio frequency energy thereto.

Inventors

  • 👤 Mir A. Imran
  • 👤 Mark L. Pomeranz

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 18:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B18/1402; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00292; A61B2017/003; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00023; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00035; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00166; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00821

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 114 words
A method for creating a lesion in tissue having a surface by the use of an electrode comprising contacting the surface with the electrode to form an electrode-surface interface, supplying radio frequency energy at a predetermined power level to the electrode to cause heating of the tissue in the vicinity of the surface contacted by the electrode and cooling the electrode so that the temperature in the tissue at the electrode-surface interface does not reach a temperature in excess of approximately 50° C., said cooling being accomplished by supplying a cooling fluid to the electrode during the time the tissue is being heated and withdrawing the cooling fluid after it has cooled the electrode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 114 words
A method for creating a lesion in tissue having a surface by the use of an electrode comprising contacting the surface with the electrode to form an electrode-surface interface, supplying radio frequency energy at a predetermined power level to the electrode to cause heating of the tissue in the vicinity of the surface contacted by the electrode and cooling the electrode so that the temperature in the tissue at the electrode-surface interface does not reach a temperature in excess of approximately 50° C., said cooling being accomplished by supplying a cooling fluid to the electrode during the time the tissue is being heated and withdrawing the cooling fluid after it has cooled the electrode.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 116 words
A method for creating a lesion in tissue having a surface by the use of an electrode comprising contacting the surface with the electrode to form an electrode-surface interface, supplying radio frequency energy at a predetermined power level to the electrode to cause heating of the tissue in the vicinity of the electrode-surface interface and cooling the electrode by recirculating a flow of cooling fluid to prevent the temperature of the tissue extending from the electrode-surface interface to a predetermined depth in the tissue from reaching a temperature in excess of approximately 50° C. so that a necrosis is not formed in the tissue at the electrode-surface interface or in the predetermined depth in the tissue.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 116 words
A method for creating a lesion in tissue having a surface by the use of an electrode comprising contacting the surface with the electrode to form an electrode-surface interface, supplying radio frequency energy at a predetermined power level to the electrode to cause heating of the tissue in the vicinity of the electrode-surface interface and cooling the electrode by recirculating a flow of cooling fluid to prevent the temperature of the tissue extending from the electrode-surface interface to a predetermined depth in the tissue from reaching a temperature in excess of approximately 50° C. so that a necrosis is not formed in the tissue at the electrode-surface interface or in the predetermined depth in the tissue.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 107 words
A method for performing an ablation in the myocardium of a heart by utilizing a catheter having a distal extremity with a conductive electrode mounted thereon comprising introducing the catheter into the heart so that the electrode is in close proximity to and in contact with the myocardium, supplying radio frequency energy to the electrode and supplying a cooling liquid under a positive pressure to the electrode for cooling the electrode during the time that the radio frequency energy is being supplied to the electrode and withdrawing the cooling liquid from the electrode at a negative pressure so that a predetermined pressure is maintained at the electrode.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 107 words
A method for performing an ablation in the myocardium of a heart by utilizing a catheter having a distal extremity with a conductive electrode mounted thereon comprising introducing the catheter into the heart so that the electrode is in close proximity to and in contact with the myocardium, supplying radio frequency energy to the electrode and supplying a cooling liquid under a positive pressure to the electrode for cooling the electrode during the time that the radio frequency energy is being supplied to the electrode and withdrawing the cooling liquid from the electrode at a negative pressure so that a predetermined pressure is maintained at the electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 36 words
A method as in claim 3, together with the step of adjusting the predetermined pressure at the electrode so that it is substantially equal to the pressure of the blood in the heart surrounding to electrode.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 126 words
A method for creating a lesion in tissue having a surface by the use of an electrode comprising contacting the surface with the electrode to form an electrode-surface interface, supplying radio frequency energy at a predetermined power level to the electrode to cause heating of the tissue in the vicinity of the surface contacted by the electrode and cooling the electrode so that the temperature in the tissue at the electrode-surface interface does not reach a temperature in excess of approximately 50° C., the step of cooling the electrode including the step of delivering a cooling liquid to the electrode, and creating jets of the cooling liquid exiting from the electrode in a direction extending generally forwardly from the electrode to impinge upon the electrode-surface interface.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 126 words
A method for creating a lesion in tissue having a surface by the use of an electrode comprising contacting the surface with the electrode to form an electrode-surface interface, supplying radio frequency energy at a predetermined power level to the electrode to cause heating of the tissue in the vicinity of the surface contacted by the electrode and cooling the electrode so that the temperature in the tissue at the electrode-surface interface does not reach a temperature in excess of approximately 50° C., the step of cooling the electrode including the step of delivering a cooling liquid to the electrode, and creating jets of the cooling liquid exiting from the electrode in a direction extending generally forwardly from the electrode to impinge upon the electrode-surface interface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 37 words
A method as in claim 5 together with the steps of creating additional jets of cooling liquid exiting from the electrode in a direction proximal of the electrode to urge the electrode into contact with the surface.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5230349A Cited
SU1690786A1 Cited
US5281213A Cited
US5334193A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-06-12 1998-12-12 1999-06-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-06-12 2002-12-12 2003-06-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-06-12 2006-12-12 2007-06-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag