US5429131A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetized electrode tip catheter
Assignee: University of California
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Filing: 1994-02-25
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Granted: 1995-07-04
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Expires: 2014-02-25
Abstract
Abstract Tachycardial arrhythmias are located and ablated by a combination of first and second catheters which are mutually attracted by magnetized regions at their distal ends. One of the catheters contains mapping electrodes and is initially used to ascertain the locus of the arrhythmia by conventional mapping. Once this is accomplished, the catheter is allowed to remain in position while the second catheter is inserted in such a manner that mutual magnetic attraction between the two occurs across cardiac tissue. One or the other of the two catheters also contains an ablation component at its tip, such that when the two catheter tips are held in position by virtue of their mutual magnetic attraction, ablation can be performed.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin M. Scheinman
- 👤 Thomas F. Kordis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0587; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/283; A61B5/287
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for facilitating localized ablation of cardiac tissue which gives rise to an electrical abnormality in the heart of a living mammal, said method comprising: (a) inserting a distal end of a first catheter into a first chamber of said heart suspected of containing such an electrical abnormality, said distal end having a mapping electrode and a first magnetically attracting region; (b) placing said mapping electrode in contact with tissue at a plurality of positions thereon in succession while monitoring electrical signals generated in said heart until a locus of electrical abnormality in said cardiac tissue is detected; (c) inserting a distal end of a second catheter into a second chamber of said heart, said distal end having a second magnetically attracting region magnetically attracted to said first magnetic attracting region, one of said first and second catheters containing a means for ablation at the distal end thereof; (d) with said mapping electrode at said locus, maneuvering said distal end of said second catheter to draw said first and second magnetically attracting regions into mutual magnetic attraction through cardiac tissue; and (e) activating said means for ablation to reduce said electrical abnormality.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for facilitating localized ablation of cardiac tissue which gives rise to an electrical abnormality in the heart of a living mammal, said method comprising: (a) inserting a distal end of a first catheter into a first chamber of said heart suspected of containing such an electrical abnormality, said distal end having a mapping electrode and a first magnetically attracting region; (b) placing said mapping electrode in contact with tissue at a plurality of positions thereon in succession while monitoring electrical signals generated in said heart until a locus of electrical abnormality in said cardiac tissue is detected; (c) inserting a distal end of a second catheter into a second chamber of said heart, said distal end having a second magnetically attracting region magnetically attracted to said first magnetic attracting region, one of said first and second catheters containing a means for ablation at the distal end thereof; (d) with said mapping electrode at said locus, maneuvering said distal end of said second catheter to draw said first and second magnetically attracting regions into mutual magnetic attraction through cardiac tissue; and (e) activating said means for ablation to reduce said electrical abnormality.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the electrical abnormality of step (a) is a supraventricular tachycardia.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein step (b) includes placing of the mapping electrode in the coronary sinus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises transseptal insertion of the distal end of the second catheter and the second chamber is the left atrium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the reduction of said electrical abnormality of step (e) comprises effecting permanent tissue destruction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising using a means for visualization to assist with at least one of the steps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the living mammal is a human.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for facilitating localized ablation of a locus of cardiac tissue which gives rise to an abnormal tachycardia in the heart of a human, said method comprising: (a) inserting a distal end of a first catheter into a first chamber of said heart suspected of containing such a locus, said distal end containing a mapping electrode and a first natural magnetic substance; (b) placing said first electrode in contact with tissue at a plurality of positions thereon in succession while monitoring electrical signals generated in said heart until said locus is detected; (c) inserting a distal end of a second catheter into a second chamber of said heart, said distal end having both a means for ablation which includes the capability to emit radio frequency and a second natural magnetic substance attracted to said first natural magnetic substance; (d) with said mapping electrode at said locus, maneuvering said second catheter to guide said distal end of said second catheter towards said locus through mutual magnetic attraction between said first and second natural magnetic substances through cardiac tissue; and (e) activating said means for ablation to emit radio frequency to reduce said locus.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for facilitating localized ablation of a locus of cardiac tissue which gives rise to an abnormal tachycardia in the heart of a human, said method comprising: (a) inserting a distal end of a first catheter into a first chamber of said heart suspected of containing such a locus, said distal end containing a mapping electrode and a first natural magnetic substance; (b) placing said first electrode in contact with tissue at a plurality of positions thereon in succession while monitoring electrical signals generated in said heart until said locus is detected; (c) inserting a distal end of a second catheter into a second chamber of said heart, said distal end having both a means for ablation which includes the capability to emit radio frequency and a second natural magnetic substance attracted to said first natural magnetic substance; (d) with said mapping electrode at said locus, maneuvering said second catheter to guide said distal end of said second catheter towards said locus through mutual magnetic attraction between said first and second natural magnetic substances through cardiac tissue; and (e) activating said means for ablation to emit radio frequency to reduce said locus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said first chamber of step (a) is the right atrium and step (b) comprises placing the mapping electrode in the coronary sinus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said second chamber of step (c) is the left atrium and step (c) comprises inserting the distal end of said second catheter transseptally.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising inserting said second catheter into the right atrium before step (c) and accomplishing step (c) by performing transseptal puncture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein step (e) comprises destroying tissue at said locus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein at least one of said steps (a) and (c) comprising inserting said catheter into the femoral vein.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-03 | 1999-01-02 | 1999-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-03 | 2003-01-02 | 2003-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-03 | 2007-01-02 | 2007-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |