US6068629A — System and methods for tissue mapping and ablation

Claim 1

Independent Claim 161 words

An apparatus for recording electrical signals and/or for applying energy to a target site within a patient comprising: a shaft having distal and proximal end portions and a longitudinal axis therebetween; an ablation segment at the distal end portion of the shaft defining first and second opposing ends and having one or more electrodes disposed therebetween; a connector extending through the shaft for electrically coupling the one or more electrodes to a source of electrical energy; a force element coupled to the shaft and disposed to apply an axially directed force to the ablation segment between the first and second opposing ends, and the ablation segment comprising a substantially linear arm movable between a collapsed position sized for delivery through a percutaneous penetration in the patient and an expanded position substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis at which the ablation segment forms a substantially continuous surface transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft for contacting tissue at the target site.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 161 words

An apparatus for recording electrical signals and/or for applying energy to a target site within a patient comprising: a shaft having distal and proximal end portions and a longitudinal axis therebetween; an ablation segment at the distal end portion of the shaft defining first and second opposing ends and having one or more electrodes disposed therebetween; a connector extending through the shaft for electrically coupling the one or more electrodes to a source of electrical energy; a force element coupled to the shaft and disposed to apply an axially directed force to the ablation segment between the first and second opposing ends, and the ablation segment comprising a substantially linear arm movable between a collapsed position sized for delivery through a percutaneous penetration in the patient and an expanded position substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis at which the ablation segment forms a substantially continuous surface transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft for contacting tissue at the target site.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the source of electrical energy is a Radiofrequency generator.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the distal end portion of the shaft has a curvature, the apparatus further comprising an actuator coupled to the proximal end of the shaft for adjusting said curvature.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an actuator coupled to the proximal end of the shaft for rotating the ablation segment about the shaft axis.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the linear arm includes first and second arm segments and an integral hinge therebetween for collapsing the arm segments about the integral hinge.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the integral hinge is a living hinge, the arm segments being connected together by a thinner portion that allows the arm segments to pivot about the thinner portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the linear arm is pivotable about an axis perpendicular to the shaft axis from a first position, in which the linear arm is substantially parallel to the shaft axis, to a second position, in which the linear arm is substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are divided into multiple segments to improve the flexibility of the electrodes along the ablation segment.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more temperature sensors coupled to the electrodes on the ablation segment.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 101 words

A steerable electrophysiology catheter comprising: a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and an axial lumen therebetween; first and second ablation segments at the distal end of the shaft each having a plurality of electrodes disposed therebetween, a connector extending through the shaft for electrically coupling the electrodes to a source of electrical energy; and one or more actuator elements extending through the axial lumen of the shaft from the proximal end to the distal end, the actuator elements being coupled to the ablation segments for pivoting the ablation segments into an open position transverse to the shaft axis.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 101 words

A steerable electrophysiology catheter comprising: a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and an axial lumen therebetween; first and second ablation segments at the distal end of the shaft each having a plurality of electrodes disposed therebetween, a connector extending through the shaft for electrically coupling the electrodes to a source of electrical energy; and one or more actuator elements extending through the axial lumen of the shaft from the proximal end to the distal end, the actuator elements being coupled to the ablation segments for pivoting the ablation segments into an open position transverse to the shaft axis.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

The catheter of claim 10 wherein the actuator elements are axially movable within the catheter shaft for pivoting the ablation segments between the open position and a closed position, substantially parallel to the shaft axis.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

The catheter of claim 10 wherein the source of electrical energy is a Radiofrequency generator.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 171 words

A method for applying energy to a target site in a patient's body comprising: moving a distal ablation segment of a catheter into an expended position, the ablation segment having first and second ends and the catheter defining a catheter axis, the ablation segment being substantially transverse to the catheter shaft axis when in the expanded position; the moving step being carried out by pivoting a single, substantially linear arm about a pivot axis perpendicular to the catheter axis from a collapsed position, at which the arm is substantially parallel to the catheter axis, to the expanded position, at which the linear arm is substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis; contacting tissue at a target site with one or more electrodes on the ablation segment; applying an axial force to the ablation segment between the first and second ends of the ablation segment to maintain contact pressure between the ablation segment and the tissue; and applying energy to the one or more electrodes and to the tissue at the target site.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 171 words

A method for applying energy to a target site in a patient's body comprising: moving a distal ablation segment of a catheter into an expended position, the ablation segment having first and second ends and the catheter defining a catheter axis, the ablation segment being substantially transverse to the catheter shaft axis when in the expanded position; the moving step being carried out by pivoting a single, substantially linear arm about a pivot axis perpendicular to the catheter axis from a collapsed position, at which the arm is substantially parallel to the catheter axis, to the expanded position, at which the linear arm is substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis; contacting tissue at a target site with one or more electrodes on the ablation segment; applying an axial force to the ablation segment between the first and second ends of the ablation segment to maintain contact pressure between the ablation segment and the tissue; and applying energy to the one or more electrodes and to the tissue at the target site.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 13 further comprising: delivering the ablation segment through a percutaneous penetration in the patient; and endoluminally advancing the ablation segment to the target site.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 13 further comprising: delivering the ablation segment through an intercostal penetration in the patient into the thoracic cavity; and positioning the ablation segment adjacent the target site on the epicardium.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 116 words

An apparatus for applying electrical energy to a target site on a patient comprising: a shaft having distal and proximal end portions and a longitudinal axis therebetween; a substantially linear support arm disposed at the distal end portion of the shaft and having first and second ends and one or more electrodes disposed thereon, the support arm being movable to form a substantially continuous contact surface transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; a connector extending through the shaft for electrically coupling the electrodes to a source of electrical energy; and a force element coupled to the shaft and disposed to apply an axial force to the support arm between the first and second ends.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 116 words

An apparatus for applying electrical energy to a target site on a patient comprising: a shaft having distal and proximal end portions and a longitudinal axis therebetween; a substantially linear support arm disposed at the distal end portion of the shaft and having first and second ends and one or more electrodes disposed thereon, the support arm being movable to form a substantially continuous contact surface transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft; a connector extending through the shaft for electrically coupling the electrodes to a source of electrical energy; and a force element coupled to the shaft and disposed to apply an axial force to the support arm between the first and second ends.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 64 words

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the linear support arm comprises first and second arm segments and an integral hinge therebetween, the first and second arm segments being pivotable about the integral hinge from a collapsed configuration, in which the arm segments are disposed together, and an expanded configuration, in which the arm segments form a substantially continuous line transverse to the shaft axis.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the linear support arm is pivotable from a delivery configuration, in which the arm is substantially parallel to the shaft for endoluminal delivery to the target site, to an expanded configuration, in which the arm forms a substantially continuous line transverse to the shaft axis.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the distal end portion of the shaft defines a longitudinal opening for receiving a portion of the support arm in the delivery configuration.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 57 words

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the force element comprises first and second curved, flexible support shafts extending from the distal end portion of the shaft to the support arm, the support shafts providing a distally directed force against the arm between the first and second ends to maintain contact pressure between the electrodes and the tissue.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein one of the support shafts is axially movable for pivoting the support arm between the delivery and expanded configurations.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-05-30	2003-11-29	2004-05-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-05-30	2007-11-29	2008-05-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-05-30	2011-11-29	2012-05-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System and methods for tissue mapping and ablation

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