US6546935B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for transmural ablation
Assignee: Atricure Inc
•
Filing: 2000-12-22
•
Granted: 2003-04-15
•
Expires: 2020-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A method for transmural ablation using an instrument containing two electrodes or cryogenic probes. A clamping force is exerted on the two electrodes or probes such that the tissue of the hollow organ is clamped therebetween. Bipolar RF energy is then applied between the two electrodes, or the probes are cryogenically cooled, thus ablating the tissue therebetween. A monitoring device measures a suitable parameter, such as impedance or temperature, and indicates when the tissue between the electrodes has been fully ablated.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Hooven
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1442; A61B18/1445; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2945; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00363; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00642; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00755; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1425; A61B2018/1432; A61B2018/145; A61B5/00; A61B5/01; A61B5/05; A61B5/053
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for creating an electrically isolating line of ablated tissue on a hollow organ or vessel having opposing walls comprising: a) bringing the opposing walls of the organ or vessel into contact with each other along a line; and b) passing sufficient electrical current through both walls along the line of contact to form a corresponding line of ablated tissue through both walls of the tissue without bonding the walls together.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for creating an electrically isolating line of ablated tissue on a hollow organ or vessel having opposing walls comprising: a) bringing the opposing walls of the organ or vessel into contact with each other along a line; and b) passing sufficient electrical current through both walls along the line of contact to form a corresponding line of ablated tissue through both walls of the tissue without bonding the walls together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the line of ablated tissue formed on one wall is connected to the line of ablated tissue on the opposing wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the lines of ablated tissue connect to form a generally continuous line of ablated tissue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the lines of ablated tissue intersect.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the opposing walls are brought together by closing two elongated and spaced apart electrodes with at least a portion of the organ or vessel located between them, the electrodes being connected to opposite terminals of a RF generator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining the degree of tissue ablation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the degree of tissue ablation is determined by measuring the temperature of the ablated tissue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the hollow organ is a heart with an atrium and pulmonary veins, and the method further comprising: performing the foregoing steps a plurality of times, each time partially circumscribing at least one pulmonary vein; and performing the steps a sufficient number of times to form a series of lines of ablated tissue that together substantially fully circumscribes the at least one pulmonary vein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the tissue is heated to ablate the tissue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the heating is caused by RF energy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the tissue is heated by using bipolar RF energy.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for creating an electrically isolating line of ablated tissue on a hollow organ or vessel having opposing walls comprising: a) bringing the opposing walls of the organ or vessel into contact with each other along a line and for a distance on both sides of the line; and b) ablating the tissue in both walls along the line of contact sufficient to form a corresponding line of ablated tissue through both walls of the tissue without bonding the walls together.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for creating an electrically isolating line of ablated tissue on a hollow organ or vessel having opposing walls comprising: a) bringing the opposing walls of the organ or vessel into contact with each other along a line and for a distance on both sides of the line; and b) ablating the tissue in both walls along the line of contact sufficient to form a corresponding line of ablated tissue through both walls of the tissue without bonding the walls together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the line of ablated tissue formed on one wall is connected to the line of ablated tissue on the opposing wall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the lines of ablated tissue connect to form a generally linear line of ablated tissue.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the lines of ablated tissue intersect.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the opposing walls are brought together by closing two elongated and spaced apart jaws, with at least a portion of the organ or vessel located between them, each jaw having a tissue contact surface of selected width and an electrode generally centrally located along the tissue contact surface and the tissue contact surface extending a distance on both sides of the electrode, the electrodes being connected to opposite terminals of a RF generator.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of determining the degree of tissue ablation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the degree of tissue ablation is determined by measuring the temperature of the ablated tissue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the hollow organ is a heart with an atrium and pulmonary veins, and the method further comprising: performing the foregoing steps a plurality of times, each time partially circumscribing at least one pulmonary vein; and performing the steps a sufficient number of times to form a series of lines of ablated tissue that together substantially fully circumscribes the at least one pulmonary vein.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the tissue is heated to ablate the tissue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the heating is caused by RF energy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the tissue is heated by using bipolar RF energy.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for creating a lesion to electrically isolate tissue on a hollow organ or vessel having opposing walls, the method comprising: a) providing a clamping device with opposing jaws capable of grasping tissue b) positioning the tissue between the opposing jaws of the clamping device; c) closing the jaws on the tissue to form a clamping area having a width so that the opposed walls come into contact along the clamping area and said clamping area width is expressed of blood between the opposed walls; and d) ablating the tissue clamp between the jaws to create a line of ablated tissue through both of the walls without bonding them together.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
111 words
A method for creating a lesion to electrically isolate tissue on a hollow organ or vessel having opposing walls, the method comprising: a) providing a clamping device with opposing jaws capable of grasping tissue b) positioning the tissue between the opposing jaws of the clamping device; c) closing the jaws on the tissue to form a clamping area having a width so that the opposed walls come into contact along the clamping area and said clamping area width is expressed of blood between the opposed walls; and d) ablating the tissue clamp between the jaws to create a line of ablated tissue through both of the walls without bonding them together.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23 in which the jaws of the clamping device include a tissue engaging surface shaped to clamp the opposed walls most tightly along the line of ablated tissue.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 23 in which the tissue engaging surface of each jaw is convex in cross-sectional shape.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 23 in which the jaws of the clamping device include a generally flat tissue engaging surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of determining the degree of tissue ablation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the degree of tissue ablation is determined by measuring the temperature of the ablated tissue.
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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) | 2006-04-14 | 2006-10-14 | 2007-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-14 | 2010-10-14 | 2011-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-14 | 2014-10-14 | 2015-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |