US6939348B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy based devices and methods for treatment of patent foramen ovale
Assignee: Terumo Corp
•
Filing: 2003-10-02
•
Granted: 2005-09-06
•
Expires: 2023-10-02
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus for treatment of patent foramen ovale (PFO) provide for applying energy to tissues adjacent the PFO with a catheter device to substantially close the PFO acutely. Apparatus generally includes a catheter device having at least one energy transmission member at or near its distal end configured to apply energy to PFO tissues to acutely, substantially close the PFO. Applied energy may be monoploar or bipolar radiofrequency energy or any other suitable energy, such as laser, microwave, ultrasound, resistive heating or the like. Some embodiments of a catheter device further include one or more tissue apposition members near the distal end for helping bring PFO tissues together, such as a PFO covering member, a vacuum applying member and/or the like. PFO closure via energy-based approaches of the invention may help prevent stroke, treat migraine headache, and possibly treat or prevent other medical conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 William Malecki
- 👤 Dan Francis
- 👤 Kenneth Horne
- 👤 Mark E. Deem
- 👤 Hanson Gifford
- 👤 Jose Alegandro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/0057; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B17/34; A61B17/3417; A61B17/3421; A61B17/3439; A61B18/1442; A61B18/1445; A61B2017/00575; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61B2017/3445; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/0025; A61B2018/00261; A61B2018/00273; A61B2018/00279; A61B2018/00285; A61B2018/00291; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00619; A61B2018/0063; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/00898; A61B2018/1472; A61B90/00; A61B90/36; A61B90/361; A61B2090/3614; C; C08; C08L; C08L2201/00; C08L2201/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of treating a patent foramen ovale in a heart, the method comprising: advancing a catheter device for treating the patent foramen ovale to a position in the heart which does not extend through the patent foramen ovale; and applying energy to tissues adjacent the patent foramen ovale with the catheter device to substantially close the patent foramen ovale.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of treating a patent foramen ovale in a heart, the method comprising: advancing a catheter device for treating the patent foramen ovale to a position in the heart which does not extend through the patent foramen ovale; and applying energy to tissues adjacent the patent foramen ovale with the catheter device to substantially close the patent foramen ovale.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising engaging a distal structure on the catheter device against a right atrial side of the patent foramen ovale to bring the tissues at least partially together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 2 , wherein the tissues are brought together before applying the energy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 2 , further comprising holding the tissues together while applying the energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 4 , further comprising holding the tissues together after the energy has been applied.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising cooling the tissues after the energy has been applied.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 2 , wherein engaging the distal structure comprises contacting the tissues with a tissue covering member adjacent a distal end of the catheter device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 7 , wherein contacting the tissues with the tissue covering member causes blood pressure in a left atrium of the heart to bring the tissues at least partially together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 8 , further comprising applying vacuum force to the tissues with the time covering member to bring the tissues at least partially together.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising cooling the tissues after the energy has been applied.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising: bringing the tissues at least partially together, using the catheter device; and holding the tissues together while applying the energy and while cooling the tissues.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein advancing the catheter comprises positioning a distal end of the catheter in a right atrium of the heart.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein advancing comprises advancing the catheter over a guidewire extending through the patent foramen ovale, the method further comprising removing the guidewire from the patent foramen ovale so that nothing remains in the patent foramen ovale before applying the energy to the tissue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein applying energy comprises applying at least one of radiofrequency energy, cryogenic energy, resistive heat energy, ultrasound energy, microwave energy and laser energy.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 14 , wherein at least one of monopolar radiofrequency energy and bipolar radiofrequency energy is applied.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 14 , wherein applying energy comprises energizing a single conductive member of the catheter device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 14 , wherein applying energy comprises energizing multiple conductive members of the catheter device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein applying energy comprises denaturing collagen in the tissues.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising monitoring an amount of energy applied to the tissues.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 19 , wherein monitoring the amount of energy comprises monitoring a temperature of the tissues.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 19 , wherein monitoring the amount of energy comprises monitoring an impedance of the tissues.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 19 , further comprising determining when a sufficient amount of energy has been applied to the tissues to substantially close the patent foramen ovale.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 22 , further comprising discontinuing the application of energy when the sufficient amount of energy has been applied.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising directly visualizing the patent foramen ovale and the tissues using at least one visualization device coupled with the catheter device.
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