Patent US7237555B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7237555B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tissue stabilization and ablation devices and methods
Assignee: Endoscopic Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 2002-10-15
•
Granted: 2007-07-03
•
Expires: 2022-10-15
Abstract
Abstract Tissue stabilization and ablation devices and methods provide techniques for stabilizing and ablating body tissues during surgical ablation procedures. In many embodiments, for example, devices may be used in minimally invasive techniques for ablating epicardial tissue adjacent one or more pulmonary veins to treat atrial fibrillation. Tissue stabilization and ablation devices generally include a rigidifying bladder coupled with an ablation member. The devices may additionally include a tissue stabilizing bladder or means within the rigidifying bladder for enhancing tissue stabilization. The rigidifying bladder conforms to a tissue surface and then stiffens to help the device hold its shape and position and to stabilize the tissue. The ablation member is then used to ablate an area of tissue. Such cardiac stabilization and ablation devices and methods may be used to ablate one or more patterns on the epicardial surface of a heart to treat atrial fibrillation and/or other cardiac arrhythmias.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary S. Kochamba
- 👤 Suzanne E. Kochamba
- 👤 Arthur A. Bertolero
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2478; A61F2/2481; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/02; A61F5/00; A61F5/01; A61F5/0102; A61F5/0104; A61F5/04; A61F5/05; A61F5/055; A61F5/058; A61F5/05833; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00247; A61B2017/0237; A61B2017/0243; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61B18/00; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00392
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of stabilizing and ablating body tissue, the method comprising: contacting a tissue stabilizer having a non-rigid bladder with the tissue; securing the tissue stabilizer to the tissue; rigidifying the bladder; and applying ablation energy to at least a portion of the tissue through the rigidfied bladder.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
48 words
A method of stabilizing and ablating body tissue, the method comprising: contacting a tissue stabilizer having a non-rigid bladder with the tissue; securing the tissue stabilizer to the tissue; rigidifying the bladder; and applying ablation energy to at least a portion of the tissue through the rigidfied bladder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein rigidifying the bladder comprises applying a vacuum to the bladder, wherein the vacuum collapses the bladder to cause the bladder to rigidify.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 2 , wherein the vacuum is applied to the tissue through at least one aperture in the bladder to enhance securing of the tissue stabilizer to the tissue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 3 , wherein the vacuum is applied to the tissue through a separate tissue securing bladder coupled with the rigidified bladder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 3 , wherein the vacuum is applied to the tissue through a tissue securing compartment in the rigidified bladder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising: engaging at least one engaging member on the tissue stabilizer with at least one positioning device; and using the positioning device to position the tissue stabilizer in a location for contacting the tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as in claim 6 , wherein the at least one engaging member comprises at least one post-like member coupled with at least one rigid plate coupled with the bladder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 6 , further comprising advancing the tissue stabilizer to a surgical site before the engaging step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein the bladder further comprises: at least one port; a chamber within the bladder in communication with the port; and rigidifying structure disposed within the chamber, wherein the rigidifying structure is substantially flexible when no suction is applied at the port and substantially rigid when suction is applied at the port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 9 , wherein rigidifying the bladder comprises applying a vacuum at the at least one port.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein applying ablation energy comprises ablating epicardial tissue adjacent at least one pulmonary vein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 11 , wherein the epicardial tissue comprises tissue at least partially encircling two pulmonary veins.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 1 , wherein applying ablation energy comprises transmitting energy to the portion of the tissue, the transmitted energy selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy, ultrasound energy, microwave energy and cryogenic energy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 13 , wherein transmitting energy comprises transmitting radio frequency energy from at least one radio frequency coil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 14 , wherein the radio frequency coil is approximately U-shaped so as to contact epicardial tissue adjacent at least two pulmonary veins.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 14 , further comprising contacting a retractable portion of the radio frequency coil with heart tissue encircling at least two pulmonary veins.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 14 , wherein the radio frequency coil comprises multiple linear radio frequency coils for ablating a linear pattern on the epicardial tissue.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as in claim 13 , wherein transmitting energy comprises transmitting cryogenic energy from multiple thermoelectric chips.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising sensing, with the at least one sensor, an amount of ablation of the tissue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 19 , wherein sensing comprises: transmitting a radio frequency signal across an area of ablated tissue with a paired sensor; and receiving the radio frequency signal at a second paired sensor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising cooling the tissue stabilizer using a cooling member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 21 , wherein cooling the stabilizer comprises passing a cooling fluid through the cooling member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1 , further comprising delivering the tissue stabilizer through a minimally invasive introducer device to a location for contacting the tissue.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3745998A
Cited
US5807243A
Cited
US5836311A
Cited
US5927284A
Cited
US5782746A
Cited
US5727569A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-07-02 | 2011-01-01 | 2011-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-07-02 | 2015-01-01 | 2015-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-07-02 | 2019-01-01 | 2019-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |