Patent · US Expired

Microwave thermal therapy of cardiac tissue

US5861021A · kind A · utility

410Cited by
81References
20Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 20, 1996
Grant dateJan 19, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 20, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B18/18
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of applying microwave energy to cardiac tissue uses a catheter adapted for insertion into a cardiac chamber and which includes a microwave antenna, a cooling lumen structure, and an inflatable cooling balloon. Necrosing levels of microwave energy are delivered from the microwave antenna to diseased cardiac tissue spaced from the catheter. Tissues immediately surrounding the catheter are cooled and microwave energy emitted by the antenna is selectively absorbed by the cooling lumen structure surrounding the antenna. The cooling balloon of the catheter is positioned adjacent the antenna and partially surrounds the cooling lumen structure on one side of the catheter to provide additional cooling capability and additional microwave energy absorption on the side of the catheter opposite the diseased cardiac tissue to prevent unwanted heating of blood within the cardiac chamber.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.