Ablation catheter and method for isolating a pulmonary vein

US6572612B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Medtronic, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Mark T. Stewart · Lino Lakes, US
• William J. Flickinger · Lino Lakes, US
• David E. Francischelli · Anoka, US
• Rahul Mehra · Stillwater, US
• Xiaoyi Min · Thousand Oaks, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 11, 2001
• Grant date: Jun 3, 2003
• Expiry date: Oct 11, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2018/1435
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A catheter assembly and method for treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, for example, atrial fibrillation, by electrically isolating a vessel, such as a pulmonary vein, from a chamber, such as the left atrium. The catheter assembly includes a catheter body and at least one electrode. The catheter body includes a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion. The intermediate portion extends from the proximal portion and defines a longitudinal axis. The distal portion extends from the intermediate portion and forms a substantially closed loop transverse to the longitudinal axis. The at least one electrode is disposed along the loop. With this configuration, the loop is axially directed into contact with the chamber wall about the vessel ostium. Upon energization, the electrode ablates a continuous lesion pattern about the vessel ostium, thereby electrically isolating the vessel from the chamber.