Apparatus and methods for intrabody thermal treatment
US6605084B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 12, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 21, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2007/0078
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A treatment catheter (10) carries an elongated ultrasonic emitter (20) extending in the lengthwise direction of the catheter. The array is flexible in all directions transverse to the lengthwise direction. The treatment catheter is inserted into a chamber of the heart and brought to a desired configuration such as a substantially closed loop. The treatment catheter is then biased into engagement with the wall of the heart by an expansible balloon (62) or other expansible structure, which may be carried on a separate stabilizer catheter (60). While the treatment catheter is engaged with the heart wall, the array is actuated to ablate tissue along a path having a shape corresponding to the configuration of the treatment catheter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.