Patent · US Expired

Radio-frequency based catheter system and hollow co-axial cable for ablation of body tissues

US6663625B1 · kind B1 · utility

107Cited by
14References
15Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 11, 1999
Grant dateDec 16, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 11, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2018/1861
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An improved radio-frequency catheter system for ablating biological tissues of a body vessel in a patient including a catheter, a deployable antenna guide disposed at the distal portion of the catheter and a radio-frequency (“RF”) antenna mounted on the antenna guide. The RF antenna includes a axial passageway to accommodate the antenna guide, and is adapted to receive and transmit RF energy for tissue ablation. Upon deployment, the antenna guide acquires a loop configuration which establishes line contact with the body vessel conformable to its internal contour to prescribe the precise and affixed tissue ablation pathway despite body vessel movements. The RF antenna is carried by the antenna guide to be deployed along the established tissue ablation pathway. Alignment of the loop with the desired tissue ablation pathway is facilitated with the use of radio-opaque markers and intracardiac electrodes mounted along the antenna guide. The catheter, as well as the antenna can be provided with steering or deflection mechanism for navigation through the body vessel passageways. A hollow co-axial cable is provided for the delivery of RF energy.

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