Patent · US Expired

Ablation system with selectable current path means

US6740080B2 · kind B2 · utility

47Cited by
8References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 31, 2001
Grant dateMay 25, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 24, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2018/1467
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering energy to a biological site includes a catheter having an ablation electrode and a plurality of backplates distributed at various locations proximal the biological site. The backplates are coupled to a switching device for selecting which backplate to utilize as a return electrode to complete the circuit with the ablation electrode in order to obtain deeper, larger lesions for a given amount of energy. The backplate selection is made by determining which return electrode most closely places the biological site between the ablation electrode and the backplate. Backplate selection may be made automatically based on impedance measurements or conduction time measurements. Alternatively, the backplate selection can be made manually.

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