Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for treatment of atrial fibrillation

US7147633B2 · kind B2 · utility

38Cited by
169References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 14, 2002
Grant dateDec 12, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 28, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2025/0089
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Methods and apparatus of embodiments of the invention are adapted to treat tissue inside a patient's body. Aspects of the invention can be used in a wide variety of applications, but certain embodiments provide minimally invasive alternatives for treating atrial fibrillation by delivering a tissue-damaging agent to selected areas of the heart. One exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a method of treating cardiac arrhythmia. This method includes positioning a distal tissue-contacting portion of a body in surface contact with a tissue surface of cardiac tissue; detecting the surface contact between the tissue-contacting portion and the tissue surface; and thereafter, injecting a tissue-ablating agent into the cardiac tissue through the tissue-contacting portion of the body.

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