Assessment of lesion transmurality
US7232437B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 19, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jun 19, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 21, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/00636
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for treating a body tissue in situ (e.g., an atrial tissue of a heart to treat) atrial fibrillation include a lesion formation tool is positioned against the heart surface. The lesion formation tool includes a guide member having a tissue-opposing surface for placement against a heart surface. An ablation member is coupled to the guide member to move in a longitudinal path relative to the guide member. The ablation member has an ablation element for directing ablation energy in an emitting direction away from the tissue-opposing surface. The guide member may be flexible to adjust a shape of the guide member for the longitudinal path to approximate the desired ablation path while maintaining the tissue-opposing surface against the heart surface. In one embodiment, the ablation member includes at least one radiation-emitting member disposed to travel in the longitudinal pathway. Transmurality can be assessed to approximate a location of non-transmurality in a formed lesion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.