Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for preventing atrial fibrillation

US7322973B2 · kind B2 · utility

26Cited by
23References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 2004
Grant dateJan 29, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 19, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B2018/0262
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reducing the likelihood of post operative atrial fibrillation by cooling specific nerves in the heart. In an exemplary method, a semi-rigid probe having a distal portion capable of cooling tissue to temperatures below freezing, is placed on tissue proximate cardiac nerves to temporarily or permanently inhibit signal conduction in the nerves.

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