RF energy delivery system and method

US8475449B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MEDTRONIC ABLATION FRONTIERS LLC · US

Inventors

• Randell L. Werneth · San Diego, US
• Ricardo David Roman · Chula Vista, US
• Christopher G. Kunis · Escondido, US
• Alexander J. Asconeguy · Murrieta, US
• Sadaf Soleymani · Calabasas, US
• Jeffrey Trinidad · San Diego, US
• Martin Chambers · Stillwater, US
• Hakan Oral · Ann Arbor, US
• Fred Morady · Ann Arbor, US
• Jerald L. Cox · Carlsbad, US
• Guillermo W. Moratorio · Carlsbad, US
• Samuel Fu · Del Mar, US
• J. Christopher Flaherty · Winter Haven, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 10, 2008
• Grant date: Jul 2, 2013
• Expiry date: May 1, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2018/00839
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the ablation of tissue. A steerable ablation catheter can include one or more ablation elements at its distal end and one or more ablation elements fixedly attached to its shaft. The distal end of the ablation catheter can be deflected to assume a number of different deflection geometries in at least one direction along the shaft. One feature of the ablation catheter is that its shaft can comprise materials of differing durometers or stiffnesses attached together at a joint. Methods associated with use of the ablation catheter are also covered.