40 results about "Epicardial ablation" patented technology

The invention provides apparatus and methods for mapping conduction pathways and creating lesions in the heart wall for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The apparatus may include at least one epicardial ablation probe having a plurality of electrodes for creating a lesion. The apparatus and method facilitate the formation of a lesion which electrically isolates the pulmonary veins from the surrounding myocardium.

A method is disclosed for treating heart and vascular tissue with cryotreatment. A medical instrument, such as a catheter is positioned to contact a target region of cardiac tissue such as the epicardial tissue. The instrument or catheter provided includes a cryotreatment element that has thermally-transmissive properties. The cryotreatment element may be a cryochamber for enclosing the flow of a fluid refrigerant therein. The cryotreatment element is disposed at the situs of heart or vascular tissue to be treated, usually by piercing the epicardium sac via an opening in the patient's body. A refrigerant flow within the cryochamber creates endothermic cooling with respect to the targeted heart or vascular tissue, inducing hypothermia and forming iceballs proximate the tissue. The cooling may be reversible and non-permanent, or may be permanent leading to cell death, necrosis, apoptosis and / or surgical excision or ablation of tissue.

An electrode catheter for use with an endocardial ablation catheter, wherein the electrode catheter receives the transmitted energy for ablating a portion of the heart. The electrode catheter comprises a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a longitudinal structure there between; and an electrode in communication with said electrode catheter, wherein said electrode receives the transmitted energy from the endocardial ablation catheter, or alternatively an epicardial ablation catheter.

Apparatus for treating cardiac arrhythmias includes an ultrasonic ablation device incorporating an ultrasonic emitter (22, 400), means (10, 14, 402, 404) for positioning the ablation device outside of the heart but adjacent the epicardial surface of the heart, and means (26, 28, 30) for focusing the ultrasonic energy emitted by the emitter into an ablation region, so that the ablation region is disposed within the wall of the heart.

Systems and methods for navigating a catheter along the epieardial surface of the heart are disclosed. At least some of the embodiments disclosed herein are useful for epieardial ablation, Various embodiments permit ablation of the epieardial surface of the heart using an external ablation catheter in the pericardial space and an internal guide catheter within the heart. Such a configuration allows the clinician to precisely target for ablation specific locations on the cardiac tissue.

Catheters and methods for epicardial ablation are provided. A suitable catheter comprises an elongated catheter body and an ultrasound transducer mounted at or near the distal end of the catheter body. The transducer has a front surface and an opposing back surface, wherein the transducer is positioned to transmit ultrasound energy toward tissue facing the front surface but not toward tissue facing the back surface. A sensor is mounted within the catheter near the ultrasound transducer for sensing a location and an orientation of the ultrasound transducer within a patient. A suitable method involves introducing the distal end of the catheter introducing into the pericardium of a patient. The transducer's front surface is positioned so that it generally faces tissue to be ablated, and the tissue is ablated with ultrasound energy generated by the transducer.

A medical device, and related method, use epicardial ablators and detectors for intraoperative epicardial approaches to ablation therapy of cardiac conduction pathways. An epicardial gripper is sized to grasp the cardiac circumference or smaller structures on the epicardial surface of the heart. Ablators are disposed on the arms of the gripper for epicardial ablation of cardiac conduction tissue. In another embodiment of the invention, an electrode system includes a flexible, adjustable probe forming a loop for epicardial ablation. Ablators are provided on one or multiple surfaces of the probe for epicardial ablation of cardiac conduction tissue. In yet another embodiment of the invention, an endocardial ablator detection system provides an indicator adjacent an ablator on an endocardial catheter, and a detector on an epicardial probe. The epicardial probe detects signals transmitted by the indicator on the endocardial catheter to localize the position of the endocardial ablator relative to the epicardial surface. The surgeon uses this information for guidance in adjusting the position of the endocardial ablator according to therapeutic objectives of cardiac ablation.

A suction assisted ablation device having a support surface, suction elements disposed adjacent the support surface, at least one electrode and at least one suction conduit is provided. The device may further include fluid openings, which allow fluid to irrigate target tissue and aid in ablation. A method for ablating tissue using suction is also provided.

An aspect of various embodiments of the present invention system and method provide, but not limited thereto, a novel means for epicardial ablation using a double-curve steerable sheath and a double-curve deflectable open irrigated-tip / suction catheter that can be guided around the apex of the heart and adjusted so as to position the distal tip optimally. The catheter can also both deliver fluid to and withdraw fluid from the pericardial space. Access to the epicardial surface of the heart is via a subxiphoid entry. The method and means presented include, but are not limited to, steering, energy delivery, bipolar mapping, placement and use of electrodes, irrigation, suction of irrigation fluid, and other details of the subject invention.

Systems, devices, and methods for electroporation ablation therapy are disclosed herein, with a cinch device for positioning an ablation catheter relative to tissue during a cardiac ablation procedure. In some embodiments, a distal end of a first device may be advanced into a proximal end of a first lumen of a second device. The first device may be advanced from a distal end of the first lumen and the first device may be looped around tissue of a patient. The first device may be advanced into a distal end of a second lumen of the second device. The distal end of the first device may be advanced from a proximal end of the second lumen. The proximal and distal ends of the first device may be advanced away from a proximal end of the second device to increase contact between the first device and the tissue.

A robotic system employing a plurality of surgical robots (20) and a surgical procedure controller (22) for executing a surgical procedure on an anatomical structure (e.g., a heart) within an anatomical region (e.g., a thoracic region). In operation, the controller (22) autonomously controls a navigation of each surgical robot (20) within the anatomical region relative to the anatomical structureby directing a navigation of each surgical robot (20) within the anatomical region relative to the anatomical structure based on a surgical plan for executing the surgical procedure on the anatomicalstructure (e.g., a convergent ablation plan consisting of an epicardial ablation plan for abating an exterior of a heart and an endocardial ablation plan for ablating an interior of the heart) and further by revising the surgical plan responsive to a partial or complete inability of one or more of the surgical robots (20) to be navigated within the anatomical region relative to the anatomical structure based on the surgical plan.

A transmural ablation device is provided to achieve endocardial and epicardial ablation at the same site but directed from the inner and outer surfaces of the heart to create a transmural lesion. By ablating from both sides of the heart tissue, it is possible to increase the depth of the lesion created and to increase the likelihood of a transmural lesion. Embodiments pertain to techniques to align the endocardial and epicardial ablation elements and techniques to position and move the endocardial and epicardial ablation elements along a predefined linear, curvilinear, or circular path. The ability to bring the epicardial and endocardial elements more closely or firmly with the underlying tissue is important in creating optimal lesions. Magnetic force attracts the epicardial and endocardial elements.