Balloon for ablation around pulmonary veins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016175041-A1
Application number	US-201414578807-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 22, 2014
Priority date	Dec 22, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Cardiac ablation is carried out by introducing a catheter into the left atrium, extending a lasso guide through the lumen of the catheter to engage the wall of a pulmonary vein, and deploying a balloon over the lasso guide. The balloon has an electrode assembly disposed its exterior. The electrode assembly includes a plurality of ablation electrodes circumferentially arranged about the longitudinal axis of the catheter. The inflated balloon is positioned against the pulmonary vein ostium, so that the ablation electrodes are in galvanic contact with the pulmonary vein, and electrical energy is conducted through the ablation electrodes to produce a circumferential lesion that circumscribes the pulmonary vein.

First claim

1 . A method of ablation, comprising the steps of:
introducing a catheter into a left atrium of a heart, the catheter having a lumen and a distal end; extending a lasso guide through the lumen of the catheter to engage an interior wall of a pulmonary vein; deploying a balloon over a portion of the lasso guide, the balloon having a longitudinal axis and an electrode assembly disposed on an exterior wall thereof, the electrode assembly comprising a plurality of ablation electrodes circumferentially arranged about the longitudinal axis; inflating the balloon; positioning the balloon against the pulmonary vein at an ostium thereof, wherein the ablation electrodes are in galvanic contact with the pulmonary vein; and conducting electrical energy through the ablation electrodes to produce a circumferential lesion that circumscribes the pulmonary vein.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of after positioning the balloon injecting a contrast agent through the catheter into the pulmonary vein.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of after positioning the balloon injecting a contrast agent through the catheter into the balloon.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lasso guide has a mapping electrode disposed thereon, further comprising the step of obtaining a pre-ablation electrogram with the mapping electrode prior to performing the step of conducting electrical energy through the ablation electrodes.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the lasso guide has a mapping electrode disposed thereon, further comprising the step of obtaining a post-ablation electrogram with the mapping electrode after performing the step of conducting electrical energy through the ablation electrodes.

6 . An ablation apparatus comprising:
a probe having a distal portion and a lumen; a lasso guide that assumes a collapsed state for delivery through the lumen of the probe and an expanded state, the lasso guide having a plurality of mapping electrodes thereon, the mapping electrodes connectable to electrocardiographic circuitry; an inflatable balloon deployable through the lumen over the lasso guide, the balloon having a longitudinal axis and an exterior wall; and a plurality of ablation electrodes arranged circumferentially about the longitudinal axis on the exterior wall, the balloon being fenestrated by a plurality of irrigation pores and being connected to a source of fluid for passage through the pores.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a subassembly comprising a plurality of strips radiating outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the balloon wherein the ablation electrodes are disposed on the strips.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the subassembly has apertures formed therethrough in, the apertures being in fluid communication with the pores of the balloon.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising wires in the distal portion leading to the ablation electrodes wherein the strips of the subassembly comprise pigtails extending over a surface of the balloon and overlying the wires, respectively.

Assignees

• Biosense Webster Israel Ltd

Inventors

• Govari Assaf
• Beeckler Christopher Thomas
• Keyes Joseph Thomas
• Hettel Rowan Olund

Classifications

• A61B2018/00577

  Ablation · CPC title

• A61B2018/1435

  Spiral · CPC title

• A61B18/1492 Primary

  having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2018/00238

  porous · CPC title

• A61B2018/00375

  Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery · CPC title