Medtronic Cardiorhythm

Medtronic, Inc.

Frank Nguyen

Scott H West

Mark A Maguire

Francisco G Cosio

John W Gaiser

Csaba Truckai

Richard S Jaraczewski

Karl Heinz Kuck

Christian Weiss

Stephan Willems

Scott A McIntosh

A dual curve ablation catheter (2), especially suited for treating atrial flutter, includes a shaft (4) with a deflectable tip (20) at the distal end (6) and a handle (10) at the proximal end (8). The tip includes a highly flexible distal segment (30), a relatively stiff intermediate segment (28) and a flexible proximal segment (26) so that pulling on a manipulator wire (16) attached to the distal segment causes the distal segment to curve and engage, for example, an isthmus of tissue (106) adjacent the tricuspid valve (104) and the inferior vena cava (98) and causes the proximal segment to curve and press against the wall (110) of the inferior vena cava so to stabilize the catheter. Ablation energy can be supplied through the ablation electrodes (48, 68) simultaneously or one at a time to ablate tissue at the isthmus without the need for moving the catheter.

Method for ablation of heart tissue

A stabilized electrophysiology catheter (4) includes a main body portion (16) and a flexible tip portion (18). A plurality of electrodes (24, 26) are positioned along the tip portion. The tip portion includes a main section (20) and a pre-curved, offset, reverse-angle anchor section (22) at its distal end. The anchor section is shaped to engage with and anchor to a coronary opening, typically the coronary sinus opening (48) in the right atrium or a pulmonary vein opening (82) in the left atrium, for stabilized mapping and ablation of the right atrium or the left atrium. A manipulator wire (36) is used to radially deflect the tip portion in a first direction (40). When introduced through the superior vena cava (46), the tip portion forms a generally J-shape. When introduced through the inferior vena cava (54), the tip portion is deflected more than 360.degree..

Stabilized electrophysiology catheter and method for use

Dual curve ablation catheter

An atrioventricular valve tissue ablation catheter (2), especially suited for treating Mahaim fibers, includes a shaft (4) with a deflectable tip (20) at the distal end (6) and a handle (10) at the proximal end (8). The tip includes a distal segment (66) curving in one direction and a proximal segment (44) curving in the opposite direction so the distal segment causes the distal segment can engage tissue on either side of the annulus (92) of the tricuspid (or mitral) valve (90). Ablation energy can be supplied through the ablation electrodes (46, 70) simultaneously or one at a time to ablate tissue at the annulus without the need for moving the catheter. Mapping electrodes (38) are provided proximal of the ablation electrodes.

Atrioventricular valve tissue ablation catheter and method

An electrophysiology catheter (20) comprises a shaft (22) having a first bending stiffness and a deflectable tip (28) secured to the distal end (24) of the shaft with a second bending stiffness less than the first bending stiffness. At least one electrode (34, 36) is mounted to the tip for delivering current to or monitoring electrical activity of tissue. A manipulator wire (58) is coupled to the distal end of the deflectable tip, whereby the deflectable tip may be deflected by axial force applied to the manipulator wire. A stiffener member (66) is axially slidable relative to the tip so as to adjust the tip curvature without removing the catheter from the body. The catheter may further include a core wire (72) configured to rotate the deflectable tip about a longitudinal axis (2) without rotating the proximal end (26) of the catheter shaft, wherein the distal end of the deflectable tip remains in a substantially constant axial position, preferably in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Steerable electrophysiology catheter

Multicurve deflectable catheter

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Frank Nguyen