The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 01, 1998
Filed:
Aug. 20, 1996
Thomas H Campbell, San Carlos, CA (US);
Peter Sturzu, Cupertino, CA (US);
Fidus Medical Technology Corporation, Fremont, CA (US);
Abstract
A variety of improved antenna arrangements for ablation catheters and methods for constructing catheter with these antenna arrangements are described. In various apparatus aspects of the invention, the catheter includes an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient. A transmission line suitable for transmitting electromagnetic energy is received within the tubular member. An antenna is coupled to the transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation. In one embodiment, the antenna takes the form of an antenna coil that is oriented such that its longitudinal axis extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular member. In another embodiment, a plurality of such laterally oriented antenna coils are provided at longitudinally spaced locations relative to the catheter axis. In other embodiments, the antenna coil is spirally wound. A variety of spiral antenna arrangements are contemplated. In some embodiments, the coil is wound in a substantially conical or frusto-conical manner expanding either distally or proximately. In still another embodiment, the antenna coil is wound in a substantially flat coil.