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:
Aug. 22, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1998
Michael D Laufer, Menlo Park, CA (US);
Bruce D Stambaugh, Anaheim, CA (US);
Hien V Nguyen, Santa Ana, CA (US);
Hearten Medical, Inc., Tustin, CA (US);
Abstract
A minimally invasive medical or surgical device creates holes in heart tissue utilizing a needle connected to an energy source, such a radio frequency generator, a resistive heating source, or a microwave energy source. The needle is inserted into heart tissue from an interior of the heart and activated to heat the surrounding tissue in order to produce reversible tissue damage. The device consists of an energy source and regulator, electric contacts to the energy source, a catheter, and a needle at the distal end of the catheter for delivering energy to the heart tissue. The catheter is fed through the vasculature into the interior of the heart. A temperature sensor may be positioned on the needle for sensing a temperature of the heart tissue in which the needle has been inserted. Preferably, a regulator is connected to the energy source and to the temperature sensor for controlling the temperature of the heart tissue in which the needle has been inserted to about 40.degree. C. to about 60.degree. C. as sensed by the temperature sensor.