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:
Jan. 21, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 28, 2000
Veijo T. Suorsa, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
David K. Swanson, Mountain View, CA (US);
Dorin Panescu, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Harm TenHoff, Mountain View, CA (US);
James G. Whayne, Saratoga, CA (US);
SCIMED Life Systems, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides ultrasound-guided ablation catheters and methods for their use. In one embodiment, a tissue ablation apparatus ( ) includes a flexible elongate body ( ) having proximal ( ) and distal ( ) ends. A plurality of spaced-apart electrodes ( ) are operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end. A plurality of transducer elements ( ) are disposed between at least some of the electrodes. Transducers assist the physician in determining whether or not the ablation elements are in contact with the tissue to be ablated.