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:
Jul. 03, 2007
Filed:
Sep. 16, 2005
Dana Ray Mester, Oakdale, MN (US);
Kenneth Wayne Grace, Knoxville, TN (US);
Gregory G. Brucker, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Steven D. Savage, Paynesville, MN (US);
Dana Ray Mester, Oakdale, MN (US);
Kenneth Wayne Grace, Knoxville, TN (US);
Gregory G. Brucker, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Steven D. Savage, Paynesville, MN (US);
MedicalCV Inc., Inver Grove Heights, MN (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for treating a body tissue in situ (e.g., an atrial tissue of a heart to treat atrial fibrillation) include a lesion formation tool is positioned against the heart surface. The apparatus includes a guide member having a tissue-opposing surface for placement against a heart surface. The guide member also has interior surfaces and a longitudinal axis. A guide carriage is sized to be received with the guide member and moveable therein along the longitudinal axis. An optical fiber is positioned within the guide carriage with the carriage retaining the fiber. The carriage receives the fiber with an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and bends the fiber to a distal tip with an axis of said fiber at said distal tip at least 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis and aligned for discharge of laser energy through the tissue opposing surface.