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Publication Number
US-12274492-B2
Publication Date
2025-04-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems and methods for forming a lesion on an endocardial tissue of a patient's heart involve placing an ablation assembly inside of the heart and adjacent to the endocardial tissue, and placing a guiding assembly outside of the heart. An ablation assembly includes an ablation element and a first attraction element, and a guiding assembly includes a second attraction element. First and second attraction elements can be attracted via magnetism. Techniques involve forming an ablation on the cardiac tissue of a patient's heart with an ablation element of the ablation assembly. Optionally, techniques may include moving the second attraction element of the guiding assembly relative to the patient's heart, so as to effect a corresponding movement of the ablation element of the ablation assembly.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention relates to magnetic-navigation cardiac ablation for forming a lesion on tissue of a patient's heart. A first elongated catheter carries an ablation element and a first attraction element, and a second elongated catheter carries a second attraction element that is configured to magnetically attract the first attraction element. In this way, magnetic attraction between the attraction elements guides and positions the ablation element relative to the tissue during lesion formation.
Radiofrequency energy is provided to the ablation element using an electrode ring coupled to the first elongated catheter. The ablation element is mounted on an ablation element support positioned around the first elongated catheter, enabling an ablation assembly configuration in which the ablation element is carried by the first elongated catheter and oriented by magnetic attraction. The disclosed configuration supports forming lesions on cardiac tissue, including lesion formation associated with conduction block.
An expandable element is positioned around the first elongated catheter and is radially spaced from the ablation element to form a space between the ablation element and a surface of the tissue. The expandable element can isolate the ablation element from blood flowing in the patient's heart, and temperature sensing and temperature feedback control are described as providing temperature sensing elements for endocardial or epicardial temperature sensing, supporting reproducibility and safety during ablation on a beating heart.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims for a device for forming a lesion on heart tissue. Across the independent claims, the inventive features focus on magnetic attraction between first and second elongated catheters, RF-powered ablation element mounting, and in one claim an expandable element that forms a radially spaced space between the ablation element and tissue surface.
Magnetically attractable attraction elements between first and second elongated catheters
A first elongated catheter comprising an ablation element and a first attraction element, and a second elongated catheter comprising a second attraction element configured to magnetically attract the first attraction element.
RF electrode ring coupled to the first elongated catheter
An electrode ring coupled to the first elongated catheter and configured to provide RF energy to the ablation element.
Ablation element mounted on an ablation element support around the first elongated catheter
An ablation element support positioned around the first elongated catheter, wherein the ablation element is mounted on the ablation element support.
Expandable element radially spaced to form a space between the ablation element and tissue surface
An expandable element around the first elongated catheter, wherein the expandable element is radially spaced from the ablation element such that a space is formed between the ablation element and a surface of the tissue.
Overall, the claim coverage is centered on a magnetic-navigation ablation device where a first catheter’s ablation element and first attraction element are positioned and oriented by magnetic attraction from a second catheter’s second attraction element, with RF energy delivered via an electrode ring and the ablation element mounted on a support around the first catheter. One independent claim further requires an expandable element radially spaced from the ablation element to create a space between the ablation element and the tissue surface.
Stated Advantages
Improves lesion reproducibility and safety via temperature feedback control.
Isolates the ablation element from blood to reduce uncontrolled blood heating and embolization risk.
Supports forming lesions, including transmural lesions and conduction block, during ablation.
Documented Applications
Endocardial ablation using magnetic navigation for atrial fibrillation and related arrhythmias, including formation of endocardial lesions on a beating heart.
Guidance loop or box lesion around pulmonary vein ostia and related deployment for left atrium ablation, including placement concepts involving left atrial appendage and mitral valve.
Use of an expandable isolation feature for ablation catheter configurations to isolate an electrode from blood during ablation.
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