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Atrial ablation catheter and method of useRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, Instruments, Electrical Application, ApplicatorsAtrial ablation catheter and method of use description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060111703, Atrial ablation catheter and method of use. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/997,172 filed Nov. 24, 2004. FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS [0002] The inventions described below relate the field of atrial ablation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS [0003] Atrial fibrillation is a form of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, in which the atria (the two small upper chambers of the heart) quiver instead of beating effectively. While there are a number of variations of atrial fibrillation with different causes, they all involve irregularities in the transmission of electrical impulses through the heart. As a result of abnormalities in the heart's electrical impulses, the heart is not able to pump the blood out properly, and it may pool and clot. If a blood clot moves to an artery in the brain, AF can lead to stroke. AF is also associated with increased risks of congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy. These risks warrant medical attention for patients with AF even if the symptoms are mild. Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained heart rhythm disorder and increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, both leading causes of death in the United States. Over 2 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. [0004] Various ablation techniques have been proposed to treat atrial fibrillation, including the Cox-Maze procedure, linear ablation of various regions of the atrium, and circumferential pulmonary vein ablation. Each of these techniques has its various drawbacks. The Cox-Maze procedure and linear ablation procedures are tedious and time-consuming, taking up to several hours to accomplish endocardially. Circumferential ablation is proving to lead to rapid stenosis and occlusion of the pulmonary veins. Thus, improved atrial ablation techniques are sorely needed. SUMMARY [0005] The devices and methods described below provide for a simplified approach to the treatment of atrial fibrillation with substantially improved efficacy & outcomes in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation. An endocardial catheter with an electrode array particularly adapted to locate and ablate foci of arrhythmia which are required for sustained atrial fibrillation is provided. The array is easily deployed and retracted from the catheter, and presents a distally oriented electrode array that can be pressed flat against the wall of the atrium. A control system comprising an ECG analyzer and a RF power supply operates to analyze electrical signals obtained from the electrode array, determine if an arrythmogenic focus is present in the area covered by the array, and supply RF power to appropriate electrodes to ablate the focus. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] FIG. 1 illustrates the treatment to be accomplished with the devices and methods described below. [0007] FIG. 2 illustrates an atrial sensing and ablation catheter with an expandable electrode array constrained within an outer catheter tube. [0008] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the distal portion of the catheter of FIG. 2. [0009] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the distal portion of the catheter of FIG. 2. [0010] FIG. 5 illustrates the atrial sensing and ablation catheter of FIG. 2 with the electrode array in its expanded configuration. [0011] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the electrode array in its expanded configuration. [0012] FIG. 7 is an end view of the electrode array in its expanded configuration. [0013] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the mechanism of recapture of the electrode array of the atrial ablation catheter. [0014] FIG. 10 illustrates an alternate mechanism of recapture of the electrode array of the atrial ablation catheter. [0015] FIG. 11 illustrates the operation of the steering system of the atrial ablation catheter. [0016] FIG. 12 illustrates the electrode array in the configuration it takes on when pressed against a surface. [0017] FIG. 13 illustrates the electrode array in the configuration it takes on when pressed against a concave surface such as the atrial wall. [0018] FIG. 14 illustrates a method for using the electrode array in a monopolar mode. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS [0019] FIG. 1 illustrates the treatment to be accomplished with the devices and methods described below. FIG. 1 shows a cutaway view of the human heart 1, showing the major structures of the heart including the right atrium 2, the left atrium 3, the right ventricle 4, and the left ventricle 5. The atrial septum 6 separates the left and right atria. The fossa ovalis 7 is a small depression in the atrial septum which is easily punctured and easily heals, and may be used as an access pathway to the left atrium from the right atrium. In a patient suffering from atrial fibrillation, aberrant electrically conductive tissue may be found in the atrial walls 8 and 9, as well as in the pulmonary veins 10 and pulmonary arteries 11. Ablation of these areas, referred to as arrhythmogenic foci (and also referred to as drivers or rotors), is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation. Though circumferential ablation of the pulmonary veins cures the arrhythmia which originates in the pulmonary veins, it often results in rapid stenosis of the pulmonary veins. Ablation of foci, rotors or drivers on atrial walls, however, may prevent the propagation of any aberrant electrical activity that originates in the pulmonary veins. Continue reading about Atrial ablation catheter and method of use... 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