IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,942,661

Granted Patent B2

US 6,942,661 · App. 09/761,981 · Granted Sep 13, 2005

Fluid cooled apparatus for supporting diagnostic and therapeutic elements in contact with tissue

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 6,942,661
App. No.: 09/761,981
Granted: Sep 13, 2005
Kind: B2

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Abstract

Surgical methods and apparatus for positioning diagnostic an therapeutic elements on the epicardium or other organ surface. The apparatus includes a tissue cooling apparatus.

Claims (56)

1. A surgical probe for use with tissue, comprising:

a shaft defining a distal portion and a proximal portion;

a plurality of energy transmission devices supported on the distal portion of the shaft;

a tissue cooling apparatus supported on the shaft including an outer member positioned about the plurality of energy transmission devices such that a continuous fluid transmission space is defined therebetween having an inlet and an outlet; and

a drainage tube, extending distally from the distal portion of the shaft, that conveys fluid passing through the fluid transmission space outlet away from the tissue.

2. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shaft comprises a relatively short shaft.

3. A surgical device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the relatively short shaft is malleable.

4. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of energy transmission devices comprises a plurality of electrodes.

5. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tissue cooling apparatus comprises a porous structure.

6. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the porous structure comprises a microporous structure.

7. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid transmission space defines a substantially constant cross-sectional area between the inlet and the outlet.

8. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid transmission space defines a substantially annular shape.

9. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid transmission space is located radially outwardly of the energy transmission devices.

10. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid transmission space is located between the tissue cooling apparatus and the energy transmission devices.

11. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid transmission space surrounds the energy transmission devices.

12. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the energy transmission devices each define a diameter and the tissue cooling apparatus defines a diameter that is no more than about 3 times the diameter of the energy transmission devices.

13. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the tissue cooling apparatus defines a diameter that is about 1.2 to 2 times the diameter of the energy transmission devices.

14. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of energy transmission devices comprises a plurality of flexible energy transmission devices.

15. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the plurality of energy transmission devices comprises a plurality of coil electrodes.

16. A surgical probe, comprising:

a shaft defining a distal end and a proximal end;

a plurality of energy transmission devices supported on the shaft;

a drainage tube that conveys fluid passing through the fluid transmission space outlet away from the tissue; and

a fluid supply line associated with the inlet and supported on the exterior of the shaft at the inlet.

17. A surgical probe for use with tissue, comprising:

a shaft defining a distal end and a proximal end;

a plurality of energy transmission devices supported on the shaft; and

a tissue cooling apparatus supported on the shaft including an outer member, configured to permit ionic transfer while substantially preventing fluid perfusion therethrough, positioned about the plurality of energy transmission devices such that a continuous fluid transmission space is defined therebetween having an inlet and an outlet.

18. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the outer member comprises a microporous structure.

19. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the fluid transmission space defines a substantially constant cross-sectional area between the inlet and the outlet.

20. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising:

a fluid supply line associated with the inlet.

21. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the fluid transmission space is located radially outwardly of the energy transmission devices.

22. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the fluid transmission space is located between the tissue cooling apparatus and the energy transmission devices.

23. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the fluid transmission space surrounds the energy transmission devices.

24. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the energy transmission devices each define a diameter and the tissue cooling apparatus defines a diameter that is no more than about 3 times the diameter of the energy transmission devices.

25. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the plurality of energy transmission devices comprises a plurality of flexible energy transmission devices.

26. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the plurality of energy transmission devices comprises a plurality of coil electrodes.

27. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the shaft comprises a relatively short shaft.

28. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the plurality of energy transmission devices comprises a plurality of electrodes.

29. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the energy transmission devices are located within the outer member.

30. A surgical probe, comprising:

a shaft defining an exterior, a distal end and a proximal end;

a plurality of energy transmission devices supported on the shaft; and

a tissue cooling apparatus, fixedly secured around the exterior of the shaft, including an outer member positioned about the plurality of energy transmission devices such that a continuous fluid transmission space having an inlet and an outlet is defined between the tissue cooling apparatus and the exterior of the shaft.

31. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the shaft comprises a relatively short shaft.

32. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the plurality of energy transmission devices comprises a plurality of electrodes.

33. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the plurality of energy transmission devices comprises a plurality of flexible energy transmission devices.

34. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 33 , wherein the plurality of energy transmission devices comprises a plurality of coil electrodes.

35. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the outer member comprises a microporous structure.

36. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the fluid transmission space defines a substantially constant cross-sectional area between the inlet and the outlet.

37. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 30 , further comprising:

a fluid supply line associated with the inlet.

38. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the energy transmission devices each define a diameter and the tissue cooling apparatus defines a diameter that is no more than about 3 times the diameter of the energy transmission devices.

39. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the energy transmission devices are located within the outer member.

Assignments (1)

CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 6, 2006

From: SCIMED LIFE SYSTEMS, INC.

To: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.

Reel/Frame 018505/0868 →