Laser-based maze procedure for atrial fibrillation

1. A method for treating a heart of a patient suffering from atrial fibrillation, said method comprising;

a. identifying a patient with atrial fibrillation;

b. accessing a surface of an atrium of the heart;

c. positioning a lesion formation tool against said surface where said tool includes:

i. an optical fiber for guiding a coherent waveform of a selected wavelength to a fiber tip for discharge of coherent light energy from said fiber tip in a direction of energy discharge;

ii. said wavelength selected for said light energy to penetrate a thickness of said tissue to a form a volume of necrosed tissue through a thickness of said tissue, said wavelength selected to have a low absorption in water;

d. moving said fiber tip over said surface in a pathway while maintaining a substantially constant spacing of said fiber tip from said tissue to form a transmural lesion in said tissue extending a length of said pathway;

e. energizing said laser during said moving with an application of energy selected to form said lesion without perforation of said atrial tissue through a thickness of said atrial tissue.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said wavelength is selected from a range of about 470 nm to about 900 nm.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said wavelength is selected from a range of about 790 nm to about 850 nm.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said wavelength is about 805 nm.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said wavelength is selected from a range of about 1050 nm to about 1150 nm.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said wavelength is selected from a range of about 1050 nm to 1090 nm.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said surface is an epicardial surface.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said surface is an endocardial surface.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein

a. said lesion formation tool further includes:

i. a guide member coupled to said fiber tip, said guide member adapted to have a discharge bore aligned with said fiber tip and said direction of energy discharge to define an unobstructed light pathway from the fiber tip to a discharge end of said discharge bore;

ii. said guide member further adapted to be placed against said tissue surface with said guide member slidable along said surface in atraumatic sliding engagement and with said end of said discharge bore opposing said surface;

b. said method further including moving said guide member over said surface in a pathway while maintaining said discharge bore opposing said surface to form a transmural lesion in said tissue extending a length of said pathway.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said moving includes manually moving said fiber tip over said surface.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein said light energy is provided at a power level between 5 watts and 50 watts.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein said light energy is directed in an unobstructed pat toward said tissue.

13. An apparatus for treating a heart of a patient suffering from atrial fibrillation, said apparatus comprising:

a. an optical fiber for guiding a coherent waveform of a selected wavelength to a fiber tip for discharge of light energy from said fiber Up in a direction of energy discharge;

b. said wavelength selected for said light energy to penetrate a thickness of said tissue to form a volume of necrosed tissue through a thickness of said tissue;

c. a smooth, curved tissue engaging surface, adapted for atraumatic sliding movement over atrial tissue, said fiber tip in recess fixed spacing from the tissue engaging surface and said tip oriented to direct said light energy directly toward said tissue engaging surface;

d. said wavelength selected to have a low absorption in water and applicable at a power during moving of said fiber tip over a surface of atrial tissue to form said volume without perforation of said atrial tissue though a thickness of said atrial tissue.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said wavelength is selected from a range of about 470 nm to about 900 nm.

15. An-apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said wavelength is selected from a range of about 790 nm to about 850 nm.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said wavelength is about 805 nm.

17. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said wavelength is selected from a range of about 1050 nm to about 1150 nm.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said wavelength is selected from a range of about 1050 nm to 1090 nm.

19. An apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising:

a. a guide member coupled to said fiber tip, said guide member having a discharge bore aligned with said fiber tip and said direction of energy discharge to define an unobstructed light pathway from the fiber tip to a discharge end of said discharge bore;

b. said guide member farther adapted to be placed against a surface of said tissue with said guide member slidable along said surface in atraumatic sliding engagement and with said end of said discharge bore opposing said surface.

20. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said guide member is a guide tip mounted to a handle for manual manipulation.

21. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said light energy is directed in an unobstructed path toward a tissue engaged by said tissue engaging surface.