IP Library Granted Patent US 7,785,324
Granted Patent B2
US 7,785,324 · App. 11/067,535 · Granted Aug 31, 2010

Clamp based lesion formation apparatus and methods configured to protect non-target tissue

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,785,324
App. No.
11/067,535
Granted
Aug 31, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for forming lesions in target tissue and positioning an insulation element adjacent to non-target tissue.

Claims (37)

1. A tissue coagulation device, comprising:

an insulation element comprising a lumen and a fluid slot;

a support structure located within the lumen of the insulation element, the support structure comprising a wire lumen, a fluid infusion lumen, a fluid ventilation lumen, an infusion aperture, and a ventilation aperture;

an electrode disposed on the support structure; and

an energy transmission element coupled with the insulation element;

wherein a fluid transmission space is defined between the support structure and an inner surface of the lumen of the insulation element, the fluid transmission space being circumferentially disposed around at least a portion of an outer surface of the support structure,

wherein the fluid slot extends from the fluid transmission space to the energy transmission element,

wherein the infusion aperture of the support structure allows fluid to enter the fluid transmission space from the fluid infusion lumen, and

wherein the ventilation aperture of the support structure allows fluid to enter the fluid ventilation lumen from the fluid transmission space.

2. The tissue coagulation device of claim 1 , further comprising a power wire disposed within the wire lumen of the support structure, wherein the power wire is coupled with the electrode.

3. The tissue coagulation device of claim 1 , further comprising an electrically conductive fluid disposed within the fluid transmission space, wherein the electrically conductive fluid is configured to transfer tissue coagulation energy from the electrode to the energy transmission element.

4. The tissue coagulation device of claim 3 , wherein the energy transmission element comprises an electrically non-conductive hydrophilic conductive polymer film comprising pores that allow ionic transport in response to an applied RF field.

5. The tissue coagulation device of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting device coupled with the insulation element, wherein the mounting device comprises a connector that is configured to removably mate with a clamp.

6. The tissue coagulation device of claim 5 , wherein the clamp comprises a malleable clamp member, and the tissue coagulation device is removably coupled with the malleable clamp member via the mounting device.

7. The tissue coagulation device of claim 1 , wherein the lumen comprises an inner diameter, the support structure comprises an outer diameter, and the inner diameter of the lumen is greater than the outer diameter of the support structure.

8. A method of performing a tissue coagulation procedure on a patient, comprising:

contacting a tissue of the patient with a tissue coagulation device, wherein the tissue coagulation device comprises:

an insulation element comprising a lumen and a fluid slot;

a support structure located within the lumen of the insulation element, the support structure comprising a wire lumen, a fluid infusion lumen, a fluid ventilation lumen, an infusion aperture, and a ventilation aperture;

an electrode disposed on the support structure;

an energy transmission element coupled with the insulation element;

wherein a fluid transmission space is defined between the support structure and an inner surface of the lumen of the insulation element, the fluid transmission space being circumferentially disposed around at least a portion of an outer surface of the support structure,

wherein the fluid slot extends from the fluid transmission space to the energy transmission element,

wherein the infusion aperture of the support structure allows fluid to enter the fluid transmission space from the fluid infusion lumen, and

wherein the ventilation aperture of the support structure allows fluid to enter the fluid ventilation lumen from the fluid transmission space, and

delivering a coagulation energy to the tissue of the patient with the tissue coagulation device via the electrode.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the tissue coagulation device further comprises a power wire disposed within the wire lumen of the support structure, and wherein the power wire is coupled with the electrode.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the tissue coagulation device further comprises an electrically conductive fluid disposed within the fluid transmission space, and wherein the electrically conductive fluid is configured to transfer tissue coagulation energy from the electrode to the energy transmission element.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the energy transmission element comprises an electrically non-conductive hydrophilic conductive polymer film comprising pores that allow ionic transport in response to an applied RF field.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the tissue coagulation device further comprises a mounting device coupled with the insulation element, and wherein the mounting device comprises a connector that is configured to removably mate with a clamp.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the clamp comprises a malleable clamp member, and the tissue coagulation device is removably coupled with the malleable clamp member via the mounting device.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the lumen comprises an inner diameter, the support structure comprises an outer diameter, and the inner diameter of the lumen is greater than the outer diameter of the support structure.

15. The tissue coagulation device of claim 1 , wherein the energy transmission element is coupled directly with the insulation element.

16. The tissue coagulation device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid transmission space is between the entire outer surface of the support structure and the inner surface of the lumen of the insulation element, the fluid transmission space being circumferentially disposed around the entire outer surface of the support structure.

17. The tissue coagulation device of claim 1 , wherein the infusion aperture provides fluid communication between the fluid infusion lumen of the support structure and the fluid transmission space disposed within the insulation element.

18. The tissue coagulation device of claim 1 , wherein the ventilation aperture of the support structure allows fluid to enter the fluid ventilation lumen directly from the fluid transmission space.

19. The tissue coagulation device of claim 1 , wherein the fluid slot allows fluid within the fluid transmission space to contact the energy transmission element.

Assignments (14)
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 28, 2026
From: ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; NINERS MERGER SUB, LLC
To: ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 073620/0158 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2024
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK, A DIVISION OF FIRST-CITIZENS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
To: ATRICURE, INC.; ATRICURE, LLC; ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; NCONTACT SURGICAL, LLC; SENTREHEART LLC
Reel/Frame 066256/0797 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2024
From: ATRICURE, INC.; ATRICURE, LLC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 066267/0896 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2018
From: ATRICURE, INC.; ATRICURE, LLC; ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; NCONTACT SURGICAL, LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 047951/0496 →
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED JOINT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 25, 2016
From: ATRICURE, INC.; ATRICURE, LLC; ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; NCONTACT SURGICAL, LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 038520/0062 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2016
From: ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: ATRICURE, INC.
Reel/Frame 038315/0335 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2014
From: ATRICURE, INC.; ATRICURE, LLC; ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 032812/0032 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2013
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 030127/0554 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2013
From: NXT CAPITAL SBIC, LP
To: ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 030097/0652 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 29, 2012
From: NXT CAPITAL, LLC
To: NXT CAPITAL SBIC, LP, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
Reel/Frame 027786/0529 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 3, 2012
From: ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: NXT CAPITAL, LLC, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
Reel/Frame 027468/0759 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 2, 2009
From: ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 023586/0227 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2009
From: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
To: ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (ESTECH)
Reel/Frame 023272/0272 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2005
From: EBERL, GREG
To: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
Reel/Frame 016336/0726 →