INTERNAL INDIFFERENT ELECTRODE DEVICE FOR USE WITH LESION CREATION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FORMING LESIONS USING SAME
An internal indifferent electrode device including a flexible shaft, an energy transmission device adapted to be inserted into the body supported on the shaft, and a connector adapted to mate with the power return connector of a power supply apparatus.
1 . A kit for transmitting energy through a tissue structure within a body of a patient, the tissue structure having a wall defining a first side and a second side, the kit for use with a power supply apparatus including a power output and a power return, the kit comprising:
an internal indifferent electrode device including an elongated shaft including a distal portion including one or more electrodes configured for positioning within the body of the patient on one of the first side and the second side of the tissue structure wall, and a proximal portion adapted to be connected to the power return of the power supply apparatus; and
an electrophysiological device including a distal portion including one or more electrodes configured for positioning within the body on the other of the first side and the second side of the tissue structure wall, and a proximal portion adapted to be connected to the power output of the power supply apparatus.
2 . The kit of claim 1 , further comprising a tissue cooling member positioned over the one or more electrodes of the electrophysiological device.
3 . The kit of claim 2 , wherein the tissue cooling member includes a sleeve disposed over the one or more electrodes, the sleeve defining a fluid transmission space between an outer surface of the electrodes and an inner surface of the sleeve.
4 . The kit of claim 3 , wherein the tissue cooling member includes a fluid drain tube extending from a distal end of the electrophysiological device and configured to drain cooling fluid from the fluid transmission space to outside the body.
5 . The kit of claim 3 , wherein the sleeve is microporous.
6 . The kit of claim 5 , wherein the microporous sleeve has a pore diameter of 1 to 5 μm.
7 . The kit of claim 5 , wherein the microporous sleeve has a pore diameter of less than 0.1 μm.
8 . The kit of claim 3 , wherein the sleeve is non-porous.
9 . The kit of claim 3 , wherein the sleeve is made of a hydrophilic material.
10 . The kit of claim 4 , wherein the fluid drain tube is connected to a fluid supply source, defining a closed fluid supply system.
11 . The kit of claim 4 , wherein the fluid drain tube is connected to a receptacle that is separate from a fluid supply source, thereby defining an open fluid supply system.
12 . A method of transmitting energy through a tissue structure in a body having a wall defining a first side and a second side, the method comprising the steps of:
positioning an internal indifferent electrode device within the body on the first side of the tissue structure wall;
positioning an electrophysiological device including a tissue cooling apparatus within the body on the second side of the tissue structure wall;
transmitting energy from the electrophysiological device to the internal indifferent electrode device; and
cooling the tissue structure while transmitting energy, wherein cooling the tissue structure includes flowing fluid through the tissue cooling apparatus.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising flowing the fluid from a fluid supply source through the tissue cooling apparatus and draining the fluid into a receptacle outside the body.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the electrophysiological device includes one or more electrodes and the tissue cooling apparatus includes a sleeve positioned over the one or more electrodes, the sleeve defining a fluid transmission space between an outer surface of the electrodes and an inner surface of the sleeve.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the tissue cooling apparatus includes a fluid drain tube extending from a distal end of the electrophysiological device outside of the body, wherein flowing fluid through the tissue cooling apparatus includes flowing fluid from a fluid supply source, through the fluid transmission space in the sleeve, and draining the fluid from the drain tube to a receptacle outside the body.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the fluid supply source and the receptacle are in fluid communication, defining a closed fluid supply system.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the fluid supply source and the receptacle are separate, defining an open fluid supply system.
18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning an internal indifferent electrode device within the body includes percutaneously advancing the indifferent electrode device through a catheter and into a first heart chamber.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein positioning an electrophysiological device includes percutaneously advancing the electrophysiological device through a catheter and into a second heart chamber.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the indifferent electrode device is positioned at a location spaced apart from an endocardial surface.