Cardiac ablation systems and methods
Cardiac ablation systems and methods of their use and manufacture involve an ablation mechanism, a stabilizer mechanism, and a cinching mechanism that urges the ablation mechanism toward a patient tissue. Embodiments encompass methods for administering epicardial and endocardial lesions, including box lesions and connecting lesions, to patient tissue.
1. A method for ablating a cardiac tissue of a patient, comprising:
placing an ablation assembly through a cinching mechanism and near the cardiac tissue of the patient, the ablation assembly comprising an ablation mechanism having a first magnet and a second magnet and advancing the ablation assembly with at least one roller;
joining the first magnet to the second magnet to encircle the cardiac tissue;
cinching the ablation assembly with the cinching mechanism so as to urge the ablation mechanism toward the cardiac tissue; and
administering an ablation to the cardiac tissue via the ablation mechanism to create a lesion in the cardiac tissue.
2. A method as in claim 1 , comprising forming a transmural lesion in the cardiac tissue.
3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the lesion is in the form of a closed path.
4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the ablation assembly is disposed at least partially within a stabilizer assembly, and the method comprises forming a seal between the stabilizer assembly and the cardiac tissue.
5. A method for treating an epicardial tissue of a patient, comprising:
placing a treatment assembly near the epicardial tissue of the patient;
wrapping an ablation mechanism of the treatment assembly about a portion of the epicardial tissue by joining a first magnet to a second magnet such that the ablation mechanism is disposed near at least one pulmonary vein of the patient;
cinching the ablation mechanism toward the epicardial tissue by advancing the ablation mechanism with at least one roller; and
delivering an ablative treatment through the ablation mechanism of the ablation assembly toward the epicardial tissue, so as to form a lesion on the epicardial tissue.
6. A method as in claim 5 , comprising creating a seal between the epicardial tissue and a stabilizer mechanism of the treatment assembly.
7. A method as in claim 5 , wherein placing the ablation mechanism near the epicardial tissue of the patient comprises passing the ablation mechanism through a transverse sinus of the patient, through an oblique sinus of the patient, or through both.
8. A method as in claim 5 , wherein forming a lesion comprises forming a closed path lesion.
9. A method as in claim 5 , comprising forming a conduction block at a junction of left atrium and the at least one pulmonary vein.