Surgical system and procedure for treatment of medically refractory atrial fibrillation

1. A medical device for ablating tissue, the medical device comprising:

an elongate, linear probe including a proximal end portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal end portion;

a cryogenic ablation surface disposed upon the intermediate portion and proximate the distal end portion, and a malleable section disposed between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion; and

a flexible sheath,

wherein the linear probe is disposed at least partially within the flexible sheath and moving the flexible sheath relative to the linear probe adjusts an exposed length of the cryogenic ablation surface, and

wherein the linear probe is adapted to be selectively shaped to continuously conform to a surface of cardiac tissue and create a continuous lesion thereon.

2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the linear probe is slidably disposed within the flexible sheath.

3. A device according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the cryogenic ablation surface overlaps a major portion of the malleable section.

4. A medical device for ablating tissue, the medical device comprising:

an elongate, linear probe body including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

a cryogenic ablation surface disposed between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion and disposed closer to the distal end portion than the proximal end portion, and a malleable section disposed between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion; and

a flexible sheath, wherein the linear probe body is disposed at least partially within the flexible sheath such that moving the flexible sheath relative to the linear probe body adjusts an exposed length of the cryogenic ablation surface,

wherein the malleable section of the linear probe body can be selectively shaped via plastic deformation to continuously conform to a surface of cardiac tissue such that the ablation surface can create a continuous lesion thereon.

5. A device according to claim 4 , wherein the probe body is slidably disposed within the sheath.

6. A device according to claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the cryogenic ablation surface overlaps a major portion of the malleable section.

7. A medical device for ablating tissue, the medical device comprising:

an elongate, tubular, linear probe body defining a communication passageway and including a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion including a cryogenic ablation surface; and

a delivery tube extending through the communication passageway from the proximal end portion of the probe body to the distal end portion of the linear probe body and including at least one aperture proximate the cryogenic ablation surface,

wherein the delivery tube and the cryogenic ablation surface define therebetween a closed-end boiler chamber for expansion of a pressurized cryogen delivered via the delivery tube,

the delivery tube and the probe body define therebetween an exhaust passageway for exhaust of the cryogen from the boiler chamber after expansion, and

the linear probe body and the delivery tube are malleable proximate the cryogenic ablation surface so as to permit the cryogenic ablation surface to be selectively shaped via plastic deformation to continuously conform to a surface of cardiac tissue.

8. A device according to claim 7 , wherein the delivery tube is coaxial with respect to the linear probe body and the exhaust passageway comprises an annular exhaust passageway.

9. A device according to claim 7 , wherein the delivery tube is attached to an inner wall of the linear probe body.

10. A device according to claim 7 , further comprising a flexible, insulative sleeve, wherein the linear probe body is disposed at least partially within the insulative sleeve such that moving the insulative sleeve relative to the linear probe body adjusts an exposed area of the cryogenic ablation surface.

11. A device according to claim 10 , wherein the probe body is slidably disposed within the insulative sleeve.

12. A device according to claim 10 , wherein the linear probe body is rotatably disposed within the insulative sleeve.

13. A device according to claim 7 , wherein the proximal end portion of the linear probe body includes a fitting permitting the delivery tube to be releasably coupled to a source of cryogenic media.

14. A device according to claim 13 , wherein the fitting includes a threaded connection.

15. A device according to claim 7 , wherein the cryogenic ablation surface is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of: silver, gold, copper, and combinations thereof.

16. A device according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one aperture comprises a plurality of apertures arranged to uniformly cool the cryogenic ablation surface.

17. A device according to claim 16 , wherein the plurality of apertures are equally spaced along a length of the delivery tube at intervals between about 5 mm and about 12 mm, and wherein each of the plurality of apertures has a diameter between about 0.004 inches and about 0.010 inches.

18. A device according to claim 16 , wherein diameters of the plurality of apertures increase moving distally along a length of the delivery tube.

19. A tissue ablation system, comprising:

a first probe comprising:

an elongate, linear body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

a malleable cryogenic ablation surface disposed between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion and disposed closer to the distal end portion than the proximal end portion; and

a handle connected to the proximal end portion of the elongate, linear body; and

a second probe comprising:

a primary clamping member having an elongated clamping shaft and an outer jaw portion joined to the clamping shaft via an elbow portion and extending therefrom in an L-shape; and

an attachment device having an elongated attachment shaft and an inner jaw portion joined to the attachment shaft via an elbow portion and extending therefrom in an L-shape,

wherein the attachment device and the primary clamping member are slidably coupled to permit the inner jaw portion and the outer jaw portion to move relative to each other between a clamped state, wherein the inner jaw portion is urged against the outer jaw portion, and an unclamped state.

20. A system according to claim 19 , wherein the first probe further comprises a flexible, insulative sleeve, and wherein the elongate, linear body of the first probe is disposed at least partially within the flexible, insulative sleeve such that moving the sleeve relative to the probe body adjusts an exposed area of the malleable cryogenic ablation surface.

21. A tissue ablation system, comprising:

a primary clamping member having an elongated clamping shaft and an outer jaw portion joined to the clamping shaft via an elbow portion and extending therefrom in an L-shape;

an attachment device having an elongated attachment shaft and an inner jaw portion joined to the attachment shaft via an elbow portion and extending therefrom in an L-shape,

the attachment device and the primary clamping member slidably coupled to each other to permit the inner and outer jaw portions to move relative to each other between a clamped state, wherein the inner jaw portion is urged against the outer jaw portion, and an unclamped state;

at least one communication passageway defined by at least one of the elongated clamping shaft and the elongated attachment shaft and extending to at least one closed-end boiler chamber defined by at least one of the outer jaw portion and the inner jaw portion;

at least one cryogen delivery tube received within the at least one communication passageway and extending to the at least one closed-end boiler chamber in order to deliver a cryogen thereto, thereby cooling at least one of the outer jaw portion and the inner jaw portion; and

at least one cryogen exhaust shaft received within the at least one communication passageway and extending to the at least one closed-end boiler chamber in order to recover expended cryogen therefrom.