Eric T Vaughan

US Patent:

8353900, Jan 15, 2013

Filed:

Jul 11, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/218191

Inventors:

Eugene Jung - Nesconset NY, US
Dong Ik Shin - Poway CA, US
Eric Scott Vaughan - Washington DC, US
James Savage - San Diego CA, US
Robert C. Pacheco - Bayside NY, US
Jaime Merino - Elmont NY, US

Assignee:

Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B 18/18

US Classification:

606 21, 606 27, 606 28, 606 37, 606 41, 606 45, 606 49, 606 50

Abstract:

An ablation device, including a catheter and an ablation element incorporating one or more balloons at the distal end of the catheter, has a continuous passageway extending through it from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal side of the expandable ablation element. The ablation device ablates tissue by subjecting it to ultrasound energy, cryogenic energy, chemical, laser beam, microwave, or radiation energy. A probe carrying electrodes is introduced through this passageway and deploys, under the influence of its own resilience, to a structure incorporating a loop which is automatically aligned with the axis of the expandable ablation device, so that minimal manipulation is required to place the probe. Pulmonary vein potential is monitored in real time via the electrodes. The probe may have an atraumatic tip with a ball formed at the leading edge.