John R Swartz

US Patent:

6503247, Jan 7, 2003

Filed:

May 16, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/859078

Inventors:

John F. Swartz - Afton OK
Michael C. Bednarek - Buffalo MN
Richard E. Stehr - Stillwater MN
Michael J. Coyle - Minneapolis MN

Assignee:

Daig Corporation - Minnetonka MN

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 41, 606 47, 606 49, 607101, 607122

Abstract:

A process for the treatment of atrial arrhythmia by use of ablation procedures comprising circumferential ablation of vessels, particularly pulmonary veins associated with the left atrium of the heart. Also disclosed are medical devices used for formation of the circumferential ablation lesions in vessels associated with the heart.

US Patent:

6540744, Apr 1, 2003

Filed:

Mar 22, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/814890

Inventors:

James A. Hassett - Bloomington MN
John F. Swartz - Afton OK
Michael C. Bednarek - Buffalo MN

Assignee:

St. Jude Medical, Daig Division, Inc. - Minnetonka MN

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 45, 606 49, 607101, 607122

Abstract:

A process for the treatment of atrial arrhythmia by use of ablation procedures comprising circumferential ablation of vessels, particularly pulmonary veins, associated with the left atrium of the heart. Also medical devices for such process including a pair of balloons secured to a catheter with one balloon located within the other balloon and an ablation catheter located within one of the balloons, which devices are used for the formation of a circumferential ablation lesion in the pulmonary vein.

US Patent:

6605087, Aug 12, 2003

Filed:

Jul 17, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/906861

Inventors:

John F. Swartz - Afton OK
Michael C. Bednarek - Buffalo MN
Richard E. Stehr - Stillwater MN

Assignee:

St. Jude Medical, Daig Division - Minnetonka MN

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 41, 607101, 607105

Abstract:

An ablation catheter is disclosed having proximal and distal ends and an external surface, a lumen contained within the catheter body, a plurality of openings in the surface of the catheter, wherein the openings are in communication with the lumen, one or more electrodes secured within the catheter within the lumen and a source for conductive media to be introduced into the lumen to contact the electrode. The ablation catheter also may contain a conductive media flow control system which controls the flow of the conductive media through the openings in the surface of the catheter. Also disclosed is a process for ablation of human tissue which includes introducing an ablation catheter into the human body to a location to be ablated, passing a conductive media through a lumen of the catheter to contact one or more electrodes, passing the conductive media through the openings in the catheter body to contact the tissue to be ablated, and conducting energy from the electrode through the conductive media to the tissue for a sufficient period of time to ablate the tissue.

US Patent:

7118568, Oct 10, 2006

Filed:

Mar 31, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/401798

Inventors:

James A. Hassett - Bloomington MN, US
John F. Swartz - Afton OK, US
Michael C. Bednarek - Buffalo MN, US

Assignee:

St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B 18/18

US Classification:

606 45, 606 49, 607101, 607122

Abstract:

A process for preventing atrial premature contractions originating within a pulmonary vein from being conducted into the left atrium of a human heart. More specifically, an ablation lesion is formed which electrically isolates the located source of the atrial premature contraction in the pulmonary vein from connection with the left atrium and blocks passage of the atrial premature contraction originating from the located source. In one embodiment, the steps of the process include advancing a medical device into the left atrium of a human heart, introducing the advanced medical device into the pulmonary vein from the left atrium of a human heart, sensing electrical activity within the pulmonary vein using the introduced medical device, locating a source of the atrial premature contraction within the pulmonary vein using the sensed electrical activity, and forming an ablation lesion in tissue of the pulmonary vein at a location proximal from the located source of the atrial premature contraction within the pulmonary vein. Conductive media and various medical devices may be used with the process.

US Patent:

7153301, Dec 26, 2006

Filed:

Dec 16, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/323340

Inventors:

John F. Swartz - Afton OK, US
Michael C. Bednarek - Buffalo MN, US
Richard E. Stehr - Stillwater MN, US
Michael J. Coyle - Minneapolis MN, US

Assignee:

St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc. - Maple Grove MN

International Classification:

A61B 18/18
A61M 29/00

US Classification:

606 41, 606 49, 60410101

Abstract:

A process for the treatment of atrial arrhythmia by use of ablation procedures comprising circumferential ablation of vessels, particularly pulmonary veins associated with the left atrium of the heart. Also disclosed are medical devices used for formation of the circumferential ablation lesions in vessels associated with the heart.

US Patent:

8052680, Nov 8, 2011

Filed:

Oct 10, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/545943

Inventors:

James A. Hassett - Bloomington MN, US
John F. Swartz - Afton OK, US
Michael C. Bednarek - Buffalo MN, US

Assignee:

St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

A61B 18/04
A61B 18/14

US Classification:

606 45, 606 27, 606 41, 606 50

Abstract:

A process for preventing atrial premature contractions originating within a pulmonary vein from being conducted into the left atrium of a human heart. More specifically, an ablation lesion is formed which electrically isolates the located source of the atrial premature contraction in the pulmonary vein from connection with the left atrium and blocks passage of the atrial premature contraction originating from the located source. In one embodiment, the steps of the process include advancing a medical device into the left atrium of a human heart, introducing the advanced medical device into the pulmonary vein from the left atrium of a human heart, sensing electrical activity within the pulmonary vein using the introduced medical device, locating a source of the atrial premature contraction within the pulmonary vein using the sensed electrical activity, and forming an ablation lesion in tissue of the pulmonary vein at a location proximal from the located source of the atrial premature contraction within the pulmonary vein. Conductive media and various medical devices may be used with the process.

US Patent:

62511092, Jun 26, 2001

Filed:

Jan 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/233337

Inventors:

James A. Hassett - Bloomington MN
John F. Swartz - Afton OK
Michael C. Bednarek - Buffalo MN

Assignee:

Daig Corporation - Minnetonka MN

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 45

Abstract:

A process for the treatment of atrial arrhythmia by use of ablation procedures including circumferential ablation of vessels, particularly pulmonary veins, associated with the left atrium of the heart. Also medical devices for such process including a pair of balloons secured to a catheter with one balloon located within the other balloon and an ablation catheter located within one of the balloons, which devices are used for the formation of a circumferential ablation lesion in the pulmonary vein.

US Patent:

60801514, Jun 27, 2000

Filed:

Jul 21, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/897300

Inventors:

John F. Swartz - Afton OK
Michael C. Bednarek - Buffalo MN
Richard E. Stehr - Stillwater MN

Assignee:

Daig Corporation - Minnetonka MN

International Classification:

A61B 1739

US Classification:

606 45

Abstract:

An ablation catheter is disclosed having proximal and distal ends and an external surface, a lumen contained within the catheter body, a plurality of openings in the surface of the catheter, wherein the openings are in communication with the lumen, one or more electrodes secured within the catheter within the lumen and a source for conductive media to be introduced into the lumen to contact the electrode. The ablation catheter also may contain a conductive media flow control system which controls the flow of the conductive media through the openings in the surface of the catheter. Also disclosed is a process for ablation of human tissue including introducing an ablation catheter into the human body to a location to be ablated, passing a conductive media through a lumen of the catheter to contact one or more electrodes, passing the conductive media through the openings in the catheter body to contact the tissue to be ablated, and conducting energy from the electrode through the conductive media to the tissue for a sufficient period of time to ablate the tissue.