Reynaldo P Hilario

US Patent:

6746446, Jun 8, 2004

Filed:

Aug 4, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/633054

Inventors:

Sung Chun - Palo Alto CA
Reynaldo P. Hilario - Mountain View CA
Tim Ngeo Huynh - Santa Clara CA
Mahmoud R. Seraj - Mountain View CA
Robert Obara - Fremont CA

Assignee:

Cardima, Inc. - Fremont CA

International Classification:

A61B 1818

US Classification:

606 41, 604 9504

Abstract:

An intravascular electrophysiology (EP) device for the mapping and/or formation of lesions along the isthmus region of a heart that has particular utility in the treatment of atrial flutter. The EP device of the invention has an elongated shaft with a proximal section, a compound-curved or modified pigtail-shaped distal section, and a plurality of at least partially exposed electrodes disposed on an outer surface of the distal section. The electrodes are spaced along a length of the distal section and may be interspersed with at least one temperature sensor located between electrodes. The shape of the distal end of the device enables manipulation of the device by inserting its distal end in the tricuspid valve and retracting the device to bias the section having electrodes along the isthmus to achieve acceptable contact with the region so high frequency (e. g. , RF) electrical energy delivered to the electrodes on the distal section of the EP device will form a lesion. Sections of the isthmus where treatment is desired but not reached by the section of the device biased against tissue by retraction may be ablated by repeating the steps of hooking the tricuspid valve at a different end location of the device and retracting to bias the electrodes against different tissue, simply advancing the section with electrodes to the desired site or retracting the device so a tip connected to an RF source will drop into a desired site where ablation may occur.

US Patent:

6332881, Dec 25, 2001

Filed:

Sep 1, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/387889

Inventors:

David J. Carner - Fremont CA
Reynaldo P. Hilario - Sunnyvale CA
Mahmoud K. Seraj - Mountain View CA

Assignee:

Cardima, Inc. - Fremont CA

International Classification:

A61I 1818

US Classification:

606 41

Abstract:

This is a tool used during open heart or open chest surgery for creating lesions or lines of ablation in tissue to treat atrial fibrillation. It is a relatively short device having a rigid or semi-rigid shaft connected on one end to a handle and on the other end to a more flexible distal tip having one or more electrodes. The distal end of the shaft is angled so to define a first plane of deflection. A deflection mechanism consisting of a pull wire and flat spring housed in a lumen of the tool is manipulable via the handle for deflecting the distal tip in a plane different than the first plane of deflection, allowing direct contact with the curved surface of the tissue, either epicardial or endocardial, to be ablated. The tool may contain fiber optic or other data lines for transmitting data relevant to the patient, and it may be irrigated to cool the tool and the electrodes or to deliver therapeutic fluids to tissue. The tool may also contain temperature sensing device such as a thermocouple or thermistor, which can optionally be configured in a feedback and control system with the irrigation to selectively monitor and control the temperature of the tool or surrounding tissue.