Patent ID: 11937872
Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUNDATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. An ablation catheter system comprising:
an ablation catheter including a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal wall therebetween;
a catheter steering mechanism configured to change a geometry of said ablation catheter within a body of a subject;
a catheter control device configured to manipulate said catheter steering mechanism;
a plurality of electrodes disposed at said distal end of said ablation catheter;
a plurality of distal irrigation apertures at said distal end of said ablation catheter, the plurality of irrigation apertures positioned in a row that extends proximally from the tip of the ablation catheter toward the handle, said plurality of distal irrigation apertures in fluid communication with one or more irrigation lumens extending longitudinally toward said proximal end of said ablation catheter;
one or more distal suction apertures at said distal end of the ablation catheter, said one or more distal suction apertures in fluid communication with one or more suction lumens extending longitudinally toward said proximal end of said ablation catheter;
a sheath including a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal wall therebetween, said sheath configured to receive said ablation catheter therein; and
a sheath steering mechanism that is separate and distinct from the catheter steering mechanism and that is configured to change a geometry of said sheath within the body of the subject,
wherein, said plurality of electrodes include at least one of:
an anode and a cathode,
a plurality of electrodes arranged in a circumferential array around said distal end of said ablation catheter, and
a plurality of electrodes longitudinally separated on said distal end of said ablation catheter, and
wherein, a total length of said sheath is less than 30 cm.