Patent ID: 6685732
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A method of reducing atrial fibrillation, comprising:inserting a catheter at least partially into the heart, the catheter having a cold balloon having at least one pore formed therein, a portion of the balloon located in the left atrium and a portion of the balloon located in a pulmonary vein; inflating the cold balloon with a perfluorocarbon such that an exterior surface of the cold balloon, and the portion of the perfluorocarbon emergent from the at least one pore, is in contact with at least a partial circumference of the portion of the pulmonary vein adjacent the left atrium, the perfluorocarbon having a temperature in the range of about âˆ’10Â° C. to âˆ’50Â° C.