Patent ID: 8679106
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. An angioplasty and tissue ablation apparatus comprising: a catheter adapted for insertion into a body vessel of a patient, the catheter having a proximal end, a proximal portion extending from the proximal end, a distal portion having a distal end, and a lumen between the proximal portion and the distal end for receiving a fluid; a radio-frequency (“RF”) antenna mounted on'the distal portion of the catheter and spaced radially outward from the lumen, the RF antenna having a proximal end and a distal end, the RF antenna adapted to receive and generate radio-frequency energy for ablating the biological tissues of the body vessel; an RF transmission line which extends from the proximal portion of the catheter to the RF antenna and which transmits RF energy from the proximal portion to the RF antenna; a guide tube extending through the lumen and spaced radially inwardly from the RF antenna, the guide tube defining an annular passageway in the lumen outside the guide tube, the annular passageway having an open distal end spaced forward from the proximal end of the antenna;