Patent ID: 8152799
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: A61B,C08L,H01Q

Abstract:
1. A radio-frequency-based catheter system for ablating biological tissues within the body vessel of a patient, comprising: (a) a catheter adapted for insertion into the body vessel of the patient, the catheter having a proximal portion with a proximal end and a distal portion with a distal end, the catheter having a central longitudinal axis and a central lumen coaxial with the catheter longitudinal axis extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion; (b) inner and outer coaxially aligned tubular conductors extending within the catheter and coaxial with the central lumen, the inner tubular conductor surrounding the catheter lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion of the catheter and having a central longitudinal axis coaxial with the central longitudinal axis of the catheter; (c) a deflectable catheter guide disposed within the inner tubular conductor and located in the catheter lumen, the deflectable catheter guide extending proximally within the catheter lumen and the inner tubular conductor along the central longitudinal axis of the catheter and catheter lumen and at a spacing from an inner surface of the inner tubular conductor at least up to the distal end of the catheter; (d) a radio-frequency antenna disposed at the distal portion of the catheter and in electrical communication with the inner and outer coaxially aligned conductors, the radio-frequency antenna being adaptable to receive and transmit radio-frequency energy for ablating biological tissue along a biological ablation pathway defined by the deflectable catheter guide; and (e) a deflection control mechanism at the proximal end of said catheter which is linked to said deflectable catheter guide and which controls deflection of said deflectable catheter guide in order to vary the configuration of the distal portion of the catheter which carries the antenna.