Patent ID: 8277444
Filing Date: 2012-10-02
Classification: A61B,A61L,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method of treating atrial fibrillation, comprising: seating a distal portion of a cardiac ablation instrument against tissue at a location within a patient's heart adjacent an ostium of a pulmonary vein, the instrument having a catheter body with at least one lumen therein and an energy emitting element independently positionable along a longitudinal axis within the at least one lumen of the catheter body, wherein the instrument further includes an inflatable projection balloon that surrounds the energy emitting element and defines the distal portion that is seated at the target location, the instrument having a wave guide disposed at the distal end of the energy emitting element; positioning the energy emitting element at a first position relative to the catheter body moving the energy emitting element along the longitudinal axis to a first location; activating the energy emitting element to project ablative energy to form a first partially circumferential lesion in a proximity of the ostium of the pulmonary vein, the energy emitting element and projection balloon being constructed such that ablative energy is projected from the energy emitting element directly to a transmissive region of the projection balloon that is in contact the tissue at the target location and permits the ablative energy to pass therethrough, the ablative energy contacting the projection balloon in the transmissive region thereof; repositioning the energy emitting element at a second position relative to the catheter body by moving the energy emitting element along the longitudinal axis to a second location, the distal portion of the instrument remaining seated at said location; activating the energy emitting element to project ablative energy to form at least a second partially circumferential lesion in the proximity of the ostium of the pulmonary vein by projecting the ablative energy from the energy emitting element through the wave guide in a distal direction and at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis to the transmissive region of the projection balloon that permits passage of the ablative energy therethrough, the ablative energy contacting the projection balloon in the transmissive region thereof, the second partially circumferential lesion being axially combined with the first partially circumferential lesion and overlapping the first partially circumferential lesion at least one location, the distal portion of the instrument remaining seated at said location; and continuing the steps of repositioning the energy emitter along the longitudinal axis and activating until an axially combined lesion is formed that encircles the pulmonary vein.