Patent ID: 6190379
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A device for treating an area of a heart having below-normal blood flow, the device configured to be inserted through a blood vessel into the heart, the device comprising:a controller, the controller including a radio frequency waveform generator for generating radio frequency energy along a pair of output lines, one of the output lines operatively connected to a grounding pad located externally of the blood vessel, the generator having an output impedance at the output lines, the controller further including an impedance matching circuit for matching the output impedance of the generator with the impedance of a load;a radio frequency wire configured to be inserted through the blood vessel and into a chamber of the heart, the wire including a coiled tip configured to be positioned against an inner wall of the heart chamber at a plurality of contact points on the wall, the radio frequency wire operatively connected to the other of the output lines;a catheter for receiving the radio frequency wire, wherein the catheter is configured to allow positioning of the radio frequency wire with respect to the heart chamber wall through rotational movement of the catheter; andthe controller and radio frequency wire configured to deliver a waveform to the radio frequency wire to capacitatively heat the plurality of contact points with sufficient energy to bore a plurality of holes in the heart chamber wall adjacent the contact points.