Patent ID: 6872205
Filing Date: 2005-03-29
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for treating atrial arrhythmia in a patient, comprising: delivery member with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion that is adapted to be positioned at least in part at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium; an ablation element that is located along the distal end portion of the delivery member, is constructed to couple to an ablation actuator, and is adapted to be positioned along a region of tissue at least in part at a the location; an anchor that is located along the distal end portion of the delivery member and is constructed to be positioned within the pulmonary vein to engage a pulmonary vein wall at an anchoring position along the pulmonary vein such that the ablation element is substantially secured along the location; wherein said anchor comprises an expandable member that is constructed to expand to a sufficient outer diameter to engage a wall of the pulmonary vein at the anchoring position; a perfusion passageway that is constructed to allow a volume of blood to flow from a region distally of the expandable member, along the pulmonary vein across the expandable member, and proximally of the expandable member when the expandable member is xpanded and engaged to the wall of the pulmonary vein at the anchoring position; wherein the perfusion passageway comprises a perfusion lumen extending between a distal port along the distal end portion and a proximal port located proximally of the distal port along the distal end portion, and wherein the expandable member is located along the distal end portion between the distal and proximal ports; and wherein the ablation element is located at least in part proximally of the anchor with respect to the delivery member.