Patent ID: 9192789
Filing Date: 2015-11-24
Classification: A61B,A61N,G16H

Abstract:
1. A method of ablating tissue in a patient as a treatment for atrial fibrillation, said method comprising: providing an elongate flexible shaft having an energy source and a sensor, wherein the energy source and the sensor constitute a single device disposed in a housing near a distal end of the elongate flexible shaft; planning an initial ablation path in the tissue, wherein the planning step comprises graphically planning the initial ablation path on a map of the tissue, wherein the map comprises a two dimensional or a three dimensional representation of the tissue; displaying on the map the initial ablation path and excluded zones in the initial ablation path; revising the initial ablation path on the displayed map to avoid the excluded zones; verifying that one or more of the initial ablation path or revised ablation path is acceptable; ablating the tissue along the revised ablation path with ultrasound energy emitted from the energy source, wherein ablating the tissue comprises ablating the tissue while moving the energy source such that the ultrasound energy moves along the revised ablation path without direct contact between the energy source and the tissue and without direct contact between the housing and the tissue; and scanning the tissue with the sensor, wherein the scanning comprises emitting a beam of ultrasound energy from the energy source and capturing energy reflected back from the tissue with the sensor, wherein the verifying uses data collected from the scanning.