Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A linear ablation catheter assembly (2) includes a handle (4) from which a hollow outer shaft (8) extends. A hollow inner catheter (10) is slidably housed within the outer shaft. The handle has a manipulator (18) which moves the inner catheter along the interior of the outer shaft. The inner catheter has an opening (22) alignable with and movable along a longitudinally-extending opening (14) formed in the hollow outer shaft. A typically perforated, electrode is mounted to the inner catheter (10, 17; 10a, 17a) or the outer shaft (10b, 17b) is spaced-apart from the outer surface (30) of the outer shaft. The handle is coupled to a source (28) of energy-conducting liquid (29) which flows through the inner catheter, out the inner catheter opening, past the perforated electrode, between fluid seals (32, 32c) secured to the inner shaft and through the longitudinally-extending opening to ablate tissue. Moving the inner catheter opening along the longitudinally-extending opening causes a longitudinally-extending lesion to be created.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim