Systems and methods for forming elongated lesion patterns in body tissue using straight or curvilinear electrode elements

Abstract

Systems and associated methods position arrays of multiple emitters of ablating energy in straight or curvilinear positions in contact with tissue to form elongated lesion patterns. The elongated lesion patterns can continuous or interrupted, depending upon the orientation of the energy emitters.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A device for ablating body tissue comprising 
 a support element to contact a tissue area, and    at least two non-contiguous energy emitting zones on the support element mutually spaced apart along the contacted tissue area, the mutual spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area creating, when the zones simultaneously, transmit energy to an indifferent electrode, an additive heating effect to form a continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that spans between the two energy emitting zones.    
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1   wherein the support element includes a generally straight region, and    wherein the energy emitting zones are on the generally straight region.    
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1   wherein the support element includes a curved region, and    wherein the energy emitting zones are on the curved region.    
     
     
         4 . A device for ablating body tissue comprising 
 a support element to contact a tissue area, and    at least two non-contiguous energy emitting zones on the support element mutually spaced apart along the contacted tissue area, the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area being equal to or less than about 3 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously transmit energy to an indifferent electrode, an elongated continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area.    
     
     
         5 . A device for ablating body tissue comprising 
 a support element to contact a tissue area, and    at least two non-contiguous energy emitting zones on the support element mutually spaced apart along the contacted tissue area, the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area being greater than about 5 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously emit energy, an elongated segmented lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area.    
     
     
         6 . A device for ablating body tissue comprising 
 a support element to contact a tissue area, and    at least two non-contiguous energy emitting zones on the support element mutually spaced apart along the contacted tissue area, the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area being equal to or less than about 2 times the longest of the lengths of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously transmit energy to an indifferent electrode, an elongated continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area.    
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 6   wherein the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area is essentially equal to the longest of the lengths of the first and second zones.    
     
     
         8 . A device for ablating body tissue comprising 
 a support element to contact a tissue area, and    at least two non-contiguous energy emitting zones on the support element mutually spaced apart along the contacted tissue area, the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area greater than about 3 times the longest of the lengths of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously transmit energy to an indifferent electrode, an elongated segmented lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area.    
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 1  or  4  or  5  or  6  or  8  
 wherein at least one of the two energy emitting zones comprise metallic material attached about the support element.  
 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 1  or  4  or  5  or  6  or  8  
 wherein at least one of the two energy emitting zones comprise wire helically wrapped about the support element.  
 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 1  or  4  or  5  or  6  or  8  
 wherein at least one of the two energy emitting zones comprise a coating on the support element of material through which energy is applied.  
 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 1  or  4  or  5  or  6  or  8  
 wherein the support element is flexible and includes means for flexing the element.  
 
     
     
         13 . A device for ablating body tissue comprising 
 a support element having a curved region to peripherally contact a tissue area, and    at least two non-contiguous energy emitting zones on the curved region mutually separated apart across the contacted tissue area, each zone having a diameter, the separation between the zones across the contacted tissue area being greater than about 8 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously emit energy, an elongated lesion pattern in the tissue area that follows the curved periphery contacted by the support element and that does not span across the contacted tissue area.    
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 13   wherein the spacing between the zones along the support element creates, when the zones simultaneously emit energy, an additive heating effect to form a continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that spans between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.    
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 13   wherein the spacing between the zones along the support element is equal to or less than about 3 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously emit energy, a continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that spans between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.    
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 13   wherein the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area is equal to or less than about 2 times the longest of the lengths of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously emit energy, a continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that spans between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.    
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 13   wherein the spacing between the zones along the support element is greater than about 5 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously emit energy, a segmented lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that does not span between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.    
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 13   wherein the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area is greater than about 3 times the longest of the lengths of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously emit energy, a segmented lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that does not span between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.    
     
     
         19 . A device according to  claim 13   wherein the support element is flexible and includes means for flexing the element to form the curved region.    
     
     
         20 . A device according to  claim 19   wherein the flexing means flexes the support element from a generally straight configuration to form the curved region.    
     
     
         21 . A device according to  claim 19   wherein flexing means flexes the support element from a generally straight configuration to selectively form the curved region on opposite sides of the generally straight configuration.    
     
     
         22 . A device according to  claim 13   wherein the curved region is formed in the shape of a hoop.    
     
     
         23 . A device according to  claim 13   wherein the curved region is formed in the shape of a hook.    
     
     
         24 . A device according to  claim 13   wherein at least one of the two energy emitting zones comprise metallic material attached about the support element.    
     
     
         25 . A device according to  claim 13   wherein at least one of the two energy emitting zones comprise wire helically wrapped about the support element.    
     
     
         26 . A device according to  claim 13   wherein at least one of the two energy emitting zones comprise a coating on the support element of material through which energy is applied.    
     
     
         27 . A device for ablating body tissue comprising 
 a support element having a curved region to peripherally contact a tissue area, and    at least two energy emitting zones on the curved region mutually separated across the contacted tissue area, each zone having a diameter, the radius of curvature of the curved region being greater than about 4 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously emit energy, an elongated lesion pattern in the tissue area that generally follows the curved periphery contacted by the support element and that does not span across the contacted tissue area.    
     
     
         28 . A device according to  claim 27   wherein the spacing between the zones along the support element creates, when the zones simultaneously emit energy, an additive heating effect to form a continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that spans between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.    
     
     
         29 . A device according to  claim 27   wherein the spacing between the zones along the support element is equal to or less than about 3 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously emit energy, a continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that spans between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.    
     
     
         30 . A device according to  claim 27   wherein the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area is equal to or less than about 2 times the longest of the lengths of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously emit energy, a continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that spans between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.    
     
     
         31 . A device according to  claim 27   wherein the spacing between the zones along the support element is greater than about 5 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously emit energy, a segmented lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that does not span between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.    
     
     
         32 . A device according to  claim 27   wherein the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area is greater than about 3 times the longest of the lengths of the first and second zones to create, when the zones simultaneously emit energy, a segmented lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that does not span between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.    
     
     
         33 . A device according to  claim 27   wherein the energy emitting zones comprise a continuous energy emitting electrode on the curved region of the support element, whereby the lesion pattern comprises a continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.    
     
     
         34 . A device according to  claim 33   wherein the continuous electrode includes at least two energy applying zones spaced apart along the support element and separated across the contacted tissue area.    
     
     
         35 . A device according to  claim 34   wherein the continuous electrode comprises material extending about the curved region of the support element through which energy is emitted.    
     
     
         36 . A device according to  claim 34   wherein the continuous electrode comprises a coating on the curved region of the support element of material through which energy is emitted.    
     
     
         37 . A device according to  claim 34   wherein the continuous electrode comprises wire helically wrapped about the curved region of the support element.    
     
     
         38 . A device according to  claim 27   wherein the support element is flexible and includes means for flexing the element to form the curved region.    
     
     
         39 . A device according to  claim 38   wherein the flexing means flexes the support element from a generally straight configuration to form the curved region.    
     
     
         40 . A device according to  claim 38   wherein flexing means flexes the support element from a generally straight configuration to selectively form the curved region on opposite sides of the generally straight configuration.    
     
     
         41 . A device according to  claim 27   wherein the curved region is formed in the shape of a hoop.    
     
     
         42 . A device according to  claim 27   wherein the curved region is formed in the shape of a hook.    
     
     
         43 . A method for ablating body tissue comprising the steps of positioning at least two non-contiguous energy emitting zones in a mutually closely spaced apart relationship in contact with a tissue area, 
 conditioning the zones to simultaneously transmit energy to an indifferent electrode to create, due to the close spacing of the zones, an additive heating effect that forms a continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area spanning between the zones.    
     
     
         44 . A method for ablating body tissue comprising the steps of 
 positioning at least two non-contiguous energy emitting zones in a mutually spaced apart relationship in contact with a tissue area, the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area being equal to or less than about 3 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones, and    conditioning the zones to simultaneously transmit energy to an indifferent electrode to create an elongated continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area.    
     
     
         45 . A method for ablating body tissue comprising the steps of 
 positioning at least two non-contiguous energy emitting zones in a mutually spaced apart relationship in contact with a tissue area, the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area being greater than about 5 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones, and    conditioning the zones to simultaneously transmit energy to an indifferent electrode to create an elongated segmented lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area.    
     
     
         46 . A method for ablating body tissue comprising the steps of 
 positioning at least two non-contiguous energy emitting zones in a mutually spaced apart relationship in contact with a tissue area, the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area being equal to or less than about 2 times the longest of the lengths of the first and second zones, and    conditioning the zones to simultaneously transmit energy to an indifferent electrode to create an elongated continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area.    
     
     
         47 . A method for ablating body tissue comprising the steps of 
 positioning at least two non-contiguous energy emitting zones in a mutually spaced apart relationship in contact with a tissue area, the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area greater than about 3 times the longest of the lengths of the first and second zones, and    conditioning the zones to simultaneously transmit energy to an indifferent electrode to create an elongated segmented lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area.    
     
     
         48 . A method for ablating body tissue comprising the steps of 
 positioning at least two energy emitting zones along a curve in peripheral contact with a tissue area, the radius of curvature of the curved region being greater than about 4 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones, and    conditioning the zones to simultaneously emit energy to create a lesion pattern in the tissue area that generally follows the curved periphery contacted by the support element and that does not span across the contacted tissue area.    
     
     
         49 . A method for ablating body tissue comprising the steps of 
 positioning at least two non-contiguous energy emitting zones along a curve in peripheral contact with a tissue area, the zones being mutually separated across the contacted tissue area, the separation between the zones across the contacted tissue area being greater than about 8 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones, and    conditioning the zones to simultaneously emit energy to create a lesion pattern in the tissue area that generally follows the curved periphery contacted by the support element and that does not span across the contacted tissue area.    
     
     
         50 . A method according to  claim 48  or  49  
 wherein the spacing between the zones along the support element creates, during the step of simultaneously emitting energy, an additive heating effect to form a continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that spans between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.  
 
     
     
         51 . A method according to  claim 48  or  49  
 wherein the spacing between the zones along the support element is equal to or less than about 3 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones to create, during the step of simultaneously emitting energy, a continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that spans between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.  
 
     
     
         52 . A method according to  claim 48  or  49  
 wherein the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area is equal to or less than about 2 times the longest of the lengths of the first and second zones to create, during the step of simultaneously emitting energy, a continuous lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that spans between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.  
 
     
     
         53 . A method according to  claim 48  or  49  
 wherein the spacing between the zones along the support element is greater than about 5 times the smaller of the diameters of the first and second zones to create, during the step of simultaneously emitting energy, a segmented lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that does not span between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.  
 
     
     
         54 . A method according to  claim 48  or  49  
 wherein the spacing between the zones along the contacted tissue area is greater than about 3 times the longest of the lengths of the first and second zones to create, during the step of simultaneously emitting energy, a segmented lesion pattern in the contacted tissue area that does not span between the two energy emitting zones along the curved periphery contacted by the support element.