Instrument for interrupting conduction paths within the heart

Abstract

A probe for making transmural lesions in one or more walls of the atria of the heart in open-heart surgery. The lesion blocks electrical impulses in a direction crosswise to the lesion. The probe has a handle ( 1 ), a closed electrode ( 2 ) at an end of the probe, a relatively rigid member ( 5 ) of physiologically acceptable plastic connecting the probe and the electrode, and means ( 6, 7 ) for coupling the probe to an RF power source.

1 . An instrument for supplying RF energy to body tissue, the instrument comprising a probe having: 
 a handle;    a closed electrode at one end of said probe, the instrument being adapted to allow said electrode to be accurately positioned on and moved along an atrium wall during open heart surgery and to make at least one transmural conduction blocking lesion in the atrium wall;    a connection and conduction means electrically communicating with said electrode and adapted for connecting said electrode to an RF power source;    a substantially rigid member connecting said handle and said electrode, said member formed of a physiologically acceptable plastic; and    means for supplying a physiologically acceptable liquid to said electrode, wherein said means for supplying the liquid is connected to said member,    wherein said probe is sufficiently rigid such that an operator grasping said handle of the instrument can accurately position and move said electrode along an atrium wall to be treated, whereby the instrument can be used in an open-heart operation to make at least one transmural conduction blocking lesion in the atrium wall.    
     
     
         2 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said member has an intrinsic curvature.  
     
     
         3 . The instrument of  claim 2 , wherein said curvature of said member is approximately 140 degrees.  
     
     
         4 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said member has a length between approximately 8 and 15 cm.  
     
     
         5 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said physiologically acceptable liquid is a salt solution.  
     
     
         6 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said member is a shaft.  
     
     
         7 . The instrument of  claim 6 , wherein said shaft has a diameter between approximately 3 and 6 mm.  
     
     
         8 . The instrument of  claim 6 , wherein said means for supplying the physiologically acceptable liquid comprises an inner shaft located within said shaft connecting said handle and said electrode.  
     
     
         9 . The instrument of  claim 8 , wherein said shaft connecting said handle and said electrode further comprises an inlet port for introducing the physiologically acceptable liquid into said inner shaft.  
     
     
         10 . The instrument of  claim 8 , wherein said inner shaft comprises at least one outflow port disposed in the vicinity of said electrode.  
     
     
         11 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said electrode comprises platinum.  
     
     
         12 . The instrument of  claim 1 , wherein said electrode is generally cylindrical.  
     
     
         13 . The instrument of  claim 12 , wherein said electrode has a diameter between approximately 3 mm and 6 mm.  
     
     
         14 . The instrument of  claim 12 , wherein said electrode has a length of approximately 2 cm.