Surgical ablation probe for forming a circumferential lesion

Abstract

This invention is a circumferential ablation device assembly and method which is adapted to form a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly generally comprises a handheld surgical ablation probe having a rigid shaft for insertion through a patient's chest and a circumferential ablation element mounted on the distal end portion of the shaft. The circumferential ablation element is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen. The circumferential ablation element includes an expandable member for anchoring the distal end portion of the shaft in a body structure and an ultrasound transducer disposed within the expandable member for emitting ultrasonic energy to ablate the tissue in the pulmonary vein.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating atrial arrhythmia in a patient by forming a conduction block along a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium, comprising: 
 providing a surgical ablation probe having a handle and a shaft with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein said shaft further comprises an anchoring mechanism and an circumferential ablation member located along said distal end portion of said shaft;    inserting said shaft through an opening in a patient's chest;    advancing said surgical ablation probe into said atrium;    anchoring said circumferential ablation member at said location; and    supplying energy to said circumferential ablation member, such that said circumferential ablation member ablatively couples to at least a portion of said circumferential region of tissue, thereby forming said conduction block.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring an electrical activity of said atrium before supplying energy to said circumferential ablation member, in order to identify said location.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring an electrical activity of said atrium after supplying energy to said circumferential ablation member, in order to evaluate said efficacy of said conduction block in treating said arrhythmia.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said surgical ablation probe is advanced into said atrium via trans-thoracic surgery.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said surgical ablation probe is advanced into said atrium through an atriotomy in a left atrial appendage.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said surgical ablation probe is advanced into said atrium via a minimally invasive access technique.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said access technique comprises a chest access device.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said chest access device comprises a trocar.