Methods and devices for ablation

Abstract

An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A device for ablating a target tissue, comprising: 
 a plurality of ablating elements;    an emitter which emits energy toward the target tissue;    a receiver which receives energy transmitted through the target tissue;    a control system coupled to the ablating elements, the emitter, and the receiver, the control system determining a change in an energy characteristic of the energy transmitted from the emitter to the receiver.    
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the control system has an indicator which indicates the energy characteristic, the indicator providing the user with an indication of a change in the energy characteristic.    
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 at least one of the ablating element acts as the receiver.    
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the control system controls the ablating element to stop emitting ablating energy while receiving energy transmitted through the target tissue from the emitter.    
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 at least one of the ablating elements acts as the emitter.    
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein: 
 the control system controls the ablating element to emit ablating energy which is different than energy emitted which is received by the receiver.    
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 at least one of the ablating element acts as the receiver.    at least one of the ablating elements acts as the emitter.    
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the indicator provides an indication of the magnitude of the energy received by the receiver.    
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the indicator provides an indication of the frequency of the energy passing through the target tissue.    
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 an intravascular device which acts as at least one of the emitter and receiver.    
     
     
         31 . A method of ablating cardiac tissue, comprising the steps of: 
 providing an ablating device having at least one ablating element, the ablating element having a focus;    positioning the ablating device on a epicardial surface, wherein the focus is positioned at an angle with respect to the epicardial surface; and    ablating tissue with the ablating element with the device positioned on the epicardial surface to form a first lesion.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein: 
 the positioning step is carried out with the focus being angled with respect to the epicardial surface so that the focus extends through a substantial portion of the thickness of the target tissue.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein: 
 the positioning step is carried out with the focus being angled with respect to the epicardial surface so that the focus extends through the entire thickness of the target tissue.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the angle of the ablating element being adjustable so that the angle of the focus relative to the target tissue may be varied.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of: 
 moving the ablating element; and    ablating tissue again after the moving step to form a second lesion continuous with the first lesion.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein: 
 the moving step is carried out with the ablating element continuing to ablate tissue.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein: 
 the moving step is carried out by moving the ablating device across the epicardial surface.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the ablating device being coupled to a guide member; and    the moving step is carried out with the ablating device being moved relative to the guide member.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 positioning the guide member at a fixed position relative to the target tissue;    the moving step being carried out a number of times with the guide member being at the fixed position.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the ablating element producing focused ultrasound.    
     
     
         41 . A device for ablating tissue, comprising: 
 a shaft; and    a plurality of ablating elements coupled to the shaft, the plurality of ablating elements being configured to produce a continuous lesion in a target tissue.    
     
     
         42 - 59 . (canceled)