Circumferential ablation device assembly

Abstract

A circumferential ablation device assembly which is adapted to forming a circumferential conduction block in a pulmonary vein. The assembly includes a circumferential ablation element which is adapted to ablate a circumferential region of tissue along a pulmonary vein wall which circumscribes the pulmonary vein lumen, thereby transecting the electrical conductivity of the pulmonary vein against conduction along its longitudinal axis and into the left atrium.

1 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . A method for treating atrial arrhythmia, comprising:
 delivering an ablation element to atrial tissue corresponding to a target ablation region of the atrium;   operating the ablation element to generate a lesion at one or more circumferential locations at the target ablation region; and   monitoring an electrical conduction signal associated with the atrial tissue to verify presence of a conduction block at the ablation region.   
     
     
         64 . A method as recited in  claim 63 , further comprising:
 delivering a test stimulus at or near the ablation region; and   wherein monitoring an electrical conduction signal comprises monitoring the test stimulus.   
     
     
         65 . A method as recited in  claim 63 , wherein the lesion comprises a series of lesions aligned along a circumferential path. 
     
     
         66 . A method as recited in  claim 65 , wherein the series of lesions substantially circumscribe the atrial wall of at the ablation region. 
     
     
         67 . A method as recited in  claim 64 , wherein the ablation region is at or near an arrythmogenic origin associated with the atrium. 
     
     
         68 . A method as recited in  claim 67 , wherein the ablation region is a location along a pulmonary vein wall between the arrythmogenic origin and the atrium. 
     
     
         69 . A method as recited in  claim 68 , wherein the test stimulus is delivered above the ablation region along the pulmonary vein wall. 
     
     
         70 . A method as recited in  claim 69 , wherein the electrical conduction signal is monitored at a location along a pulmonary vein wall between the arrythmogenic origin and the atrium. 
     
     
         71 . A method as recited in  claim 63 , wherein monitoring an electrical conduction signal is performed via a plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         72 . A method as recited in  claim 71 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are substantially aligned along a circumferential path. 
     
     
         73 . A method as recited in  claim 72 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are disposed along a looped support member. 
     
     
         74 . A method for treating atrial arrhythmia, comprising:
 monitoring an electrical conduction signal associated with an atrial tissue to verify presence of an arrythmogenic signal at a target treatment region within the atrial tissue;   delivering an ablation element to atrial tissue corresponding to the target treatment region;   operating the ablation element to generate a lesion at one or more circumferential locations at the target treatment region.   
     
     
         75 . A method as recited in  claim 74 , further comprising:
 delivering a test stimulus at or near the treatment region; and   monitoring an electrical conduction signal associated with the test stimulus.   
     
     
         76 . A method as recited in  claim 74 , wherein the lesion comprises a series of lesions aligned along a circumferential path. 
     
     
         77 . A method as recited in  claim 76 , wherein the series of lesions substantially circumscribe the atrial wall of at the treatment region. 
     
     
         78 . A method as recited in  claim 75 , wherein the treatment region is at or near an arrythmogenic origin associated with the atrium. 
     
     
         79 . A method as recited in  claim 78 , wherein the treatment region is a location along a pulmonary vein wall between the arrythmogenic origin and the atrium. 
     
     
         80 . A method as recited in  claim 79 , wherein the test stimulus is delivered above the treatment region along the pulmonary vein wall. 
     
     
         81 . A method as recited in  claim 79 , wherein the electrical conduction signal is monitored at a location along a pulmonary vein wall between the arrythmogenic origin and the atrium. 
     
     
         82 . A method as recited in  claim 74 , wherein monitoring the electrical conduction signal is performed via a plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         83 . A method as recited in  claim 82 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are substantially aligned along a circumferential path. 
     
     
         84 . A method as recited in  claim 83 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are disposed along a looped support member. 
     
     
         85 . A system for treating atrial arrhythmia, comprising:
 an ablation element configured to generate a lesion at one or more circumferential locations at a target ablation region of atrial tissue;   a delivery assembly configured for delivering an ablation element to the target ablation region;   a processor coupled to one or more electrodes configured to be coupled to the atrial tissue; and   programming executable on the processor to monitor an electrical conduction signal associated with the atrial tissue to verify presence of a conduction block at the ablation region.   
     
     
         86 . A method as recited in  claim 85 , wherein the programming performs steps comprising:
 delivering a test stimulus at or near the ablation region; and   monitoring an electrical conduction signal associated with the test stimulus.   
     
     
         87 . A method as recited in  claim 86 , wherein the ablation region is at or near an arrythmogenic origin associated with the atrium. 
     
     
         88 . A method as recited in  claim 87 , wherein the ablation region is a location along a pulmonary vein wall between the arrythmogenic origin and the atrium. 
     
     
         89 . A method as recited in  claim 88 , wherein the test stimulus is delivered above the treatment region along the pulmonary vein wall. 
     
     
         90 . A method as recited in  claim 88 , wherein the electrical conduction signal is monitored at a location along a pulmonary vein wall between the arrythmogenic origin and the atrium. 
     
     
         91 . A method as recited in  claim 86 , wherein monitoring the electrical conduction signal is performed via a plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         92 . A method as recited in  claim 91 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are substantially aligned along a circumferential path. 
     
     
         93 . A method as recited in  claim 92 , wherein the plurality of electrodes are disposed along a looped support member.