Cardiac ablation system

Abstract

An apparatus and method for performing cardiac ablations employs a catheter comprising an anchoring device and an ablating device to perform the ablations to electrically isolate the pulmonary veins and left atrium from surrounding atrial tissue. The anchor can comprise a balloon-type device, a stent-like device, a strut-like device, a spring-strut-like device, an umbrella-like device, a mushroom-like device, or other device that allows the catheter to maintain a position with respect to target tissue. The ablator can comprise a balloon ablator, an umbrella ablator, a pinwheel ablator, an umbrella ablator incorporating a cinch mechanism, a mushroom balloon ablator and a segmented balloon or pinwheel ablator. The anchor and ablator can also comprise a combination mushroom balloon anchor section and mushroom balloon ablator section. The anchor and ablator can include electrodes for measuring a conductance therebetween when in deployed position, so as to determine the effectiveness of the ablation.

1 . A method or procedure for performing an anchored cardiac ablation, comprising:
 Making available a catheter comprising an ablator and an anchor, wherein said ablator and said anchor have an expanded, operating position and a collapsed, stored position;   Advance the catheter into PV and expand the anchor into the PV;   Open the ablator device and move it towards a surface of the atrial wall;   Initiate ablation energy to commence ablation of the desired target tissue;   Continue ablation until cardiac conduction feedback through the anchor reaches a clinically satisfied level;   Once ablation is complete, collapse the ablator and anchor into its stored position configuration;   Withdrawn the catheter out of the PV.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is then moved into a second pulmonary vein to repeat the process. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is expanded into the PV against the PV to a predetermined force as measured by a micro force sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ablator compression force is maintained to achieve a predetermined contact, as measured by a micro force sensor, with the desired tissue surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduction is measured across the ablation line between an anchor electrode and an ablator conduction measurement electrode. 
     
     
         6 . A method or procedure for performing an anchored cardiac ablation, comprising:
 Making available a catheter comprising an ablator and an anchor, wherein said ablator and said anchor have an expanded, operating position and a collapsed, stored position;   Advance the catheter into PV and expand the ablator device and anchor into the PV;   Slide the ablator element toward the atrium and to the outside of the PV while visualising it;   Stop moving the ablator element at a desired position;   Slide the anchor while inside the PV to a position where cardiac conduction is at desired level;   Initiate ablation energy to commence ablation of the desired target tissue;   Continue ablation until cardiac conduction feedback through the anchor reaches a clinically satisfied level;   Once ablation is complete, collapse the ablator and the anchor into its stored position configuration;   Withdrawn the catheter out of the PV.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is then moved into a second pulmonary vein to repeat the process. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is expanded into the PV against the PV to a predetermined force as measured by a micro force sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ablator compression force is maintained to achieve a predetermined contact, as measured by a micro force sensor, with the desired tissue surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduction is measured across the ablation line between an anchor electrode and an ablator conduction measurement electrode.