(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (io) Pub. No.: US 2004/0143255 Al
Vanney et al. (43) Pub. Date: Jul. 22,2004
(54) ABLATION CATHETER HAVING A VIRTUAL ELECTRODE COMPRISING PORTHOLES AND A POROUS CONDUCTOR
(76) Inventors: Guy P. Vanney, Blaine, MN (US);
Jeremy D. Dando, Plymouth, MN (US)
Correspondence Address:
HEIMBECHER & ASSOCIATES, LLC.
390 UNION BLVD
SUITE 650
LAKEWOOD, CO 80228-6512 (US)
(21) Appl. No.: 10/608,297
(22) Filed: Jun. 27, 2003
Related U.S. Application Data
(60) Provisional application No. 60/441,849, filed on Jan. 21, 2003.
Publication Classification
(51) Int. CI.7 A61B 18/14
(52) U.S. C I 606/41
(57) ABSTRACT
An ablation catheter used for treatment ol, for example, atrial fibrillation by electrically isolating a vessel, such as a pulmonary vein, from a chamber, such as the left atrium. The ablation catheter has a virtual electrode and a catheter shaft. The virtual electrode comprises a porous conductor. The catheter shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion includes an active region, which is either a looped structure transverse to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft, or a linear structure that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter shaft. During use, the active region is directed into contact with, for example, the wall of a pulmonary vein and, upon energization, the virtual electrode creates a continuous lesion at or near the ostium of the pulmonary vein, thereby electrically isolating the pulmonary vein from the left atrium.
