System and method for mapping and ablating body tissue of the interior region of the heart

Abstract

A catheter for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region has a handle assembly, and a shaft having a proximal end coupled to the handle assembly. The catheter also has a mapping element provided adjacent its distal end, and an ablation element positioned spaced apart along the shaft from the mapping element. The mapping element is first positioned at the desired treatment location in the selected annulus region and the desired treatment location is mapped. The ablation element is then positioned at the desired treatment location by moving the mapping element away from the desired treatment location, and the desired treatment location is ablated.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A catheter for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region, comprising: 
 a handle assembly;    a shaft having a proximal end coupled to the handle assembly, and a distal end, the shaft extending along an axis;    a distal ring provided at the distal end and oriented perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, the distal ring having a plurality of electrodes positioned in spaced-apart manner about the distal ring; and    an ablation element positioned spaced apart from the distal ring.    
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the ablation element emits energy to a radially surrounding area.  
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further including an expandable member covering the ablation member.  
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distal ring has a diameter that is greater than the fully expanded diameter of the expandable member.  
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 3 , wherein the expandable member defines an interior space that is filled with a fluid.  
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a main lumen, and further including a plurality of wires that are coupled to the plurality of electrodes and extending through the main lumen.  
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft has a main lumen, and further including a plurality of wires that are coupled to the ablation element and extending through the main lumen.  
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a main lumen, and further including a steering mechanism that includes a steering wire extending through the main lumen to the distal end.  
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a main lumen, and further including a plurality of thermocouple wires that are coupled to the distal end and extending through the main lumen.  
     
     
         10 . A system for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region, comprising: 
 a catheter having:    a handle assembly;    a shaft having a proximal end coupled to the handle assembly, and a distal end, the shaft extending along an axis;    a distal ring provided at the distal end and oriented perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, the distal ring having a plurality of electrodes positioned in spaced-apart manner about the distal ring; and    an ablation element positioned spaced apart from the distal ring;    an energy source coupled to the ablation element; and    means coupled to the plurality of electrodes for processing electrical signals received from the plurality of electrodes.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the processing means includes a processor and a monitor.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the ablation element emits energy to a radially surrounding area.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , further including an expandable member covering the ablation member.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the distal ring has a diameter that is greater than the fully expanded diameter of the expandable member.  
     
     
         15 . A method of ablating tissue in a body cavity, comprising: 
 providing a catheter having a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, with the distal end of the shaft having a mapping element and an ablation element that is separate and spaced apart from the mapping element;    positioning the mapping element at the desired treatment location in the body cavity;    mapping the desired treatment location;    positioning the ablation element at the desired treatment location by moving the mapping element away from the desired treatment location; and    ablating the desired treatment location.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of providing a catheter includes: 
 providing the mapping element in the form of a distal ring that is oriented perpendicular to the shaft and having a plurality of electrodes positioned in spaced-apart manner about the distal ring; and    providing the ablation element in the form of a transducer housed inside an expandable element.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including: 
 expanding the expandable element to a maximum diameter that is less than the smallest diameter of the distal ring.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further including: 
 anchoring the distal ring in the body cavity.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of ablating the desired treatment location includes emitting energy to the desired treatment location.  
     
     
         20 . A catheter for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region, comprising: 
 a handle assembly; and    a shaft having a proximal end coupled to the handle assembly, and a distal end, the shaft extending along an axis and further including a mapping element positioned adjacent the distal end, and an ablation element positioned spaced apart along the shaft from the mapping element.