Surgical system and procedure for treatment of medically refractory atrial fibrillation

Abstract

The invention provides surgical systems and methods for ablating heart tissue within the interior and/or exterior of the heart. A plurality of probes is provided with each probe configured for introduction into the chest for engaging the heart. Each probe includes an elongated shaft having an elongated ablating surface of a predetermined shape. The elongated shaft and the elongated ablating surface of each probe are configured to ablate a portion of the heart. A sealing device affixed to the heart tissue forms a hemostatic seal between the probe and the penetration in the heart to inhibit blood loss therethrough.

1 . A device for ablating tissue, the device comprising:
 a clamping device having an end and a clamping jaw at said end; and   a shaft coupled to the clamping device and having an ablation surface,   wherein the clamping jaw and the ablation surface are movable between a released position, wherein the clamping jaw is separated from the ablation surface, and a clamped position, wherein the clamping jaw is urged against the ablation surface, and   wherein the clamping jaw and the ablation surface are substantially similarly shaped and dimensioned.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the ablation surface comprises an ablating element selected from the group consisting of cryogenic ablating elements, RF ablating elements, ultrasound ablating elements, microwave ablating elements, laser ablating elements, chemical ablating elements, biological ablating elements, and resistive heating ablating elements. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft and clamping device are pivotally coupled. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft and clamping device are releasably coupled. 
     
     
         5 . A device for ablating tissue, the device comprising:
 an outer jaw portion located at an end of a clamping shaft;   an inner jaw portion located at an end of an attachment shaft; and   an ablation surface on at least one of the inner and outer jaw portions,   wherein the clamping shaft and the attachment shaft are coupled to each other such that the inner and outer jaw portions are movable relative to each other between a clamped condition and an unclamped condition, and   wherein the inner and outer jaw portions extend substantially orthogonally from the attachment shaft and the clamping shaft, respectively.   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the clamping shaft and the attachment shaft is malleable. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the clamping shaft and the attachment shaft are slidably coupled. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the clamping shaft and the attachment shaft are releasably coupled. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the clamping shaft and the attachment shaft are rotatably coupled. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 5 , further comprising an alignment device adapted to align the inner and outer jaw portions about cardiac tissue. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 5 , further comprising a second ablation surface on the other of the inner and outer jaw portions. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the inner and outer jaw portions define between them a tissue gap when in the clamped condition. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one ablation surface comprises at least one ablating element selected from the group consisting of cryogenic ablating elements, RF ablating elements, ultrasound ablating elements, microwave ablating elements, laser ablating elements, chemical ablating elements, biological ablating elements, and resistive heating ablating elements.