Ablation probe with stabilizing member

Abstract

A surgical ablation probe assembly particularly suitable for ablating tissue on a surface of a patient's heart having an ablation member and a stabilizing member for guiding the probe assembly to an intracorporeal location such as a surface of the patient's heart. The elongated ablation member generally has at least one ablation electrode on a distal shaft section. The stabilizing member has a vacuum lumen which applies a vacuum to the inner chamber of the stabilizing member to aspirate fluid from within the chamber or about the stabilizing member and can aid in holding the stabilizing member to an intracorporeal surface such as the epicardial or endocardial surface of the patient's heart. The probe assembly may also have a removable stylet to help retain the shape of the distal portion. The assembly is suitable for treating a patient for atrial arrhythmia, by forming linear or curvilinear lesions and preferably a continuous lesion on the surface of the patient's heart.

1 . An ablation device for use on an exterior portion of a patient's heart, comprising:
 a. an elongated ablation member which has a proximal shaft section, a distal shaft section and at least one tissue ablating electrode on the distal shaft section; and   b. a stabilizing member which is secured to at least a portion of the distal shaft section of the ablation member, which has at least one opening configured to engage a surface of the patient's heart with the at least one tissue ablating electrode on the distal shaft section of the ablation member in an electrical conducting relationship and   an elongated, first lumen extending along a length of the stabilizing member; and   c. a stylet slidably disposed within the first lumen.   
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . The ablation device of  claim 1  wherein the stylet is shapeable to facilitate advancement of the stabilizing member and the distal shaft section of the ablation member to a desired exterior location on the patient's heart. 
   
   
       4 . The ablation device of  claim 1  wherein the stabilizing member has an elongated opening for engaging tissue to be ablated by at least one ablation electrode on the distal shaft section of the ablation member. 
   
   
       5 . The ablation device of  claim 4  wherein the stabilizing member has an inner chamber in fluid communication with the elongated opening. 
   
   
       6 . The ablation device of  claim 5  wherein the stabilizing member has at least one vacuum lumen in fluid communication with the inner chamber thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The ablation device of  claim 2  wherein the stabilizing member has at least one stabilizing pod with at least one vacuum port for securing the pod to the wall of the patient's heart when vacuum is applied to the vacuum lumen. 
   
   
       8 . The ablation device of  claim 3  wherein the at least one stabilizing pod has at least one secondary vacuum lumen extending between and in fluid communication with the vacuum port and the vacuum lumen. 
   
   
       9 . The ablation device of  claim 5  wherein the inner chamber of the stabilizing member has a recess within the interior thereof configured to receive the distal shaft section of the ablation member and position same to ensure that at least one ablation electrode on the ablation member electrically engages the surface of the patient's heart through the elongated opening in the stabilizing device. 
   
   
       10 . The ablation device of  claim 9  wherein the ablation member is configured so that when the ablation member is disposed within the recess of the stabilizing member, at least one electrode on the distal shaft section of the ablation member extends out of the recess to engage tissue of the patient's heart wall in an electrical conducting relationship. 
   
   
       11 . The ablation device of  claim 1  wherein the stabilizing member is configured to conform to the shape of the distal shaft section of the ablation member when the stylet is removed. 
   
   
       12 . The ablation device of  claim 1  wherein the shape of the distal shaft section of the ablation member is controlled by pull wires disposed within the elongated ablation member. 
   
   
       13 . The ablation device of  claim 1  wherein the shape of the distal shaft section of the ablation member is controlled by a shapeable core member disposed within the ablation member. 
   
   
       14 . The ablation device of  claim 13  wherein the core member has a desired shape memory. 
   
   
       15 . The ablation device of  claim 1  wherein the stabilizing member has a plurality of vacuum ports extending along a length thereof. 
   
   
       16 . The ablation device of  claim 15  wherein the stabilizing member has at least one vacuum port adjacent each end of at least one electrode on the distal shaft section of the ablation member to ensure contact of the electrode with tissue of the patient's heart wall. 
   
   
       17 . The ablation device of  claim 6  wherein an opening in the tissue engaging surface of the stabilizing member extends along a substantial length thereof. 
   
   
       18 . The ablation device of  claim 17  wherein the opening in the tissue engaging surface of the stabilizing member has a lip configured to hold the ablation device within the opening. 
   
   
       19 . The ablation device of  claim 1  wherein the stabilizing member has a light emitting member in a distal portion thereof. 
   
   
       20 . The ablation device of  claim 15  wherein the light emitting member is a light transition member which extends through at least a portion of the stabilizing member. 
   
   
       21 . The ablation device of  claim 20  wherein the light transmission member extends to the distal tip of the stabilizing member. 
   
   
       22 . The ablation device of  claim 21  wherein the light transmission member is a fiber optic. 
   
   
       23 . The ablation device of  claim 19  wherein the light emitting member is an LED. 
   
   
       24 - 44 . (canceled) 
   
   
       45 . A stabilizing member for securing a therapeutic or diagnostic instrument to a tissue surface, comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section, a flexible distal shaft section, a distal tip configured to facilitate intracorporeal advancement, a vacuum lumen extending through at least part of the proximal shaft section and into the distal shaft section, a plurality of spaced apart pods which have vacuum ports in a pod surface configured to engage tissue within the patient's body which are in fluid communication with the vacuum lumen and a light emitting member in a distal portion of the stabilizing member. 
   
   
       46 . A stabilizing member for engaging an intracorporeal tissue surface with a therapeutic or diagnostic instrument, comprising an elongated shaft having a proximal shaft section, a flexible distal shaft section, a distal tip configured to facilitate intracorporeal advancement, a vacuum lumen extending through at least part of the proximal shaft section and into the distal shaft section, an interior at least in part separated into a plurality of spaced apart chambers by clip members which have a passageway for receiving an ablation member and one or more passageways for communication between the spaced apart chambers, one or more elongated openings in the bottom portion of the distal shaft section configured to engage tissue when a vacuum is applied to the interior chambers 
   
   
       47 . The stabilizing member of  claim 46  wherein the clips are provided with a passageway configured to receive a light transmitting member or an electrical conductor. 
   
   
       48 . The stabilizing member of  claim 46  wherein the distal end portion of the stabilizing member has a passageway with an exterior opening which is configured to receive an emitting end of the light transmitting member so that the emitting end of the light transmitting member emits light exterior to the stabilizing member. 
   
   
       49 . The stabilizing member of  claim 46  having an outer shell with a plurality of outwardly bowed segments. 
   
   
       50 . The stabilizing member of  claim 49  wherein the outer shell defines in part spaced apart chambers within the stabilizing member. 
   
   
       51 . A stabilizing member for engaging an intracorporeal tissue surface with a therapeutic or diagnostic instrument, comprising:
 a) a stabilizing body which is configured to be secured to an ablation member having at least one tissue ablating electrode and which is configured to engage a patient's intracorporeal surface with the at least one tissue ablating electrode in an electrical conducting relationship and which has at least one elongated inner lumen extending along a length of the stabilizing member; and   b) a removable elongated stylet or obturator disposed within the inner lumen.   
   
   
       52 . The stabilizing member of  claim 51  wherein the stylet or obturator is slidably disposed within the inner lumen. 
   
   
       53 . The stabilizing member of  claim 51  wherein a first tubular member defines at least in part the inner lumen. 
   
   
       54 . The stabilizing member of  claim 51  wherein a second tubular member is provided on the proximal portion thereof which is configured to apply a vacuum to an interior chamber of the stabilizer. 
   
   
       55 . The stabilizing member of  claim 54  wherein the second tubular member is configured to receive an ablation device and guide the ablation device into the interior of the stabilizing member. 
   
   
       56 . The stabilizing member of  claim 51  wherein at least one passageway is provided in a wall of the stabilizing member to provide fluid communication between the elongated, stylet-receiving lumen and an interior of the stabilizing member. 
   
   
       57 . The stabilizing member of  claim 51  wherein a light emitting element is provided in the distal tip of the stabilizing member. 
   
   
       58 . The stabilizing member of  claim 57  wherein the light emitting element is a LED. 
   
   
       59 . A stabilizing member for engaging an intracorporeal tissue surface with a therapeutic or diagnostic instrument, comprising:
 a) an elongated stabilizing body which has proximal and distal sections, which has at least one inner chamber within the distal section, which has at least one clip within the inner chamber that is configured to receive and secure an ablation member having at least one tissue ablating electrode and which has an opening that is in fluid communication with the inner chamber and is configured to engage a patient's intracorporeal surface with the at least one tissue ablating electrode of the ablation member in an electrical conducting relationship and which has at least one inner lumen extending along a length of the distal section that is in fluid communication with the inner chamber and that is configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid source.   
   
   
       60 . The stabilizing member of  claim 59  wherein the inner chamber of the distal shaft section has a plurality of discharge ports in fluid communication with the at least one inner lumen. 
   
   
       61 . The stabilizing member of  claim 59  wherein the inner chamber has a plurality of chamber sections. 
   
   
       62 . The stabilizing member of  claim 59  wherein chamber sections of the inner chamber have at least one discharge port that is in fluid communication with the at least one inner lumen 
   
   
       63 . The stabilizing member of  claim 59  wherein the distal shaft section has a removable elongated stylet or obturator. 
   
   
       64 . The stabilizing member of  claim 63  wherein the elongated stylet or obturator is slidably disposed within the inner lumen. 
   
   
       65 . The stabilizing member of  claim 63  wherein the distal shaft section has a first lumen configured to be in fluid communication with the inner chamber and a second lumen into which the stylet or obturator is slidably received. 
   
   
       66 . The ablation device of  claim 59  wherein the stabilizing member has a light emitting member in a distal portion thereof. 
   
   
       67 . The ablation device of  claim 66  wherein the light emitting member is a light transition member which extends through at least a portion of the stabilizing member. 
   
   
       68 . The ablation device of  claim 67  wherein the light transmission member extends to the distal tip of the stabilizing member. 
   
   
       69 . The ablation device of  claim 68  wherein the light transmission member is a fiber optic. 
   
   
       70 . The ablation device of  claim 66  wherein the light emitting member is an LED. 
   
   
       71 . A method of treating a patient by forming a lesion of ablated tissue at an intracorporeal site within the patient, comprising:
 a. providing an elongated ablation device having a plurality of electrodes on a distal shaft section thereof which are configured to generate an elongated lesion;   b. providing a stabilizing member which has an elongated shaft, a proximal section, a distal section, a distal tip configured to facilitate intracorporeal advancement, an inner chamber, an inner lumen extending within at least a portion of the distal section, at last one recess within the inner chamber that is configured to receive the distal shaft section of the ablation device and a vacuum lumen in fluid communication with the inner chamber;   c. securing the distal shaft section of the ablation device within the at least one recess within the inner chamber of the stabilizing member;   d. advancing the ablation device and stabilizing member within the patient to a desired intracorporeal location and into contact with tissue at the intracorporeal location;   e. applying a vacuum to the lumen of the stabilizing member to develop a vacuum within the inner chamber of the stabilizing member; and   f. delivering high frequency electrical energy to a plurality of electrodes on the distal shaft section of the ablation device in contact with tissue at the intracorporeal site to form an elongated lesion in the tissue.   
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 71  wherein fluid is aspirated from the inner chamber when a vacuum is developed therein. 
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 72  wherein development of a vacuum within the inner chamber of the stabilizing member facilitate placing electrodes on the distal shaft section of the ablation device in an electrical conducting relationship with tissue at the intracorporeal site. 
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73  wherein the inner lumen is configured to slidably receive a stylet. 
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the development of a vacuum within the inner chamber of the stabilizing member facilitates securing the stabilizer and the attached ablation device to tissue at the intracorporeal site to form an electrical conducting relationship between a plurality of electrodes on the ablation device and the tissue. 
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 75  wherein electrodes on the ablation device are configured to form a continuous lesion at the intracorporeal site. 
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the ablation device and stabilizing member are introduced into the patient's thoracic cavity through an opening in the patient's chest. 
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the ablation device and stabilizing member are introduced into the patient's thoracic cavity through a trocar disposed in an intercostals space of the patient's chest. 
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the ablation device and stabilizing member are advanced within the patient's thoracic cavity around a posterior side of the patient's heart to a location on an anterior side of the patient's heart. 
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the ablation device and stabilizing member are advanced into and within the patient's thoracic cavity through a delivery sheath. 
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the intracorporeal location is a surface of the patient's heart. 
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 81  wherein the surface is the patient's epicardial surface. 
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 81  wherein the surface is the patient's endocardial surface. 
   
   
       84 . A method of treating a patient's heart by forming a lesion of ablated tissue, comprising:
 a. a step for providing an elongated ablation device having a plurality of electrodes on a distal shaft section thereof which are configured to generate an elongated lesion;   b. a step for providing a stabilizing member which has an elongated shaft, a proximal section, a distal section, a distal tip configured to facilitate intracorporeal advancement, an inner chamber, an inner lumen extending within at least a portion of the distal section, at last one recess within the inner chamber that is configured to receive the distal shaft section of the ablation device and a vacuum lumen in fluid communication with the inner chamber;   c. a step for securing the distal shaft section of the ablation device within the at least one recess within the inner chamber of the stabilizing member;   d. a step for advancing the ablation device and stabilizing member within the patient to a desired intracorporeal location and into contact with tissue at the intracorporeal location;   e. a step for applying a vacuum to the lumen of the stabilizing member to develop a vacuum within the inner chamber of the stabilizing member; and   f. a step for delivering high frequency electrical energy to a plurality of electrodes on the distal shaft section of the ablation device in contact with tissue at the intracorporeal site to form an elongated lesion in the tissue.   
   
   
       85 . An ablation assembly comprising:
 a. an elongated ablation means having at least one ablation electrode on a distal shaft section and;   b. a securing means which is removably secured to at least the distal shaft section of the EP means, which is configured to expose the at least one electrode on the distal shaft of the EP means to facilitate tissue ablation, which is configured to engage tissue within a patient's body and which has a vacuum means to aspirate fluids from the interior of the stabilizing member.   
   
   
       86 . A surgical probe ablation device for use on a patient's heart, comprising:
 a. an elongated ablation means which has at least one tissue ablating electrode on a distal portion of the ablation means; and   b. a stabilizing means which is secured to at least part of the distal portion of the ablation means and which is configured to engage a surface of the patient's heart with the at least one electrode on the distal portion of the ablation means in an electrical conducting relationship.   
   
   
       87 . The ablation assembly of  claim 5  wherein the first inner lumen is configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid source and to deliver fluid from said source to tissue to be ablated. 
   
   
       88 . The ablation device of  claim 87  wherein the first inner lumen is in fluid communication with the inner chamber.