US 11,986,237 B2
Catheter with ablation electrode
Doron Harlev, Brookline, MA (US); Andrew Miles Wallace, Needham, MA (US); and Luke Tsai, Clifton Park, NY (US)
Assigned to AFFERA, INC., Watertown, MA (US)
Filed by Affera, Inc., Watertown, MA (US)
Filed on Oct. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/495,480.
Application 17/495,480 is a continuation of application No. 17/169,322, filed on Feb. 5, 2021, granted, now 11,759,255.
Application 17/169,322 is a continuation of application No. 15/584,323, filed on May 2, 2017, granted, now 10,932,850, issued on Mar. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/468,873, filed on Mar. 8, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/468,339, filed on Mar. 7, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/434,073, filed on Dec. 14, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/428,406, filed on Nov. 30, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/424,736, filed on Nov. 21, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/420,610, filed on Nov. 11, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/399,625, filed on Sep. 26, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/399,632, filed on Sep. 26, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/357,704, filed on Jul. 1, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/330,395, filed on May 2, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0022957 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01); A61M 3/02 (2006.01); A61M 5/00 (2006.01); A61M 25/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 18/1492 (2013.01) [A61B 1/00087 (2013.01); A61B 5/6843 (2013.01); A61B 5/6852 (2013.01); A61B 18/1206 (2013.01); A61B 18/1233 (2013.01); A61B 18/14 (2013.01); A61B 18/148 (2013.01); A61B 18/1482 (2013.01); A61M 3/0295 (2013.01); A61M 25/001 (2013.01); A61M 25/007 (2013.01); A61M 25/0071 (2013.01); A61M 25/0082 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00039 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00053 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00154 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00477 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00526 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00867 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00011 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00029 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00065 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00077 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00083 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00089 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00101 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0016 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00166 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00214 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00238 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00267 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00351 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00357 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00642 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00714 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00726 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00744 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00767 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00791 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00797 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00815 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00821 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00839 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00875 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00904 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0091 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00982 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00988 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1417 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1465 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1467 (2013.01); A61B 2090/061 (2016.02); A61B 2090/065 (2016.02); A61B 2090/376 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3966 (2016.02); A61B 2217/007 (2013.01); A61B 2218/002 (2013.01); A61B 2218/003 (2013.01); A61M 2205/0266 (2013.01); A61M 2207/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A catheter, comprising:
an elongated shaft including a distal end portion; and
an expandable ablation electrode having (i) a proximal region coupled to the distal end portion of the elongated shaft and (ii) a distalmost region opposite the proximal region,
wherein the ablation electrode is transformable between a low-profile delivery state and an expanded treatment state for delivery of therapeutic energy to target tissue, and
wherein, when in the expanded treatment state
the ablation electrode has a shape that is symmetric in a radial dimension relative to a longitudinal axis extending through the proximal region and the distalmost region,
the ablation electrode has a maximum radial dimension greater than a maximum radial dimension of the distal end portion of the elongated shaft in an absence of external force applied to the ablation electrode,
the ablation electrode is configured such that blood or another fluid can flow therethrough, and
the ablation electrode is configured to deliver the therapeutic energy to the target tissue through an outer portion of the ablation electrode, including through the distalmost region of the ablation electrode, and independent of orientation of contact between the outer portion of the ablation electrode and the target tissue.