Abstract: A cardiac ablation catheter includes a coil-like ablating element that is deployable from an elongate, flexible sheath. The ablating element, while in the deployed position, has a shape with at least one revolution oriented in a plane that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The catheter system is well-suited to ablate a circumferential region of tissue about a pulmonary vein or the posterior wall of the left atrium proximate the pulmonary vein os. The treated tissue region electrically isolates the atria from the pulmonary vein.

Abstract: A system for treating atrial fibrillation includes a stent and a delivery catheter for carrying the stent to a treatment site. The stent is self-expanding, for example, being formed of a shape memory alloy, and is configured to lodge against the interior wall of a pulmonary vein. The stent may be formed as a loop, helix, progressively wound helix or other suitable shape, and in one embodiment has an exposed proximal portion including an ablation region that contacts and subtends a circumference of the vein, or contacts endocardial wall tissue along a circumferential path at the ostium. The proximal portion is attached to an energy delivery line in the catheter to energize the stent and ablate tissue in the circumferential region, forming a lesion to block conduction across the ostium or preventing trigger signals originating in the pulmonary vein from initiating or sustaining fibrillation in the atrium.

Abstract: A cardiac ablation catheter includes a coil-like ablating element that is deployable from an elongate, flexible sheath. The ablating element, while in the deployed position, has a shape with at least one revolution oriented in a plane that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The catheter system is well-suited to ablate a circumferential region of tissue about a pulmonary vein or the posterior wall of the left atrium proximate the pulmonary vein os. The treated tissue region electrically isolates the atria from the pulmonary vein.

Abstract: A system for treating atrial fibrillation includes a stent and a delivery catheter for carrying the stent to a treatment site. The stent is self-expanding, for example, being formed of a shape memory alloy, and is configured to lodge against the interior wall of a pulmonary vein. The stent may be formed as a loop, helix, progressively wound helix or other suitable shape, and in one embodiment has an exposed proximal portion including an ablation region that contacts and subtends a circumference of the vein, or contacts endocardial wall tissue along a circumferential path at the ostium. The proximal portion is attached to an energy delivery line in the catheter to energize the stent and ablate tissue in the circumferential region, forming a lesion to block conduction across the ostium or preventing trigger signals originating in the pulmonary vein from initiating or sustaining fibrillation in the atrium.

Abstract: A cardiac ablation catheter includes a coil-like ablating element that is deployable from an elongate, flexible sheath. The ablating element, while in the deployed position, has a shape with at least one revolution oriented in a plane that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The catheter system is well-suited to ablate a circumferential region of tissue about a pulmonary vein or the posterior wall of the left atrium proximate the pulmonary vein os. The treated tissue region electrically isolates the atria from the pulmonary vein.

Abstract: A cardiac ablation catheter includes a coil-like ablating element that is deployable from an elongate, flexible sheath. The ablating element, while in the deployed position, has a shape with at least one revolution oriented in a plane that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The catheter system is well-suited to ablate a circumferential region of tissue about a pulmonary vein or the posterior wall of the left atrium proximate the pulmonary vein os. The treated tissue region electrically isolates the atria from the pulmonary vein.