Claims
- 1. A method for treating atrial arrhythmia in a patient by forming a conduction block along a circumferential region of tissue at a location where a pulmonary vein extends from an atrium, comprising:
providing a surgical ablation probe having a handle and a shaft with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein said shaft further comprises an anchoring mechanism and an circumferential ablation member located along said distal end portion of said shaft; inserting said shaft through an opening in a patient's chest; advancing said surgical ablation probe into said atrium; anchoring said circumferential ablation member at said location; and supplying energy to said circumferential ablation member, such that said circumferential ablation member ablatively couples to at least a portion of said circumferential region of tissue, thereby forming said conduction block.
- 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring an electrical activity of said atrium before supplying energy to said circumferential ablation member, in order to identify said location.
- 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring an electrical activity of said atrium after supplying energy to said circumferential ablation member, in order to evaluate said efficacy of said conduction block in treating said arrhythmia.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said surgical ablation probe is advanced into said atrium via trans-thoracic surgery.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said surgical ablation probe is advanced into said atrium through an atriotomy in a left atrial appendage.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said surgical ablation probe is advanced into said atrium via a minimally invasive access technique.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said access technique comprises a chest access device.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said chest access device comprises a trocar.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/877,620 filed on Jun. 8, 2001, and claims priority thereto under 35 U.S.C. §121. The present application also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/212879, filed Jun. 13, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60212879 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09877620 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Child |
10374468 |
Feb 2003 |
US |