ELECTROSURGICAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THE REMOVAL OF PACEMAKER LEADS

摘要

Systems, methods and apparatus for removing implanted objects from a patient's body, particularly implanted endocardial or epicardial pacemaker leads and transvenous defibrillation leads from a patient's heart. In one aspect of the invention, an electrosurgical catheter (60) is advanced to a position within the thoracic cavity adjacent a portion of a pacemaker lead that is affixed to heart tissue. Preferably, the catheter (60) is advanced over the pacemaker lead, i.e., using the pacemaker lead as a guidewire, to facilitate this positioning step. Once the distal end of the catheter reaches a blockage, or a portion of the lead that is attached to fibrous scar tissue, a high frequency voltage difference is applied between one or more electrode terminal(s) at the distal end of the catheter and one or more return electrode(s) to remove the scar tissue around the lead.