CARDIAC TISSUE ABLATION DEVICE

摘要

A device is provided for ablating tissue within a cavity of the heart using RF energy. The device may also be used to treat a variety of other tissue cavities. The ablation device includes an intracavity member such as an inflatable balloon (herein after balloon), a cavity filling member such as a foam rubber (herein after foam rubber) surrounding the intracavity member, and an electrode. The balloon assists in the placement of the foam rubber in contact with the tissue within the cavity being treated. The balloon is preferably shaped to enable the foam rubber to conform to the contours of the tissue cavity being treated. The foam rubber surrounds the balloon and is designed to receive a medium which inflates the foam rubber about the balloon such that the foam rubber closely conform to the cavity being treated. The foam rubber may be used to deliver therapeutic and diagnostic agents. These agents may be delivered throughout the foam rubber. Alternatively, the therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents may be selectively delivered to specific portions of the foam rubber and hence to specific sections of tissue surrounding the foam rubber. The electrode serves to deliver RF energy to the interior tissue layers of the cavity being treated. The electrode may be positioned on the exterior surface of the foam rubber such that it contacts the tissue. Alternatively, the electrode may be positioned within the wall of the foam rubber or on the interior surface of the foam rubber. Preferably however, the electrode is positioned within the foam rubber, for example, on the surface of the balloon, such that RF energy is conducted to the tissue through the electrolytic solution positioned between the balloon and the foam rubber.