Apparatus and method for diagnosis and therapy of electrophysiological disease

(54) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY OF ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL DISEASE

(75) Inventors: Matthias Vaska, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Benjamin Pless, Atherton, CA (US);
David A. Gallup, Hayward, CA (US);
Jack E. Ulstad JR., Boulder Creek, CA
(US); Scott C. Anderson, Sunnyvale,
CA (US); Roxanne L. Richman, Los
Gatos, CA (US)

Correspondence Address:
HOEKENDIJK & LYNCH, LLP
P.O. BOX 4787

BURLINGAME, CA 94011-4787 (US) (73) Assignee: EPICOR, INC.

(21) Appl. No.: 10/232,963

(22) Filed: Aug. 30, 2002

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation of application No. 09/440,823, filed on Nov. 15, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,484,727, which is a

continuation of application No. 09/356,476, filed on Jul. 19, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,311,692, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 09/157,824, filed on Sep. 21,1998, now Pat. No. 6,237,605, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/943, 683, filed on Oct. 15, 1997, now Pat. No. 6,161,543, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/735,036, filed on Oct. 22, 1996, now abandoned.

Publication Classification

(51) Int. CI.7 A61B 19/00

(52) U.S. CI 128/898; 606/41

(57) ABSTRACT

The invention provides apparatus and methods for mapping conduction pathways and creating lesions in the heart wall for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The apparatus may include at least one epicardial ablation probe having a plurality of electrodes for creating a lesion. The apparatus and method facilitate the formation of a lesion which electrically isolates the pulmonary veins from the surrounding myocardium.