Appeal No. 1999-2540
Application 08/770,411
DISCUSSION
Imran, the examiner’s primary reference, discloses an
apparatus and method for cooled, radio frequency generated
ablation of heart tissue. As described by Imran,
the present invention embodies a catheter for radio
frequency ablation with a cooled electrode for use
in a heart having a wall forming at least one
chamber with blood therein. The catheter [11] is
comprised of a flexible elongate member [12] having
proximal and distal extremities [13 and 14]. An
electrode [16] is mounted on the distal extremity of
the flexible elongate member and has a cavity [17]
therein. Means [a conductor 31 in communication
with a radio frequency supply and controller 76] is
provided which extends through the flexible elongate
member from the proximal to the distal extremity for
supplying radio frequency energy to the tip
electrode. The flexible elongate member is provided
with a first lumen [27] therein extending from the
proximal extremity to the distal extremity and being
in communication with the electrode. Means [pump
66] is provided for introducing a cooling liquid
into the lumen. The means for introducing the
cooling liquid into the lumen includes means for
adjusting the pressure of the liquid in the lumen at
the electrode so that it approximates the pressure
of the blood in the chamber of the heart in which
the distal extremity is disposed [column 2, lines 38
through 57].
Of additional interest is Imran’s disclosure that in
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