Inventors:
Vivek Reddy - Boston MA, US
Assignee:
The General Hospital Corporation - Boston MA
International Classification:
A61B 18/20, A61M 25/10, A61B 18/18, A61B 18/02
US Classification:
606 14, 60410102, 606 33, 606 21
Abstract:
Along with the advancement of cryoablation procedures, there have been developments resulting in technology that can use catheters adapted with cryogenic balloons containing two non-compliant membranes. These cryogenic balloons do not contact significant portions of the targeted tissue, which can result in a longer than desirable ablation procedure. It may be advantageous for these cryogenic balloons to conform to the targeted tissue more effectively than prior advancements have enabled. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an expansion chamber can contain an inner membrane and an outer membrane. In an exemplary expansion membrane, the outer membrane can conform to an anatomical structure during an ablation procedure and the inner membrane can facilitate a selective expansion of the outer membrane. In a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the inner membrane can be provided with a plurality of membranes. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an energy facilitating arrangement can be provided within the inner membrane. For example, cryogenic fluid, a laser or a RF coil can be provided as the energy facilitating arrangements within the inner membrane.