Ablation probe with fluid-based acoustic coupling for ultrasonic tissue imaging
First Claim
1. An ablation system for treating and imaging body tissue, the system comprising:
- a probe comprising;
an elongate probe body having a proximal section and a distal section;
an ablation electrode coupled to the distal section of the elongate probe body, the ablation electrode comprising a conductive shell having an interior, the ablation electrode configured for delivering ablation energy to body tissue;
a plurality of openings disposed through the ablation electrode;
a distal insert arranged within the interior of the conductive shell, the distal insert comprising a plurality of recesses;
a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors, wherein each ultrasonic imaging sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors is disposed within a recess of the plurality of recesses of the distal insert;
an acoustically transparent tubular member disposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the openings; and
at least one fluid channel, wherein each fluid channel of the at least one fluid channel is interposed between an ultrasonic imaging sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors and an opening of the plurality of openings,a fluid source configured for delivering cooling fluid through the at least one fluid channel of the probe, the cooling fluid configured to acoustically couple the ultrasonic imaging sensors to the body tissue;
a radio frequency generator configured for generating and supplying an electrical ablation energy to the ablation electrode of the probe configured to ablate tissue; and
a processor configured for processing ultrasonic imaging signals received from the ultrasonic imaging sensors of the probe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and systems for ultrasonically imaging tissue and performing ablation therapy are disclosed. An ablation probe for treating and imaging body tissue includes an ablation electrode tip with a number of acoustic openings and a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors disposed within an interior lumen of the tip. The ultrasonic imaging sensors are supported within the interior lumen via an insert equipped with a number of recesses that receive the ultrasonic imaging sensors. An acoustically transparent shell disposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustic openings forms a fluid channel in the acoustic pathway of the sensors. During an ablation procedure, cooling fluid from an external fluid source is delivered through the fluid channel, providing an acoustic coupling effect between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the surrounding body tissue.
370 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An ablation system for treating and imaging body tissue, the system comprising:
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a probe comprising; an elongate probe body having a proximal section and a distal section; an ablation electrode coupled to the distal section of the elongate probe body, the ablation electrode comprising a conductive shell having an interior, the ablation electrode configured for delivering ablation energy to body tissue; a plurality of openings disposed through the ablation electrode; a distal insert arranged within the interior of the conductive shell, the distal insert comprising a plurality of recesses; a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors, wherein each ultrasonic imaging sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors is disposed within a recess of the plurality of recesses of the distal insert; an acoustically transparent tubular member disposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the openings; and at least one fluid channel, wherein each fluid channel of the at least one fluid channel is interposed between an ultrasonic imaging sensor of the plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors and an opening of the plurality of openings, a fluid source configured for delivering cooling fluid through the at least one fluid channel of the probe, the cooling fluid configured to acoustically couple the ultrasonic imaging sensors to the body tissue; a radio frequency generator configured for generating and supplying an electrical ablation energy to the ablation electrode of the probe configured to ablate tissue; and a processor configured for processing ultrasonic imaging signals received from the ultrasonic imaging sensors of the probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification