Ablation systems and methods using heat shunt networks

• US 10,499,983 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2016
• Issued: 12/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EPIX Therapeutics, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: EPIX Therapeutics, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Schultheis, Eric Andrew, Koblish, Josef Vincent, Panescu, Dorin
• Primary Examiner(s): Fowler, Daniel W
• Application Number:
  US15/336,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20170042613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00101 low, i.e. thermally insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00357 Endocardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00672 lower
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00714 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00815 measured by a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/128 : generating two or more frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 : using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 : with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 : in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 : Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/068 : using impedance sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150954 : Means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. by temperature sensitive sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 : Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 : Catheters

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a medical instrument (for example, an ablation device) comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an energy delivery member positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, a first plurality of temperature-measurement devices carried by or positioned within the energy delivery member, the first plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member, and a second plurality of temperature-measurement devices positioned proximal to a proximal end of the energy delivery member, the second plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member.

Claims

1. An ablation device comprising:

an elongate body comprising a distal end;

an electrode positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, the electrode defining an outer surface and an inner surface;

a plurality of thermal shunt members in thermal communication with the electrode to selectively remove heat from at least one of the electrode and tissue being treated by the electrode when the electrode is activated;

a first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members extends at least partially through an interior of the electrode to dissipate and remove heat from the electrode during use;

a second one of the plurality of thermal shunt members being disposed proximal to the electrode and a third one of the plurality of thermal shunt members being disposed distal to the electrode, an outer surface of the third one of the plurality of thermal shunt members being substantially flush with the outer surface of the electrode, the second one and the third one of the plurality of thermal shunt members being differently sized;

at least one fluid conduit extending at least partially through an interior of the elongate body and at least partially through an interior of the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members, the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members is in thermal communication with the at least one fluid conduit, the at least one fluid conduit being configured to place the electrode in fluid communication with a fluid source to selectively remove heat from the electrode or tissue.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrode comprises a first electrode portion and at least a second electrode portion, wherein an electrically insulating gap is located between the first electrode portion and the at least a second electrode portion to facilitate high-resolution mapping along a targeted anatomical area.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members comprises a thermal diffusivity greater than 1.5 cm²/sec.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid conduit comprises at least one opening.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members comprises a diamond.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members comprises Graphene or another carbon-based material.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid conduit is in direct thermal communication with the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid conduit is in indirect thermal communication with the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid conduit comprises at least one opening, wherein the at least one opening places irrigation fluid passing through the at least one fluid conduit in direct physical contact with at least a portion of the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members.

10. An ablation device comprising:

an elongate body comprising a distal end;

an ablation member positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, the ablation member defining an outer surface and an inner surface;

a plurality of thermal shunt members placing a heat shunting element in thermal communication with the ablation member to selectively remove heat from at least a portion of the ablation member or tissue being treated by the ablation member when the ablation member is activated the heat shunting element of the at least a first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members extends at least partially through an interior of the ablation member to dissipate heat generated by the ablation member during use;

a second one of the plurality of thermal shunt members being disposed proximal to the ablation member and a third one of the plurality of thermal shunt members being disposed distal to the ablation member, an outer surface of the third one of the plurality of thermal shunt members being substantially flush with the outer surface of the ablation member, the second one and the third one of the plurality of thermal shunt members being differently sized; and

at least one fluid conduit extending at least partially through an interior of the elongate body, the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members is in thermal communication with the at least one fluid conduit.

11. The device of claim 10,

wherein the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members comprises a thermal diffusivity greater than 1.5 cm²/sec;

wherein the at least one fluid conduit extends at least partially through an interior of the at least one thermal shunt member; and

wherein the at least one fluid conduit comprises at least one opening.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members comprises a thermal diffusivity greater than 1.5 cm²/sec.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the at least one fluid conduit extends at least partially through an interior of the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members, the at least one fluid conduit comprising at least one opening.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the ablation member comprises a first electrode portion and at least a second electrode portion, wherein an electrically insulating gap is located between the first electrode portion and the at least a second electrode portion to facilitate high-resolution mapping along a targeted anatomical area.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members comprises a diamond.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members comprises a carbon-based material.

17. An ablation device comprising:

an elongate body;

an ablation member positioned at or proximate to a distal end of the elongate body, the ablation member defining an outer surface and an inner surface;

a plurality of thermal shunt members in thermal communication with the ablation member, the plurality of thermal shunt members being configured to remove heat from at least a portion of the ablation member or tissue being treated by the ablation member when the ablation member is activated;

a first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members at least partially through an interior of the ablation member to dissipate heat generated by the ablation member during use;

a second one of the plurality of thermal shunt members being disposed proximal to the ablation member and a third one of the plurality of thermal shunt members being disposed distal to the ablation member, an outer surface of the third one of the plurality of thermal shunt members being substantially flush with the outer surface of the ablation member, the second one and the third one of the plurality of thermal shunt members being differently sized; and

at least one fluid conduit extending at least partially through an interior of the elongate body, wherein the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members is in thermal communication with the at least one fluid conduit.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members comprises a thermal diffusivity greater than 1.5 cm²/sec.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one fluid conduit extends at least partially through an interior of the first one of the plurality of thermal shunt members.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the ablation member comprises a first electrode portion and at least a second electrode portion, wherein an electrically insulating gap is located between the first electrode portion and the at least a second electrode portion to facilitate high-resolution mapping along a targeted anatomical area.