Surgical ablation system with sliding ablation device

• US 20040147912A1
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cardiofocus Incorporated
• Inventors: Sinofsky, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US10/756,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20040147912A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/15
• 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 18/22 the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; Couplings or hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22058 reflective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22059 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2238 with means for selectively laterally deflecting the tip of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2261 with scattering, diffusion or dispersion of light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2272 with reflective or refractive surfaces for deflecting the beam A61B2018/2261, A61B2018/2266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2288 the optical fibre cable having a curved distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for ablation of diseased tissue. The method includes introducing a flexible elongate member into a predetermined tissue site with a flexible elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal first lumen extending therebetween. A slidable conductor is positioned through the lumen proximate to the tissue site and energy is transmitted to the distal end of the elongate member through the conductor. A deflection member fixedly attached to the distal end of the elongate member can be manipulated to cause the distal end of the elongate member to bend. The target tissue is ablated, coagulated or photochemically modulated without damaging surrounding tissue. The apparatus can be energy transparent and include deflection members to manipulate distal portions of the apparatus. Suitable types of energy for ablation include ultrasound and laser energy.

Claims

1. An ablation device for remotely applying ablative energy to biological tissue comprising:

a flexible elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal first lumen extending therebetween;

an energy emitting element having a proximal end and a distal end, said energy emitting element being slidably disposed within said first lumen for transmitting energy to said distal end of said elongate member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a deflection member fixedly attached to said distal end of said elongate member, said deflection member having a proximal end and a distal end.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further including a control handle mounted at the proximal end of said deflection member for flexing said deflection member longitudinally relative to said elongate member, thereby causing said distal end of said elongate member to bend.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an energy source in communication with said proximal end of said energy emitting element effective to transmit energy through said element.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said energy source is a source of light, microwave, heated liquid, cryogenic ultrasound, or electric current energy.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy emitting element is a radiant energy emitter.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the radiant energy emitter comprises a light transmitting optical fiber adapted to receive radiant energy from a light source.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the optical fiber includes a light diffusing tip at a distal end.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy emitting element is an electrode.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the energy emitting element further comprises an RF electrode.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy emitting element comprises an ultrasound emitter.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy emitting element comprises a microwave emitter.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said deflection member comprises a second concentric tubular structure.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said deflection member is transparent to emitted energy.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising reflective material at said distal end of said elongate member to direct emitted energy into the tissue.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said reflective material is gold.

17. A method for phototherapeutically modulating a target tissue, comprising the steps of:

introducing a flexible elongate member into a predetermined tissue site, said flexible elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal first lumen extending therebetween and a deflection member fixedly attached to said distal end of said elongate member, said deflection member having a proximal end and a distal end;

manipulating said deflection member longitudinally relative to said elongate member, thereby causing said distal end of said elongate member to bend;

positioning a slidable energy emitting element in said lumen proximate to said tissue site; and

transmitting energy to said distal end of said elongate member through said energy emitting element, such that said target tissue is ablated, coagulated or phototherapeutically modulated without damaging surrounding tissue.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said energy is transmitted through a transparent portion of the flexible elongate member.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the energy emitting element is a light emitter, and the step of transmitting further comprises activating the light emitter to project light energy onto the target tissue.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of transmitting energy further comprises delivering photoablative radiation at a desired wavelength ranging from about 800 nm to about 1000 nm.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of transmitting energy further comprises delivering photoablative radiation at a desired wavelength ranging from about 915 nm to about 980 nm.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the energy emitting element is an ultrasound emitter, and the step of transmitting further comprises activating the ultrasound emitter to project acoustic energy onto the target tissue.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the energy emitting element is a radiation emitter, and the step of transmitting further comprises activating the radiation emitter to project radiative energy onto the target tissue.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the radiative energy is selected from the group consisting of microwave, x-ray, gamma-ray, and ionizing radiation.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein said energy emitting element is repeatedly advanced through said lumen.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of repeating the steps of positioning and transmitting until a composite lesion of a desired shape is formed.