Ablation catheter with fluid distribution structures
First Claim
1. A catheter with a distal ablation electrode section, the catheter comprising:
- a proximal section;
an ablation section at a distal end of the catheter;
a catheter wall defining at least one fluid lumen extending from the proximal section to the ablation section;
an electrode lead positioned within the at least one fluid lumen extending within the ablation section;
at least one dispersion opening within the catheter wall in the ablation section oriented longitudinally along a length of the ablation section, wherein the at least one dispersion opening is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid lumen; and
a length of mesh material generally coextensive with and positioned adjacent to the at least one dispersion opening on the opposing side of the at least one dispersion opening from the at least one fluid lumen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ablation catheter has improved fluid distribution structures. An ablation section at a distal end of the catheter is designed to provide a more uniform fluid flow emanating from the catheter. By creating a uniform fluid flow, a more uniform tissue lesion results and the possibility of charring the tissue is reduced. A combination of mesh material layers, porous materials, and dispersion channels or openings are used to achieve the uniform flow. The amount of fluid used as a virtual electrode to ablate the tissue is greatly reduced with the present invention. Further, the catheter may be used to create a single, uniform linear lesion by successive application of energy to adjacent portions of the ablation section, thus reducing the power required to create the desired lesion.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A catheter with a distal ablation electrode section, the catheter comprising:
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a proximal section;
an ablation section at a distal end of the catheter;
a catheter wall defining at least one fluid lumen extending from the proximal section to the ablation section;
an electrode lead positioned within the at least one fluid lumen extending within the ablation section;
at least one dispersion opening within the catheter wall in the ablation section oriented longitudinally along a length of the ablation section, wherein the at least one dispersion opening is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid lumen; and
a length of mesh material generally coextensive with and positioned adjacent to the at least one dispersion opening on the opposing side of the at least one dispersion opening from the at least one fluid lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A catheter with a distal ablation electrode tip comprising:
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a proximal section;
an ablation section at a distal end of the catheter;
a catheter wall defining at least one fluid lumen extending from the proximal section to the ablation section;
at least one dispersion opening within the catheter wall in the ablation section oriented longitudinally along a length of the ablation section, wherein the at least one dispersion opening is in fluid communication with the at least one fluid lumen;
an irrigation cavity positioned within the ablation section of the catheter;
an elongate opening in an outside surface of the catheter wall in fluid communication with the irrigation cavity;
whereinthe at least one dispersion opening provides fluid communication between the at least one fluid lumen and the irrigation cavity;
a tube-shaped, conductive mesh material generally coextensive with and positioned within the irrigation cavity;
a porous material positioned within and filling a lumen of the tube-shaped, conductive mesh material; and
an electrode lead coupled with the tube-shaped, conductive mesh material. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A catheter with a distal ablation electrode tip comprising:
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a proximal section;
an ablation section at a distal end of the catheter;
a catheter wall defining at least one fluid lumen extending from the proximal section to the ablation section;
an irrigation cavity formed by the distal end of the fluid lumen within the ablation section of the catheter;
a tube-shaped, conductive mesh material generally coextensive with and positioned within the irrigation cavity;
whereinthe tube-shaped, conductive mesh material has a first outer diameter and a first inner diameter; and
the first outer diameter is sized to fit snugly within an inner diameter of the irrigation cavity;
a tube-shaped porous material with a second outer diameter and a second inner diameter;
whereinthe second outer diameter is sized to fit snugly within the first inner diameter of the first tube;
an elongate opening in an outside surface of the catheter wall in fluid communication with the irrigation cavity; and
an electrode lead coupled with the tube-shaped, conductive mesh material.
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31. A catheter with a distal ablation electrode tip comprising:
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a proximal section;
an ablation section at a distal end of the catheter;
a catheter wall defining a first fluid lumen extending from the proximal section to the ablation section and a second fluid lumen extending from the proximal section to the ablation section;
an irrigation cavity positioned within the ablation section of the catheter;
an insulating plug positioned within the irrigation cavity and separating the irrigation cavity into a proximal portion and a distal portion;
a first dispersion opening within the catheter wall in the ablation section oriented longitudinally along a length of the ablation section, wherein the first dispersion opening is in fluid communication with both the first fluid lumen and the proximal portion of the irrigation cavity;
a second dispersion opening within the catheter wall in the ablation section oriented longitudinally along a length of the ablation section, wherein the second dispersion opening is in fluid communication with both the second fluid lumen and the distal portion of the irrigation cavity;
an elongate opening in an outside surface of the catheter wall in fluid communication with the irrigation cavity, wherein the elongate opening is subdivided into a proximal opening and a distal opening separated by a bridge member;
the proximal opening is generally coextensive with the proximal portion of the irrigation cavity;
the distal opening is generally coextensive with the distal portion of the irrigation cavity; and
the bridge member connects a top edge of the elongate opening to a bottom edge of the elongate opening;
a first tube-shaped, conductive mesh section generally coextensive with and positioned within the proximal portion of the irrigation cavity;
a second tube-shaped, conductive mesh section generally coextensive with and positioned within the distal portion of the irrigation cavity, wherein the first tube-shaped, conductive mesh section is electrically insulated from the second tube-shaped, conductive mesh section by the insulating plug;
a first porous material section positioned within and filling the first tube-shaped, conductive mesh section;
a second porous material section positioned within and filling the second tube-shaped, conductive mesh section, wherein the first porous material section is fluidly isolated from the second porous material section by the insulating plug; and
an electrode lead coupled with the tube-shaped, conductive mesh material.
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32. A method of creating a uniform flow of a fluid emanating from an ablation section at a distal end of a catheter, the method comprising
flowing a conductive fluid through a lumen in the catheter, wherein a first pressure drop across the conductive fluid in the lumen is created between a proximal end of the catheter and the ablation section; -
flowing the conductive fluid from the lumen through a porous material positioned in the ablation section;
wherein a second pressure drop is created between a first surface of the porous material and a second surface of the porous material; and
wherein the second pressure drop through the porous material is higher than the first pressure drop; and
flowing the conductive fluid through a mesh electrode adjacent the porous material. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification