CONTROL METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ENERGY DELIVERY

• US 20070074719A1
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asthmatx, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kaplan, Gary, DANEK, Christopher, Wizeman, William, Dalbec, Tim
• Granted Patent: US 8,292,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.240
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• 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 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00541 Lung or bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/365 augmented reality, i.e. correlating a live optical image with another image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia

Abstract

Control systems and methods for delivery of energy that may include control algorithms that prevent energy delivery if a fault is detected and may provide energy delivery to produce a substantially constant temperature at a delivery site. In some embodiments, the control systems and methods may be used to control the delivery of energy, such as radiofrequency energy, to body tissue, such as lung tissue.

Claims

1. A method for delivering activation energy to an airway in a lung with a treatment device having an energy delivery element, the method comprising:

providing a controller having an energy generator, the controller being coupleable to the treatment device;

measuring a temperature with a temperature sensor mounted on the treatment device or an impedance of an energy emission circuit between the energy generator, the energy delivery element, and a patient; and

activating a visual indicator on a user interface if the measured temperature is not within a predetermined temperature range or the measured impedance is not within a pre-determined impedance range.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising precluding activation of the energy generator if the visual indicator is activated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-determined temperature range is about 15°

C. to about 35°

C.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-determined impedance is up to about 900 Ohms.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller delivers a maximum of 150 Joules of energy to target tissue in the airway in a time range between about 5 seconds to about 15 seconds in a temperature range of about 60°

C. to about 80°

C.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator comprises a treatment device indicator, a return electrode indicator, or a state indicator.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a state indicator if the energy generator exits a standby state and enters an activation state.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein changing the energy generator from the standby state to the activation state initiates a treatment cycle.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying a number of completed or uncompleted treatment cycles on the user interface.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating an audible signal generator simultaneously with activation of the visual indicator.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a bronchoscope monitor or a controller interface.

12. A system for treating an airway in a lung with an asthma treatment device, the system comprising:

a treatment device having an expandable electrode array configured to deliver energy to an airway in a lung;

a radio frequency generator configured to supply energy to the treatment device during a treatment cycle, wherein the treatment cycle is defined by a plurality of parameters; and

a controller having a processor and a user interface, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the user interface based on one or more of the plurality of parameters so as to ensure sufficient energy transfer to the airway so as to treat asthma.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a switch coupled to the generator or controller, the switch being configured to change the generator between a standby state and an activation state.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising a return electrode coupled to the generator or controller, wherein the return electrode is adapted to form a part of an energy emission circuit, wherein the user interface further includes a return electrode indicator.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of parameters includes a state of the generator, wherein the processor is further configured to trigger a state indicator on the user interface if the state of the generator changes.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of parameters includes a count of treatment cycles, wherein the user interface further includes a treatment cycle indicator displaying the count of treatment cycles.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the treatment cycle indicator displays a number of completed or uncompleted treatment cycles.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of parameters includes a temperature reading by a temperature sensor of the treatment device, wherein the processor is configured to trigger a treatment device indicator and to preclude the generator from entering an activation state when the temperature reading is not within a pre-determined temperature range.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the pre-determined temperature range is about 15°

C. to about 35°

C.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of parameters includes an impedance reading of an energy emission circuit defined by the generator, treatment device, and patient, wherein the processor is configured to trigger a treatment device indicator and preclude the generator from entering an activation state when the impedance reading of the energy emission circuit is greater than a pre-determined impedance.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the pre-determined impedance is 900 Ohms.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller further comprises an audible signal generator, wherein the processor is configured to activate the audible signal generator simultaneously with the user interface.

23. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to communicate with a bronchoscope processor or display.

24. A radio frequency controller comprising:

a radio frequency generator having an activation state and a standby state;

a processor coupled to the generator;

a user interface coupled to the processor, the user interface having a plurality of visual indicators activated by the processor and including a treatment device indicator and a state indicator, wherein the processor is configured to activate the state indicator if the generator is in the standby state or in the activation state; and

a connector for coupling a treatment device to the generator, wherein the connector is proximate to the treatment device indicator.

25. The controller of claim 24, wherein the visual indicators further include a generator indicator, and wherein the processor is configured to activate the generator indicator when the generator is in the activation state.

26. The controller of claim 24, further including a switch connector for coupling a switch to the generator, the switch being configured to change the generator between the standby state and the activation state.

27. The controller of claim 24, further including a return electrode connector for coupling a return electrode to the generator, and wherein the visual indicators further include a return electrode indicator located proximate to the return electrode connector.

28. The controller of claim 24, wherein the user interface further comprises a graphical representation of a switch, treatment device, return electrode or energy generator.

29. The controller of claim 24, wherein changing the generator from the standby state to the activation state initiates a treatment cycle, wherein the user interface comprises a treatment cycle indicator displaying a number of treatment cycles.

30. The controller of claim 29, wherein the treatment cycle indicator displays a number of completed or uncompleted treatment cycles.

31. The controller of claim 24, wherein the treatment device comprises a temperature detecting element, and wherein the processor is configured to activate one or more of the plurality of visual indicators and preclude the generator from entering the activation state when a temperature measured by the temperature detecting element is not within a pre-determined temperature range.

32. The controller of claim 31, wherein the predetermined temperature range is about 15°

C. to about 35°

C.

33. The controller of claim 24, wherein the treatment device, a patient, and the generator form an energy emission circuit, wherein the processor is configured to activate one or more of the plurality of visual indicators and preclude the generator from entering the activation state when an impedance of the energy emission circuit is greater than a pre-determined impedance.

34. The controller of claim 33, wherein the pre-determined impedance is 900 Ohms.

35. The controller of claim 24, wherein the controller further comprises an audible signal generator, wherein the processor is configured to activate the audible signal generator simultaneously with one or more of the plurality of visual indicators.

36. The controller of claim 24, wherein the controller is futher configured to communicate with a bronchoscope processor or display.