TISSUE VISUALIZATION DEVICE AND METHOD VARIATIONS

• US 20080058591A1
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Voyage Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Saadat, Vahid, Tam, Edmund, Peh, Ruey-Feng, Rothe, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 8,221,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0008 characterised by distal tip features
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00085 Baskets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00089 Hoods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00091 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/005 Flexible endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/012 characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/015 Control of fluid supply or evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/048 for reducing heart wall tension, e.g. sutures with a pad on each extremity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 : Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 : Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 : in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

Tissue visualization devices and variations thereof are described herein where such devices may utilize a variety of methods for facilitating clearing of the device of opaque bodily fluids and sealing between the device and the underlying tissue surface. Additionally, methods and devices for enhancing navigation of the device through a patient body are also described.

Claims

1. A tissue treatment system, comprising:

a catheter having a flexible length and at least one lumen therethrough;

a barrier or membrane projecting distally from the catheter and having a first low-profile configuration and a second expanded configuration defining an open area therein; and

a contact portion extending circumferentially about a distal end of the barrier or membrane wherein the contact portion is configured to contact a tissue region to be visualized and fluidly isolate the open area.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the barrier or membrane comprises a conical configuration.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an imaging element positioned within or along the barrier or membrane such that the imaging element visualizes the open area.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the contact portion is integral with the barrier or membrane.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one biasing suspension element positioned over or along the contact portion such that contacted tissue is gripped by the at least one biasing suspension element.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of projections extending distally from the contact portion.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an electromagnetic ring or members positioned about the contact portion and a magnetic member extending through the barrier or membrane.

8. A tissue treatment system, comprising:

a catheter having a flexible length and at least one lumen therethrough;

a barrier or membrane projecting distally from the catheter and having a first low-profile configuration and a second expanded configuration defining an open area therein; and

a circumferential contact portion extending from a distal end of the barrier or membrane such that the contact portion overlies a tissue region and extends an area of the tissue region to be visualized.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the barrier or membrane comprises a conical configuration.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising an imaging element positioned within or along the barrier or membrane such that the imaging element visualizes the open area.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the contact portion is integral with the barrier or membrane.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising at least one biasing suspension element positioned over or along the contact portion such that contacted tissue is gripped by the at least one biasing suspension element.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of projections extending distally from the contact portion.

14. The system of claim 8 further comprising an electromagnetic ring or members positioned about the contact portion and a magnetic member extending through the barrier or membrane.

15. A method of treating a tissue region within a body lumen, comprising:

positioning an open area of a barrier or membrane against or adjacent to the tissue region to be treated;

temporarily sealing the barrier or membrane to the tissue region via a contact portion extending from the barrier or membrane;

displacing an opaque fluid with a transparent fluid from the open area defined by the barrier or membrane and the tissue region; and

visualizing the tissue region within the open area through the transparent fluid.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein positioning comprises advancing the barrier or membrane into an atrial chamber of a heart.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein temporarily sealing comprises positioning the contact portion of the barrier or membrane circumferentially upon the tissue region.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein temporarily sealing comprises adhering the contact portion to the tissue region via projections extending from contact portion.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein temporarily sealing comprises adhering the contact portion to the tissue region via at least one biasing suspension element.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein temporarily sealing comprises adhering the contact portion to the tissue region via magnetic attraction between an electromagnetic ring positioned about the contact portion and a magnetic element positioned within the barrier or membrane.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein displacing comprises infusing a transparent fluid into the open area such that blood is displaced from an interior of the barrier or membrane.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein infusing comprises injecting one or more streams of the transparent fluid into the open area in a spiral mailer.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein visualizing comprises viewing the tissue region via an imaging element disposed within the open area.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the imaging element is positioned along or upon the interior surface of the barrier or membrane.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the imaging element comprises a CMOS, CCD, or optical fiber.