Ablation Catheter With Sensor Array And Discrimination Circuit To Minimize Variation In Power Density
First Claim
1. A catheter comprisingan elongate shaft defining a fluid lumen;
- a proximal section;
a virtual electrode ablation section at a distal end of the elongate shaft in fluid communication with the fluid lumen;
a plurality of sensors positioned along the virtual electrode ablation section of the elongate shaft, and wherein each of the plurality of sensors further comprisesan electrically conductive material; and
an insulating coating substantially covering the electrically conductive material; and
a plurality of sensor leads extending from the proximal section to the virtual electrode ablation section, wherein each of the plurality of sensor leads is coupled with a respective one of the plurality of sensors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter is designed with a virtual electrode structure for creating a linear lesion. The catheter includes a sensor array that measures temperatures of adjacent tissue along the length of the virtual electrode section. The sensors in the sensor array include a conductive material that is substantially coated with an electrically and thermally insulating material. An aperture is formed in the insulating coating to expose an area of the conductive material. Leads are coupled with each sensor and are connected at their opposite, proximal ends with a discrimination circuit. The circuit processes the signals induced in the sensors to output a single temperature measurement, for example, the highest temperature, the lowest temperature, or the average temperature. The sensors also measure cardiac electrical activity and the leads are further connected to an electrocardiograph monitor to determine the efficacy of treatment.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A catheter comprising
an elongate shaft defining a fluid lumen; -
a proximal section; a virtual electrode ablation section at a distal end of the elongate shaft in fluid communication with the fluid lumen; a plurality of sensors positioned along the virtual electrode ablation section of the elongate shaft, and wherein each of the plurality of sensors further comprises an electrically conductive material; and an insulating coating substantially covering the electrically conductive material; and a plurality of sensor leads extending from the proximal section to the virtual electrode ablation section, wherein each of the plurality of sensor leads is coupled with a respective one of the plurality of sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A circuit for discriminating between a plurality of temperature measurements generated by an array of sensors positioned on an ablation catheter, the circuit comprising:
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an input signal receiving component for receiving a plurality of input signals from individual sensors in the sensor array corresponding to the plurality of temperature measurements; a plurality of amplifier components, each having a first input, a second input, and an output, wherein said first input of each amplifier component is coupled with said input signal receiving component for receiving a respective one of the plurality of input signals; a plurality of rectifier components, each having a first terminal and a second terminal;
wherein said first terminal of each rectifier component is coupled with said output of a respective one of said plurality of amplifier components;a feedback loop coupled with said second terminal of each of said plurality of rectifier components and further coupled with said second input of each of said plurality of amplifier components;
wherein the voltage level of said feedback loop substantially follows a voltage received atone of said plurality of said input signal receiving components; andan output component coupled with said feedback loop for providing an output signal corresponding to said voltage level of said feedback loop. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for discriminating between a plurality of temperature measurements during the performance of a cardiac ablation procedure, the system comprising
a catheter comprising an elongate shaft defining a fluid lumen; -
a proximal section; a virtual electrode ablation section at a distal end of the elongate shaft in fluid communication with the fluid lumen; an electrode lead extending through the proximal section to distal end and electrically exposed within the fluid lumen in the virtual electrode ablation section; a plurality of sensors positioned along the virtual electrode ablation section of the elongate shaft, and wherein each of the plurality of sensors further comprises a conductive material; and an insulating coating substantially covering the conductive material, wherein the insulating coating defines a sensing aperture that exposes an area of the conductive material; and a plurality of sensor leads extending from the virtual electrode ablation section to the proximal section, wherein each of the plurality of sensor leads is coupled with a respective one of the plurality of sensors; a circuit comprising an input signal receiving component for receiving a plurality of input signals from individual sensors in the sensor array corresponding to the plurality of temperature measurements; a plurality of amplifier components, each having a first input, a second input, and an output, wherein said first input of each amplifier component is coupled with said input signal receiving component for receiving a respective one of the plurality of input signals; a plurality of rectifier components, each having a first terminal and a second terminal;
wherein said first terminal of each rectifier component is coupled with said output of a respective one of said plurality of amplifier components;a feedback loop coupled with said second terminal of each of said plurality of rectifier components and further coupled with said second input of each of said plurality of amplifier components;
wherein the voltage level of said feedback loop substantially follows a voltage received atone of said plurality of said input signal receiving components; andan energy source comprising an input electrically coupled with the output component of the circuit; and an output electrically coupled with the electrode lead. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A sensor for use in conjunction with a cardiac ablation catheter, the sensor comprising
a conductive band encircling an outer surface of the catheter; -
an insulating coating substantially covering an outer surface of the conductive band, wherein the insulating coating defines a sensing aperture exposing a portion of the conductive band; and at least one lead wire electrically coupled with the conductive band. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification