Ablation Devices and Methods With Ultrasonic Imaging
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- (a) a structure including a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and an expansible ablation device mounted to said catheter adjacent said distal end thereof, said ablation device having an expanded condition and a collapsed condition, a continuous passageway extending from adjacent said proximal end of said catheter to said ablation device; and
(b) an ultrasonic imaging probe including at least one imaging transducer, said probe being adapted to image structures in the vicinity of said imaging transducer, said probe having an operative condition in which said probe is positioned in said passageway and said imaging transducer is disposed adjacent said ablation device, said probe being removable from said passageway.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Ablation apparatus such as a catheter (10) carrying an ultrasonic ablation device (20) including an ablation transducer (42) and a balloon reflector structure (22, 24) for directing ultrasonic energy from the ablation transducer into a ring-like ablation region (A) is provided with an imaging ultrasonic transducer (86) mounted on an imaging probe (80) which may be inserted into or through a passageway (18, 65) extending through the catheter and into or through the ablation device to image the ablation region or neighboring regions. Alternatively, the imaging transducer (102, 202) may be mounted within the balloon reflector structure or distal to this structure.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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(a) a structure including a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and an expansible ablation device mounted to said catheter adjacent said distal end thereof, said ablation device having an expanded condition and a collapsed condition, a continuous passageway extending from adjacent said proximal end of said catheter to said ablation device; and (b) an ultrasonic imaging probe including at least one imaging transducer, said probe being adapted to image structures in the vicinity of said imaging transducer, said probe having an operative condition in which said probe is positioned in said passageway and said imaging transducer is disposed adjacent said ablation device, said probe being removable from said passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus comprising:
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(a) a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) an expansible ablation device mounted to said catheter adjacent said distal end thereof, said ablation device having an expanded condition and a collapsed condition, said ablation device in said expanded condition having an axis extending generally proximally and distally, said ablation device including an ultrasonic ablation transducer disposed adjacent said axis and a reflector extending around said axis, said reflector being operative to direct ultrasonic waves emitted by said transducer generally distally into a loop-like ablation region encircling said axis, and (c) an ultrasonic imaging transducer separate from said ultrasonic ablation transducer, said ultrasonic imaging transducer being disposed adjacent said axis when said ablation device is in said expanded condition, said ablation transducer being operative to send ultrasonic waves to said reflector so that said waves are reflected generally distally by said reflector, said imaging transducer being operative to receive return waves reflected by said reflector. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus comprising:
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(a) a catheter having proximal and distal ends; (b) an expansible ablation device mounted to said catheter adjacent said distal end, said ablation device in said expanded condition having an axis extending generally proximally and distally, said ablation device including a balloon structure surrounding said axis and defining a reflector extending around said axis when said balloon structure is in an inflated condition; (c) an ultrasonic ablation transducer disposed within said balloon structure, said reflector being operative to direct ultrasonic waves emitted by said transducer generally distally into a loop-like ablation region encircling said axis; and (d) an ultrasonic imaging transducer mounted to said balloon structure distal to said ablation transducer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification