Fluid sensor for ablation therapy

• US 20080269737A1
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Elmouelhi, Ahmed, Kratoska, Paul S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,945,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00517 Urinary bladder or urethra
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00726 Duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00863 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation

Abstract

The disclosure describes a method and a system that may be used to provide feedback regarding the flow of fluid during ablation therapy. The system includes a generator that generates energy to ablate at least a portion of a target tissue, a needle that delivers the energy to the target tissue, a return electrode that receives energy dispersed from the needle, a catheter that houses at least a portion of the needle, a pump that delivers a fluid to the target tissue via the catheter, a sensor that detects a fluid parameter indicative of at least one of flow or pressure of the fluid, and a processor that analyzes the fluid parameter detected by the sensor. The sensor may be located between the pump and the target tissue. The fluid parameter detected by the system may be pressure or flow. In particular, the system may be used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring fluid delivered during ablation therapy, the method comprising:

deploying a needle from a catheter into a target tissue;

delivering energy via the needle to ablate at least a portion of the target tissue;

delivering a fluid from a pump to the target tissue via the catheter;

providing a sensor between the pump and the target tissue; and

detecting a fluid parameter indicative of at least one of flow or pressure of the fluid via the sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises a conductive fluid.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an error message in response to the detected fluid parameter.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping delivery of energy via the needle in response to the detected fluid parameter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering energy via the needle is at least partially controlled by a set of therapy parameters, and wherein at least one of the therapy parameters is adjusted based on the detected fluid parameter.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the adjustment to the at least one therapy parameter comprises a change in a flow rate of the fluid delivered to the target tissue.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the adjustment to the at least one therapy parameter comprises a change in a power of the energy delivered to the target tissue.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the adjustment to the at least one therapy parameter comprises a change in treatment time.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring a tissue property via the needle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the fluid to the target tissue comprises moving the fluid through a plurality of holes in the needle.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising retracting the needle after at least a portion of the target tissue is ablated.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the target tissue is a prostate.

13. A system comprising:

a generator that generates energy to ablate at least a portion of a target tissue;

a needle that delivers the energy to the target tissue;

a return electrode that receives energy dispersed from the needle;

a catheter that houses at least a portion of the needle;

a pump that delivers a fluid to the target tissue via the catheter;

a sensor that detects a fluid parameter indicative of at least one of flow or pressure of the fluid, wherein the sensor is located between the pump and the target tissue; and

a processor that analyzes the fluid parameter detected by the sensor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the return electrode comprises an electrode pad placed on a back of the patient.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the fluid comprises a conductive fluid.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the needle comprises a plurality of holes that deliver the fluid to the target tissue.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the target tissue is a prostate.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising an insulated sleeve covering a portion of the needle to at least partially control energy delivery to the target tissue.

19. A therapy device comprising:

a needle that delivers energy to a target tissue to ablate at least a portion of the target tissue;

a catheter that houses at least a portion of the needle, wherein a fluid is delivered to the target tissue via the catheter;

a housing comprising a handle, wherein the housing is coupled to the catheter;

a trigger coupled to the housing that deploys the needle into the target tissue; and

a sensor that detects a fluid parameter indicative of at least one of flow or pressure of the fluid, wherein the sensor is located within at least one of the catheter or the housing.

20. The therapy device of claim 19, wherein the fluid comprises a conductive fluid.

21. The therapy device of claim 19, wherein the housing comprises a channel that accommodates a cystoscope.

22. The therapy device of claim 19, wherein the housing comprises a first port that couples a tube to the therapy device and a second port that couples a cable to the therapy device, wherein the tube delivers fluid to the therapy device, and wherein the cable delivers energy to the therapy device.

23. The therapy device of claim 19, wherein the needle comprises a plurality of holes that deliver the fluid to the target tissue.

24. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing a programmable processor to:

deliver energy via a needle to ablate at least a portion of a target tissue;

deliver a fluid from a pump to the target tissue via a catheter that houses at least a portion of the needle; and

receive data indicative of at least one of flow or pressure of the fluid from a sensor located between the pump and the target tissue.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the fluid comprises a conductive fluid.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the instructions cause the processor to provide an error message in response to the data received.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the instructions cause the processor to stop delivery of energy via the needle in response to the data received.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to deliver energy via the needle comprise instructions that cause the processor to deliver energy via the needle at a specified power, and wherein the instructions cause the processor to adjust the specified power based on the data received.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to deliver the fluid from the pump comprise instructions that cause the processor to deliver the fluid from the pump at a specified flow rate, and wherein the instructions cause the processor to adjust the specified flow rate based on the data received.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to deliver energy via the needle comprise instructions that cause the processor to deliver energy via the needle for a specified duration, and wherein the instructions cause the processor to adjust the specified duration based on the data received.