IRRIGATED FINNED ABLATION HEAD

• US 20110282342A1
• Filed: 05/10/2011
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ST JUDE MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL HOLDING S. R.L.
• Original Assignee: ST JUDE MEDICAL INTERNATIONAL HOLDING S. R.L.
• Inventors: Aeby, Nicolas, Leo, Giovanni
• Granted Patent: US 9,179,968 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• 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 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation

Abstract

An irrigated finned ablation head that provides enhanced cooling. The irrigated finned ablation head comprises a plurality of radial fins that are distributed about a central axis and that extend axially from a common base. The plurality of fins are arranged to define a central passageway along the central axis, as well as a plurality of slots therebetween, the slots extending in an axial direction along the irrigated finned ablation head. In one embodiment, the central passageway extends through the irrigated finned ablation head, defining an opening at the distal extremity, with the slots extending from the base to the opening. In another embodiment, the irrigated finned ablation head includes a cap portion at a distal portion that is common to all the radial fins, so that the slots are terminated at the distal portion of the irrigated finned ablation head. The radial flow distribution along the central axis can be tailored by the configuration of the central passageway.

Claims

1. A catheter-based RF ablation system, comprising:

a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;

an irrigated finned ablation head operatively coupled with said distal end of said flexible elongate body, said irrigated finned ablation head including a plurality of axially extending radial fins uniformly distributed about a central axis to define a plurality of slots therebetween, said plurality of radial fins defining a central passageway that extends at least partway into said irrigated finned ablation head, said plurality of slots being in fluid communication with said central passageway, said central passageway including a proximal portion that defines a first diameter, said irrigated finned ablation head having an overall length dimension along said central axis, said irrigated finned ablation head being adapted to contact a target tissue, said plurality of radial fins defining an exterior surface of said irrigated finned ablation head;

a power supply line operatively coupled with said irrigated finned ablation head, said power supply line extending through said flexible elongate body and exiting said proximal end of said flexible elongate body;

a power source operatively coupled with said power supply line;

a fluid supply line in fluid communication with said central passageway, said fluid supply line extending through said flexible elongate body and exiting said proximal end of said flexible elongate body; and

an irrigation source operatively coupled with said fluid supply line.

2. The ablation system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of radial fins extend to a distal extremity of said irrigated finned ablation head.

3. The ablation system of claim 2 wherein said central passageway includes a distal portion that defines a second diameter, said second diameter being less than said first diameter, said distal portion of said central passageway defining an opening at said distal extremity of said irrigated finned ablation head.

4. The ablation system of claim 2 wherein said proximal portion of said central passageway is at least approximately 5% of said overall length dimension of said irrigated finned ablation head.

5. The ablation system of claim 1 wherein the number of said plurality of radial fins is twelve or less.

6. The ablation system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of radial fins include radiused breaks that transition between said exterior surface of said irrigated finned ablation head and said plurality of slots defined between said plurality of radial fins.

7. The ablation system of claim 1 wherein said irrigated finned ablation head includes one of gold and platinum-iridium.

8. The ablation system of claim 1, further comprising a cap portion at a distal portion of said irrigated finned ablation head.

9. The ablation system of claim 8, wherein said cap portion is unitary with said plurality of radial fins.

10. An irrigated finned ablation head, comprising:

a plurality of axially extending radial fins extending parallel to a central axis, said radial fins being distributed about said central axis to define a plurality of slots therebetween,

said plurality of radial fins defining a central passageway that extends at least partway into said irrigated finned ablation head, said central passageway including a proximal portion that defines a first diameter, said central passageway being in fluid communication with said plurality of slots,

said irrigated finned ablation head defining a profile having an overall length dimension along said central axis, said profile being adapted to contact a target tissue, said plurality of radial fins defining an exterior surface of said profile.

11. The irrigated finned ablation head of claim 10, further comprising a base portion unitary with said plurality radial fins, said base portion being proximal said plurality of radial fins, wherein said central passageway extends through said base portion.

12. The irrigated finned ablation head of claim 10, wherein said plurality of radial fins extend to a distal extremity of said irrigated finned ablation head.

13. The irrigated finned ablation head of claim 12 wherein said central passageway includes a distal portion that defines a second diameter, said second diameter being less than said first diameter, said distal portion of said central passageway defining an opening at said distal extremity of said irrigated finned ablation head.

14. The irrigated finned ablation head of claim 13 wherein said proximal portion of said central passageway is less than ½

of said overall length dimension of said irrigated finned ablation head.

15. The irrigated finned ablation head of claim 13 wherein said distal portion of said central passageway is defined by a confluence of said plurality of slots.

16. The irrigated finned ablation head of claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of radial fins include radiused breaks that transition between said exterior surface of said profile and said plurality of slots defined between said plurality of radial fins.

17. The irrigated finned ablation head of claim 10, further comprising a cap portion at a distal portion of said irrigated finned ablation head.

18. The irrigated finned ablation head of claim 17, wherein said cap portion is unitary with said plurality of radial fins.

19. The irrigated finned ablation head of claim 10 wherein said plurality of radial fins are uniformly distributed about said central axis.

20. The irrigated finned ablation head of claim 10 wherein a number of said plurality of radial fins is three or greater.

21. The irrigated finned ablation head of claim 10 wherein said profile is one of a cylindro-spherical profile, a right cylinder profile, and a cylinder with a necked spherical tip.

22. A method of cooling an ablation head, comprising:

forming a passageway that extends through a base portion of said ablation head and at least partially into said ablation head, said passageway extending along a central axis of said ablation head;

forming a plurality slots on said ablation head, each of said plurality of slots having a slot length and passing laterally through said ablation head and defining a plane that is inclusive of a central axis of said ablation head, said plurality of slots being in fluid communication with said passageway and defining a plurality of axially extending radial fins that are distributed about said central axis, said slots and said passageway being dimensioned to provide a flux profile that has a greater flow rate over the ⅓

of said slot length that is proximal to said base portion than over the ⅔

of said slot length that is distal to said base portion.

23. A method of providing a catheter-based RF ablation system, comprising:

providing a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end with an irrigated finned ablation head operatively coupled with said distal end, said irrigated finned ablation head including a plurality of axially extending radial fins uniformly distributed about a central axis to define a plurality of slots therebetween, said plurality of radial fins defining a central passageway that extends at least partway into said irrigated finned ablation head, said plurality of slots being in fluid communication with said central passageway, said central passageway including a proximal portion that defines a first diameter, said irrigated finned ablation head defining a profile having an overall length dimension along said central axis, said profile being adapted to contact a target tissue, said plurality of radial fins defining an exterior surface of said profile, said flexible elongate body including a power supply line operatively coupled with said irrigated finned ablation head and a fluid supply line in fluid communication with said central passageway; and

providing instructions on a tangible medium, said instructions including;

connecting said power supply line to a power source; and

connecting said fluid supply line to an irrigation source.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said instructions in the step of providing instructions include:

initiating a flow of fluid from said irrigation source that flows through said fluid supply line and through said irrigated finned ablation head; and

energizing said irrigated finned ablation head with said power source through said power supply line.