STEERABLE CURVABLE ABLATION CATHETER FOR VERTEBROPLASTY

• US 20120265186A1
• Filed: 08/26/2011
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Osseon LLC (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Osseon LLC (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burger, Keith, Stalcup, John, Lyster, Michael T., Hoffmann, Gerard von, Soni, Arvind
• Application Number:
  US13/219,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20120265186A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/21
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8811 characterised by the introducer tip, i.e. the part inserted into or onto the bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8819 characterised by the introducer proximal part, e.g. cannula handle, or by parts which are inserted inside each other, e.g. stylet and cannula A61B17/8825 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8827 with filtering, degassing, venting or pressure relief means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8836 for heating, cooling or curing of bone cement or fluid fillers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8855 inflatable, e.g. kyphoplasty balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0044 Spinal cord
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00565 Bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0262 using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0092 Single injection needle protruding laterally from the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0152 with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/025 interstitial

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a steerable, curvable catheter with one, two, or more ablation elements that can be used for various applications including vertebroplasty. The catheter can include an elongate, tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending therethrough; a deflectable zone on the distal end of the tubular body, deflectable through an angular range; a handle on the proximal end of the tubular body; and a deflection control on the handle; an energy delivery control on the handle; and one or more energy delivery elements on the distal end of the device for ablating tissue within bone. The energy delivery elements could be RF heating electrodes in a monopole or dipole arrangement although other energy delivery modalities are also contemplated. For example, the energy delivery elements include cryoprobes. Systems and methods involving the ablation catheter are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A steerable and curvable ablation catheter comprising:

an elongate tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a deflectable zone deflectable through an angular range;

a handle on the proximal end of the tubular body;

a deflection control on the handle; and

an ablation element configured to ablate tissue carried by the deflectable zone.

2. The steerable and curvable ablation catheter of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises a radiofrequency (RF) electrode.

3. The steerable and curvable ablation catheter of claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises a cryoprobe.

4. The steerable and curvable ablation catheter of claim 1, further comprising an actuator extending axially between the deflection control and the deflectable zone.

5. The steerable and curvable ablation catheter of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises an axially moveable element.

6. The steerable and curvable ablation catheter of claim 1, wherein the deflectable zone is in a substantially straight configuration from the proximal end to the distal end in an unstressed state.

7. The steerable and curvable ablation catheter of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ablation elements.

8. A method of ablating tissue, comprising:

positioning a catheter near a zone of tissue to be ablated, the catheter having an elongate body having a proximal end, a deflection control carried by the proximal end, a deflectable distal end, and an ablation element carried by the deflectable distal end;

deflecting at least a portion of the distal end of the elongate body through an angular range; and

contacting the tissue with the ablation element to ablate the tissue.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the ablation element is an RF heating electrode.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the ablation element is a cryoprobe.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the tissue to be ablated comprises cortical bone.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the tissue to be ablated comprises cancellous bone.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the tissue to be ablated comprises a vertebral body.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the ablation occurs as part of a vertebroplasty procedure.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the tissue to be ablated comprises a tumor.