ELECTRICAL SENSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE FOR TREATING TISSUE

• US 20120283715A1
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: ASCONEGUY, Alexander J., MIHALIK, Teresa Ann, ZARBATANY, David J., PATEL, Kaushik A., LAY, Sitha, ROBISON, Karmi
• Application Number:
  US13/098,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20120283715A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/21
• 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 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00375 Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6858 with a distal basket, e.g. expandable basket
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

A medical system, including a catheter body, an expandable element coupled to the catheter body; a first electrically-conductive element coupled to an interior surface of the expandable element; and a second electrically-conductive element coupled to an exterior surface of the expandable element, where the first and second electrically-conductive elements form a capacitor with the expandable element.

Claims

1. A medical system, comprising:

a catheter body,

an expandable element coupled to the catheter body;

a first electrically-conductive element coupled to an interior surface of the expandable element; and

a second electrically-conductive element coupled to an exterior surface of the expandable element, wherein the first and second electrically-conductive elements form a capacitor with the expandable element.

2. The medical system of claim 1, further comprising a cryogenic coolant source in fluid communication with an interior of the expandable element.

3. The medical system of claim 2, further comprising a fluid injection lumen coupling the cryogenic coolant source to an interior of the expandable element.

4. The medical system of claim 1, further comprising a support structure coupled to the expandable element.

5. The medical system of claim 4, wherein the support structure includes a mesh.

6. The medical system of claim 5, further comprising a radiofrequency signal generator in electrical communication with the mesh.

7. The medical system of claim 5, wherein the mesh is controllably transitionable from a first shape to a second shape.

8. The medical system of claim 5, wherein the expansion of the expandable element is inhibited at least in part by the mesh.

9. The medical system of claim 4, wherein the support structure includes a plurality of radially expandable struts.

10. A medical system, comprising:

a flexible elongate body;

an expandable element coupled to the elongate body;

a first electrically-conductive element on an interior surface of the expandable element;

a second electrically-conductive element on an exterior surface of the expandable element; and

a control unit in electrical communication with the first and second electrically conductive elements, the control unit programmed to process capacitance measurements obtained from the first and second electrically conductive elements.

11. The medical system of claim 10, further comprising a cryogenic coolant source in fluid communication with the elongate body.

12. The medical system of claim 10, wherein the control unit is programmed to correlate a capacitance measurement to a contact force magnitude value.

13. The medical system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first or second electrically-conductive elements includes a layer of conductive ink adhered to the expandable element.

14. A medical method, comprising:

positioning an expandable element of a medical device adjacent a tissue region, the expandable element including a first electrically-conductive element on an interior surface thereof and a second electrically-conductive element on an exterior surface thereof;

contacting the tissue region with at least a portion of the second electrically-conductive element;

obtaining a capacitance value with the first and second electrically conductive elements; and

generating an indication of contact between the expandable element and the tissue region based at least in part on the obtained capacitance value.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising thermally affecting the tissue region with the medical device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein thermally affecting the tissue includes cryogenically ablating at least a portion of the tissue region.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein thermally affecting the tissue includes ablating at least a portion of the tissue region with radiofrequency energy.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising measuring an electrical signal of the tissue region with the medical device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the generated indication is at least one of a visual or audible signal.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the tissue region include cardiac tissue.