METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ABLATING TISSUE

• US 20130267875A1
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: VytronUS, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: VytronUS, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: THAPLIYAL, Hira V., GALLUP, David A., ARENSON, James W., BROMMER, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/630,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267875A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00053 Mapping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00092 using thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• 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: A61N 2007/0091 with moving parts, e.g. transducers, lenses, reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

A tissue ablation system for treating fibrillation in a patient comprises a steerable interventional catheter having an energy source that emits a beam of energy to ablate tissue thereby creating a conduction block for aberrant electrical pathways. The system also includes a handle disposed near a proximal end of the interventional catheter and has an actuation mechanism for steering the interventional catheter. A console allows the system to be controlled and provides power to the system, and a display pod is electrically coupled with the console. The display pod has a display panel to display system information to a user and allows the user to control the system. A catheter pod is releasably coupled with the handle electrically and mechanically, and also electrically coupled with the display pod.

Claims

1. A system for ablating tissue, said system comprising:

a steerable elongate flexible shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

an ultrasound transducer coupled with the distal portion of the elongate flexible shaft, wherein the ultrasound transducer emits a beam of ultrasound energy for ablating target tissue, and wherein the beam of ultrasound energy is adapted to form a continuous lesion in the target tissue without contact between the ultrasound transducer and the target tissue;

a handle coupled with the proximal portion of the elongate flexible shaft; and

an actuation mechanism operably coupled with the handle for steering the distal portion of the elongate flexible shaft, and

wherein the continuous lesion is formed while the distal portion of the elongate flexible shaft is moving.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein actuation of the actuation mechanism moves the distal portion of the elongate flexible shaft in one or more of three dimensions.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the three dimensions comprise rotational or translational movement of the distal portion of the elongate flexible shaft.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the continuous lesion has portions comprised of a spot lesion, a ring shape, an elliptical shape, a linear shape, a curvilinear shape, a lesion encircling the target tissue, or combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more actuatable wires are slidably disposed in the elongate flexible shaft, and wherein the one or more actuatable wires are operably coupled with the actuation mechanism, and wherein actuation of the actuation mechanism moves at least some of the one or more actuatable wires thereby moving the distal portion of the elongate flexible shaft.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reflector element disposed adjacent the ultrasound transducer, the reflector element adapted to reflect the ultrasound beam of energy from the ultrasound transducer.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a console for controlling the system and providing power thereto.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a bedside monitor operatively coupled with the system.

9. A method for ablating tissue, said method comprising:

providing an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion, an ultrasound transducer adjacent the distal portion, a handle adjacent the proximal portion, and an actuator mechanism operably coupled with the handle;

positioning the ultrasound transducer adjacent target tissue;

ablating the target tissue with a beam of ultrasound energy from the ultrasound transducer so as to form a continuous lesion in the target tissue, wherein the lesion is formed without contact between the ultrasound transducer and the target tissue; and

actuating actuator mechanism thereby steering the distal portion of the elongate flexible shaft, and wherein the ablating is performed while the distal portion is moving.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the continuous lesion has portions comprised of a spot lesion, a linear lesion, a closed loop lesion, or a lesion encircling the target tissue.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the actuating comprises actuating one or more actuatable wires slidably disposed in the elongate flexible shaft.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the actuating moves the distal portion of the elongate flexible shaft in three dimensions.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising reflecting the beam of ultrasound energy off of a reflector element disposed adjacent the ultrasound transducer.