DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ABLATING TISSUE

• US 20140031804A1
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Published: 01/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic CryoCath LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: LALONDE, Jean-Pierre
• Application Number:
  US13/559,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20140031804A1
• 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 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1435 Spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1437 whereby the windings of the spiral touch each other such as to create a continuous surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1465 Deformable electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe

Abstract

A method and system for ablating a tissue region. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes positioning a medical device including a deformable and helical distal portion in contact with a tissue region, the a helical distal portion including a plurality of turns each having a diameter, the diameter of each turn being greater than the diameter of the next distal turn, compressing the helical distal portion against the tissue region, deforming the distal portion into a substantially concentric spiral, and activating one or more treatment elements and ablating the target tissue. The method may further include advancing the uncompressed helical distal portion into a hollow anatomical feature, such as a pulmonary vein, and activating one or more treatment elements and ablating the target tissue.

Claims

1. A method of ablating tissue, comprising:

positioning a medical device including a deformable and helical distal portion in contact with a continuous tissue region, the helical distal portion including a plurality of turns each having a diameter, the diameter of each turn being greater than the diameter of the next distal turn;

compressing the helical distal portion against the continuous tissue region, deforming the distal portion into a substantially concentric spiral; and

activating one or more treatment elements and ablating the continuous tissue region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the substantially concentric spiral is in contact with a surface of the continuous tissue region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the helical distal portion is a treatment element.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of turns includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a peripheral surface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the helical distal portion further includes a plurality of electrode treatment elements arranged on at least one of the anterior surface and the peripheral surface of at least one of the plurality of turns.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of electrode treatment elements is arranged on the anterior surface and the peripheral surface of each of the plurality of turns.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of electrode treatment elements is arranged on the anterior surface and the peripheral surface of at least one of the plurality of turns.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of electrode treatment elements is arranged on the anterior surface and the peripheral surface of each of the plurality of turns.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

advancing the uncompressed helical distal portion into a hollow anatomical feature such that at least one surface of at least one turn is substantially in contact with a surface of the anatomical feature; and

activating the one or more treatment elements and ablating at least a portion of the anatomical feature.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the hollow anatomical feature is a pulmonary vein.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

advancing the uncompressed helical distal portion into a hollow anatomical feature such that at least one surface of at least one turn is substantially in contact with a surface of the anatomical feature; and

activating at least one of the plurality of electrode treatment elements and ablating at least a portion of the anatomical feature.

12. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

placing at least a portion of the peripheral surface of at least one turn in contact with an area of target tissue; and

activating the one or more treatment elements and ablating the target tissue in a linear pattern.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device further includes a shaft that is slidably movable within the medical device and affixed to a distal tip of the helical distal portion, longitudinal movement of the shaft changing the diameter of each turn.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the shaft is a guide wire lumen slidably movable within the medical device, the medical device further including a guide wire slidably movable within the guidewire lumen.

15. A method for ablating tissue, comprising:

placing a medical device having a deformable and helical distal portion in contact with a continuous tissue region;

shortening the length of the helical distal portion and deforming the helical distal portion into a substantially concentric flattened spiral; and

activating one or more treatment elements and ablating the continuous target tissue.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the medical device further includes a shaft that is slidably movable within the medical device and affixed to a distal tip of the helical distal portion, such that retracting the shaft shortens the length of the helical distal portion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the shaft is in communication with an actuator capable of advancing or retracting the shaft within the medical device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the helical distal portion includes a plurality of turns, each turn having an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a peripheral surface, each turn having a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the immediately distal turn.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the helical distal portion further includes a plurality of electrode treatment elements arranged on at least one of the anterior surface and the peripheral surface of at least one of the plurality of turns.

20. A system for ablating tissue, comprising:

a medical device including a deformable and helical distal portion in contact with a continuous tissue region, the helical distal portion including a plurality of turns, each turn having a greater diameter than the immediately distal turn; and

a console including a cryogenic coolant reservoir.