OPEN IRRIGATED ABLATION CATHETER

• US 20140276758A1
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, ISAAC J., LAWRENCE, DAVID, LAWRENCE, ELIZA
• Granted Patent: US 9,456,867 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 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive

Abstract

Medical devices and methods for using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an open-irrigated ablation catheter. The open-irrigated ablation catheter may include a catheter body, an electrode tip body with irrigation ports at a distal end, and a coolant conduit. The distal end of the coolant conduit may extend into a proximal portion of the electrode tip body. Fluid flow from the coolant conduit may be diverted proximally and/or towards the wall of the electrode tip body by one or more openings proximal of a closed distal end of the conduit or by a structure blocking and diverting flow from an open distal end of the conduit.

Claims

1. An open-irrigated ablation catheter system, comprising:

a catheter body with a distal end;

an electrode tip body with a distal end and a proximal end configured for connection to the distal end of the catheter body, the electrode tip body having a wall defining an open interior region, the wall having one or more irrigation ports, wherein the wall is conductive for delivering radio frequency (RF) energy, wherein the one or more irrigation ports are in fluid communication with the open interior region to allow fluid to flow from the open interior region through the one or more irrigation ports; and

a coolant conduit disposed within the catheter body, the coolant conduit having a fluid directing mechanism at a distal end thereof configured to direct fluid laterally towards the wall.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid directing mechanism includes one or more side openings proximal of the distal end of the coolant conduit, wherein the one or more side openings are in fluid communication with the open interior region.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the distal end of the electrode tip body is closed and the proximal end of the electrode tip body is open, the system further comprising a distal insert positioned within the electrode tip body to separate the open interior region into a distal fluid reservoir and a proximal fluid reservoir, the distal insert having an opening connecting the distal and proximal fluid reservoirs.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more side openings in the coolant conduit are in fluid communication with the proximal fluid reservoir.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a thermocouple, wherein the distal insert includes a second opening therethrough to receive the thermocouple such that a distal end of the thermocouple is positioned in the distal fluid reservoir.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more side openings in the coolant conduit include surfaces that are angled proximally such that coolant flowing through the coolant conduit exits the one or more side openings at an angle towards the proximal end of the electrode tip body.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wall of the electrode tip body has an exterior surface with one or more side openings therein, the system further comprising one or more mapping electrodes positioned in the one or more side openings in the exterior surface of the wall.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the coolant conduit includes two or more lumens, each lumen having a distal end and one or more side openings proximal of the distal end.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the distal end of the coolant conduit is closed.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the coolant conduit is open and extends distal of the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the fluid directing mechanism includes a blocking member spaced from the open distal end of the coolant conduit, wherein the blocking member extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the coolant conduit, wherein the blocking member is positioned such that flow of fluid from the coolant conduit impacts the blocking member and is directed laterally towards the wall of the electrode tip body.

11. An open-irrigated turbulent flow catheter system, comprising:

a catheter body with a distal end;

an electrode tip body with a distal end and a proximal end configured for connection to the distal end of the catheter body, the electrode tip body defining an open interior region and one or more irrigation ports, wherein the electrode tip body is conductive for delivering radio frequency (RF) energy;

a coolant conduit disposed within the catheter body, the coolant conduit having a distal end, the coolant conduit having one or more side openings therein proximal of the distal end, wherein the one or more side openings are angled proximally such that at least a portion of coolant flowing through the coolant conduit is directed towards the proximal end of the electrode tip body; and

a distal insert positioned within the electrode tip body separating the open interior region into a distal fluid reservoir and a proximal fluid reservoir, wherein the distal end of the coolant conduit is positioned in the proximal fluid reservoir, the distal insert having an opening connecting the distal and proximal fluid reservoirs, wherein the one or more irrigation ports are disposed in the distal fluid reservoir.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the distal end of the coolant conduit extends distal of the distal end of the catheter body, within the open interior region.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the distal end of the electrode tip body is closed and the proximal end of the electrode tip body is open.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a thermocouple, wherein the distal insert includes a second opening therethrough to receive the thermocouple such that a distal end of the thermocouple is positioned in the distal fluid reservoir.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the electrode tip body has an exterior surface with openings therein, the system further comprising mapping electrodes positioned in the openings in the exterior surface.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the coolant conduit includes two or more lumens, each lumen having a distal end and one or more side openings proximal of the distal end.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the distal end of the coolant conduit is closed.

18. An open-irrigated ablation catheter system, comprising:

a catheter body;

an electrode tip body with a distal end and a proximal end configured for connection to a distal end of the catheter body, the electrode tip body having a wall defining an open interior region, the wall having one or more irrigation ports in fluid communication with the open interior region, wherein the wall is conductive for delivering radio frequency (RF) energy;

a coolant conduit disposed within the catheter body, an open distal end of the coolant conduit extending distal of the distal end of the catheter body; and

a blocking member spaced from the open distal end of the coolant conduit, the blocking member configured to interrupt and divert distal flow of fluid from the coolant conduit.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the blocking member is a plate extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the coolant conduit, wherein flow of fluid from the coolant conduit impacts the plate and is directed towards the wall of the electrode tip body.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the plate extends radially beyond the coolant conduit.