Systems and Methods for Assessment of Contact Quality
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring tissue ablation comprising:
- advancing a distal tip of an ablation catheter to a tissue in need of ablation;
illuminating the tissue to excite NADH in the tissue, wherein the tissue is illuminated in a radial direction, an axial direction, or both;
determining from a level of NADH fluorescence in the illuminated tissue when the distal tip of the catheter is in contact with the tissue; and
upon determining that the distal tip is in contact with the tissue, delivering ablation energy to the tissue to form a lesion in the tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Ablation and visualization systems and methods to access quality of contact between a catheter and tissue are provided. In some embodiments, a method for monitoring tissue ablation of the present disclosure comprises advancing a distal tip of an ablation catheter to a tissue in need of ablation; illuminating the tissue with UV light to excite NADH in the tissue, wherein the tissue is illuminated in a radial direction, an axial direction, or both; determining from a level of NADH fluorescence in the illuminated tissue when the distal tip of the catheter is in contact with the tissue; and delivering ablation energy to the tissue to form a lesion in the tissue.
16 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring tissue ablation comprising:
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advancing a distal tip of an ablation catheter to a tissue in need of ablation; illuminating the tissue to excite NADH in the tissue, wherein the tissue is illuminated in a radial direction, an axial direction, or both; determining from a level of NADH fluorescence in the illuminated tissue when the distal tip of the catheter is in contact with the tissue; and upon determining that the distal tip is in contact with the tissue, delivering ablation energy to the tissue to form a lesion in the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21, 22)
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14. A system for monitoring tissue ablation comprising:
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a catheter comprising; a catheter body; and a distal tip positioned at a distal end of the catheter body, the distal tip defining an illumination cavity having one or more openings for exchange of light energy between the illumination cavity and tissue; an ablation system in communication with the distal tip to deliver ablation energy to the distal tip; a visualization system comprising a light source, a light measuring instrument, and one or more optical fibers in communication with the light source and the light measuring instrument and extending through the catheter body into the illumination cavity of the distal tip, wherein the one or more optical fibers are configured to pass light energy in and out of the illumination chamber; a processor in communication with an ablation energy source, the light source and the light measuring instrument, the processor being programmed to; receive NADH fluorescence data from a tissue illuminated with a light through the distal tip of the catheter, wherein the tissue is illuminated in a radial direction, an axial direction, or both; determine from a level of NADH fluorescence in the illuminated tissue when the distal tip of the catheter is in contact with the tissue; and cause delivery of ablation energy to the tissue to form a lesion in the tissue upon determining that the distal tip is in contact with the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification