Thermal angioplasty catheter and method

• US 4,998,933 A
• Filed: 06/10/1988
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Angioplasty Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Eggers, Philip E., Thapliyal, Hira V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, William W.
• Application Number:
  US07/204,668
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 128/303.1, 128/303.11-303.13, 128/341-344, 128/348.1, 128/419 P, 128/399-402, 128/786, 604/20, 604/96-103, 604/113, 604/114, 606/28, 606/31, 606/41, 606/194
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• 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 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22001 Angioplasty, e.g. PCTA
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/162 located on the probe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty

Abstract

This invention provides a method and apparatus for selectively heating an atheromatous mass which partially or fully occludes a particular blood vessel. As a result, the occlusive mass is effectively softened or weakened, allowing the occlusive mass to be more readily recanalized by expansion of a balloon or other dilitation means. This invention also provides a method and apparatus for effectively boring through a partially or fully occluded blood vessel by simultaneously applying both (1) heat to the occlusive mass surrounding the tip of the catheter and (2) pressure against the mass within the partially or fully occluded blood vessel.

Claims

1. In an angioplasty catheter having a dilation means, the improvement comprising:

a first electrode located on an extensible guidewire;

second electrode located at a distal end of said catheter electrically insulated from said first electrode;

a third electrode located at a distal end of said dilation means electrically insulated from said first and second electrodes;

a fourth electrode located at a proximal end of said dilation means electrically insulated from said first, second, and third electrodes;

whereby said guidewire comprises said first electrode;

whereby said second, third, and fourth electrodes are annular metallic regions having a wire extending therefrom;

means for selectively communicating an electric current to said electrodes to thereby cause heating of a resistive mass located between said electrodes;

whereby said means for communicating an electric current to said second, third, and fourth electrodes comprises at least one wire contained within the catheter; and

whereby said guidewire comprises said means for communicating an electric current to said first electrode.

2. A method of boring through an arteriosclerotic obstruction or a portion thereof, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a first electrode on a guidewire of a catheter against said obstruction;

inserting a second electrode into or through said obstruction;

conducting a high frequency current between said electrodes through said obstruction; and

exerting pressure against said obstruction.

3. A catheter comprising:

a catheter member;

dilitation means affixed to the catheter member;

a guidewire extending through the catheter member;

a first electrode affixed to the guidewire;

a second electrode affixed to the catheter member and electrically isolated from the first electrode;

means for selectively communicating an electric current to the first and the second electrodes to thereby cause heating of a resistive mass therebetween;

a third electrode affixed to the catheter at a distal end of the dilitation means, the third electrode insulated from each of the first and the second electrodes;

a fourth electrode affixed to the catheter at a proximal end of the dilitation means, the fourth electrode electrically insulated from each of the first, second and third electrodes; and

means for selectively communicating an electric current to the third and fourth electrodes to thereby cause heating of a resistive mass therebetween.

4. A catheter as in claim 3 wherein the third electrode extends annularly around a circumferential portion of the catheter member;

and

the fourth electrode extends annularly around a circumferential portion of the catheter member.

5. A catheter comprising:

at least four electrodes located on the catheter electrically insulated from each other, wherein the first and second electrodes extend circumferentially in an annular band around the periphery of the catheter, the first electrode is affixed to a guidewire extending through the catheter, the third electrode is affixed to the catheter at a distal end of a dilitation means, and the fourth electrode is affixed to the catheter at a proximal end of the dilitation means, and the catheter further comprising;

a means for selectively communicating an electric current to the first and second electrodes to thereby cause heating of a resistive mass therebetween;

a means for selectively communicating an electric current to the third and the fourth electrodes to thereby cause heating of a resistive mass therebetween; and

a temperature-sensing means disposed proximate a distal end of the catheter for sensing temperature of regions surrounding the distal end of the catheter.

6. An angioplasty catheter comprising:

a catheter member;

dilation means affixed to the catheter member;

a guidewire extending through the catheter member;

a first electrode affixed to the guidewire;

a second electrode affixed to the catheter member and electrically isolated from the first electrode;

a third electrode affixed to the catheter member at a distal end of the dilation means, the third electrode insulated from each of the first and the second electrodes;

a fourth electrode affixed to the catheter at a proximal end of the dilation means, the fourth electrode insulated from each of the first, second and third electrodes; and

means for selectively communicating an electric current to the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes to thereby cause heating of a resistive means disposed in proximity to the electrodes.