Method and apparatus for advancing catheters through occluded body lumens
First Claim
1. A catheter system comprising:
- a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
an electrode array disposed near the distal end of the catheter body, said array including a plurality of electrically isolated electrode terminals disposed over a contact surface which is forwardly disposed to contact an occluding surface in a body lumen as the catheter is advanced through the lumen;
a common electrode; and
means for supplying high frequency power to said electrode array, wherein current flow to each individual electrode terminal is selectively limited or disrupted when a low resistance path exists between said electrode terminal and the common electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter comprises a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an electrode array disposed near the distal end. The electrode array includes a plurality of isolated electrode terminals. The electrode array and a common electrode are connected to a high frequency power supply, and the common electrode may be located on the catheter, may be secured separately to a patient'"'"'s skin, or may be formed as part of a movable guidewire. By contacting the electrode array against a target location in the patient'"'"'s body, the target location may be selectively heated, with current density being contacted at the points of contact between the electrode terminals and the tissue or stenotic material. For example, by positioning the common electrode within a stenotic region and contacting a leading surface of the stenotic region with the electrode array, the stenotic material can be heated by applying a high frequency voltage between the electrode array and the common electrode. The stenotic region can thus be recanalized by advancing the distal end of the catheter body through the heated stenotic material.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A catheter system comprising:
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a catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; an electrode array disposed near the distal end of the catheter body, said array including a plurality of electrically isolated electrode terminals disposed over a contact surface which is forwardly disposed to contact an occluding surface in a body lumen as the catheter is advanced through the lumen; a common electrode; and means for supplying high frequency power to said electrode array, wherein current flow to each individual electrode terminal is selectively limited or disrupted when a low resistance path exists between said electrode terminal and the common electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A catheter comprising:
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a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a guidewire lumen; an electrode array disposed near the distal end of the catheter body, said array including a plurality of isolated electrode terminals disposed over a tapered distal contact surface; and means at the proximal end of the catheter body for simultaneous connecting each individual isolated electrode terminal to a high frequency power supply. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A catheter system comprising:
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a catheter guide having a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen therethrough, and a common electrode disposed on an exterior distal surface; a catheter body disposed within the lumen of the catheter guide, said catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an electrode array disposed substantially uniformly over a contact surface at the distal end, said electrode array including a plurality of electrically isolated electrode terminals, wherein the contact surface is forwardly disposed to contact an occluding surface in a body lumen as the catheter is advanced through the body lumen; and means for individually connecting the electrode terminals to a high frequency power supply along isolated high impedance conductive paths; whereby the common electrode and the electrode array may be connected to a high frequency power supply to efficiently deliver energy to a patient surface contacted by the electrode array and electrically exposed to the common electrode. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for applying energy to an occluding surface in a body lumen, said method comprising:
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positioning a catheter within the body lumen so that an electrode array including a plurality of forwardly disposed isolated electrode terminals contacts the surface; and supplying high frequency power to said each of the electrode terminals in the electrode array, wherein current flow through each electrode terminal is individually controlled, wherein the surface is heated by the flow of current from individual electrode terminals which contact the surface and current flow from the terminals which do not contact the surface is limited or disrupted. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A catheter comprising:
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a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a guidewire lumen; an electrode array disposed near the distal end of the catheter body, said array including at least 20 isolated electrode terminals disposed over a distal contact surface; means at the proximal end of the catheter body for simultaneously connecting each individual isolated electrode terminal to a high frequency power supply.
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Specification