Tissue heating and ablation systems and methods using porous electrode structures with electrically conductive surfaces
First Claim
1. An electrode assembly comprisinga wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area,at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material, anda lumen for conveying a medium containing ions into the interior area,wherein at least a portion of the wall also comprises a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium without allowing substantial medium perfusion through the porous material.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Tissue heating and ablation systems and methods use a porous electrode assembly with an electrically conductive surface. The electrode assembly includes an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area. At least a portion of the wall comprises an electrically conductive material. A lumen conveys a medium containing ions into the interior area. According to the invention, at least a portion of the wall also comprising a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode assembly further includes an element coupling the electrically conductive material to a source of electrical energy to transmit electrical energy. In this preferred embodiment, the electrically conductive material is also porous to pass ions contained in the medium. The assembly also preferably includes a conductive element coupling the medium within the interior area to a source of electrical energy to enable ionic transport of electrical energy by the medium through the porous material.
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Citations
99 Claims
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1. An electrode assembly comprising
a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material, and a lumen for conveying a medium containing ions into the interior area, wherein at least a portion of the wall also comprises a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium without allowing substantial medium perfusion through the porous material.
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18. An electrode assembly comprising
a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material, a lumen for conveying a medium containing ions into the interior area, and a conductive element for coupling the medium within the interior area to a source of electrical energy to enable ionic transport of electrical energy by the medium, wherein at least a portion of the wall also comprises a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium without allowing substantial medium perfusion through the porous material to enable ionic transport of electrical energy by the medium through the porous material to the exterior of the wall.
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61. A system for heating body tissue comprising
a source of a medium containing ions, a generator of electrical energy, an electrode comprising a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material having a surface area for transmitting electrical energy, a lumen for conveying medium containing ions from the source into the interior area of the wall, at least a portion of the wall adjacent to the electrically conductive material comprising a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium without allowing substantial medium perfusion through the porous material, and a controller coupled to the souce and to the generator to achieve a desired tissue heating effect by commanding conveyance of electrical energy by the generator for transmission by the electrically conductive material while commanding conveyance of medium containing ions by the source, thereby enabling ionic transport through the porous material while the electrically conductive material transmits electrical energy to create an effective surface area of electrical energy transmission that is greater than the surface area of the electrically conductive material.
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63. A system for heating body tissue comprising
a source of a medium containing ions, a generator of electrical energy, an electrode comprising a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material having a surface area for transmitting electrical energy, a lumen to convey medium containing ions from the source into the interior area of the wall, at least a portion of the wall adjacent to the electrically conductive material comprising a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium, a conductive element coupling the medium within the interior area of the wall to the generator, and a controller coupled to the source, the generator, and the element to achieve a desired tissue heating effect by commanding conveyance of electrical energy by the generator to the element and the electrically conductive material while commanding conveyance of medium containing ions by the source into the interior area to enable ionic transport of electrical energy through the porous material while the electrically conductive material transmits electrical energy to create an effective surface area of electrical energy transmission that is greater than the surface area of the electrically conductive material.
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66. A system for ablating heart tissue comprising
a source of a medium containing ions, a generator of electrical energy, a processor for processing electrical events sensed in heart tissue, an electrode comprising a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material having a surface area for sensing electrical events in heart tissue and transmitting electrical energy, a lumen for conveying medium containing ions from the source into the interior area of the wall, at least a portion of the wall adjacent to the electrically conductive material comprising a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium without allowing substantial medium perfusion through the porous material, and a controller coupled to the source, to the generator, and to the processor, the controller operative in a first mode commanding the electrically conductive material to sense electrical events in heart tissue for conveyance to the processor, the controller being operative in a second mode commanding conveyance of electrical energy by the generator for transmission by the electrically conductive material while commanding conveyance of medium containing ions, thereby enabling ionic transport through the porous material while the electrically conductive material transmits electrical energy to create an effective surface area of electrical energy transmission for ablating heart tissue that is greater than the surface area of the electrically conductive material.
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68. A system for ablating heart tissue comprising
a source of a medium containing ions, a generator of electrical energy, a processor for processing electrical events sensed in heart tissue, an electrode comprising a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material having a surface area for sensing electrical events in heart tissue and transmitting electrical energy, a lumen to convey medium containing ions from the source into the interior area of the wall, at least a portion of the wall adjacent to the electrically conductive material comprising a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium, a conductive element coupling the medium within the interior area of the wall to the generator, and a controller coupled to the source, to the generator, and to the processor, the controller operative in a first mode commanding the electrically conductive material to sense electrical events in heart tissue for conveyance to the processor, the controller being operative in a second mode commanding conveyance of electrical energy by the generator for transmission by the electrically conductive material while commanding conveyance of medium containing ions by the source into the interior area to enable ionic transport of electrical energy through the porous material while the electrically conductive material transmits electrical energy to create an effective surface area of electrical energy transmission for ablating heart tissue that is greater than the surface area of the electrically conductive material.
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86. A method for heating body tissue comprising the steps of
providing a catheter tube having a distal end that carries an electrode comprising a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material having a surface area for transmitting electrical energy, a lumen for conveying a medium containing ions into the interior area of the wall, at least a portion of the wall adjacent to the electrically conductive material comprising a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium without allowing substantial medium perfusion through the porous material, electrically coupling a source of radio frequency energy to the electrically conductive material to a return electrode in contact with body tissue, guiding the catheter tube into a body, and ohmically heating body tissue by transmitting radio frequency through the electrically conductive material while conveying medium containing ions into the interior area of the wall to enable ions transport through the porous material while the electrically conductive material transmits electrical energy, thereby creating an effective surface area of electrical energy transmission to the return electrode that is greater than the surface area of the electrically conductive material.
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87. A method for ablating body tissue comprising the steps of
providing a catheter tube having a distal end that carries an electrode comprising a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material having a surface area for transmitting electrical energy, a lumen for conveying a medium containing ions into the interior area of the wall, at least a portion of the wall adjacent to the electrically conductive material comprising a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium without allowing substantial medium perfusion through the porous material, electrically coupling a source of radio frequency energy to the electrically conductive material to a return electrode in contact with body tissue, guiding the catheter tube into a body, and ohmically ablating body tissue by transmitting radio frequency through the electrically conductive material while conveying medium containing ions into the interior area of the wall to enable ionic transport through the porous material while the electrically conductive material transmits electrical energy, thereby creating an effective surface area of electrical energy transmission to the return electrode that is greater than the surface area of the electrically conductive material.
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88. A method for ablating heart tissue comprising the steps of
providing a catheter tube having a distal end that carries an electrode comprising a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material having a surface area for transmitting electrical energy, a lumen for conveying a medium containing ions into the interior area of the wall, at least a portion of the wall adjacent to the electrically conductive material comprising a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium without allowing substantial medium perfusion through the porous material, electrically coupling a source of radio frequency energy to the electrically conductive material to a return electrode in contact with heart tissue, guiding the catheter tube into a heart chamber, and ohmically ablating heart tissue by transmitting radio frequency through the electrically conductive material while conveying medium containing ions into the interior area of the wall to enable ionic transport through the porous material while the electrically conductive material transmits electrical energy, thereby creating an effective surface area of electrical energy transmission to the return electrode that is greater than the surface area of the electrically conductive material.
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90. A method for heating body tissue comprising the steps of
providing a catheter tube having a distal end that carries an electrode comprising a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material having a surface area for transmitting electrical energy, a lumen to convey medium containing ions into the interior area of the wall, at least a portion of the wall adjacent to the electrically conductive material comprising a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium, and an electrically conductive element contacting the medium within the interior area of the wall, and electrically coupling the electrically conductive element and the electrically conductive material to a source of radio frequency energy and to a return electrode in contact with body tissue, guiding the catheter tube into a body, and ohmically heating body tissue by transmitting radio frequency through the electrically conductive material and the element while conveying medium containing ions into the interior area of the wall to enable ionic transport of electrical energy through the porous material while the electrically conductive material transmits electrical energy to create an effective surface area of electrical energy transmission to the return electrode that is greater than the surface area of the electrically conductive material.
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91. A method for ablating body tissue comprising the steps of
providing a catheter tube having a distal end that carries an electrode comprising a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material having a surface area for transmitting electrical energy, a lumen to convey medium containing ions into the interior area of the wall, at least a portion of the wall adjacent to the electrically conductive material comprising a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium, and an electrically conductive element contacting the medium within the interior area of the wall, and electrically coupling the electrically conductive element and the electrically conductive material to a source of radio frequency energy and to a return electrode in contact with body tissue, guiding the catheter tube into a body, and ohmically ablating body tissue by transmitting radio frequency through the electrically conductive material and the element while conveying medium containing ions into the interior area of the wall to enable ionic transport of electrical energy through the porous material while the electrically conductive material transmits electrical energy to create an effective surface area of electrical energy transmission to the return electrode that is greater than the surface area of the electrically conductive material.
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92. A method for ablating heart tissue comprising the steps of
providing a catheter tube having a distal end that carries an electrode comprising a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material having a surface area for transmitting electrical energy, a lumen to convey medium containing ions into the interior area of the wall, at least a portion of the wall adjacent to the electrically conductive material comprising a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium, and an electrically conductive element contacting the medium within the interior area of the wall, and electrically coupling the electrically conductive element and the electrically conductive material to a source of radio frequency energy and to a return electrode in contact with body tissue, guiding the catheter tube into a heart chamber, and ohmically ablating heart tissue by transmitting radio frequency through the electrically conductive material and the element while conveying medium containing ions into the interior area of the wall to enable ionic transport of electrical energy through the porous material while the electrically conductive material transmits electrical energy to create an effective surface area of electrical energy transmission to the return electrode that is greater than the surface area of the electrically conductive material.
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94. A system for heating body tissue comprising
a source of a medium containing ions, a generator of electrical energy, an electrode comprising a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material adapted to be coupled to a source of electrical energy to transmit electrical energy, a lumen for conveying a medium containing ions into the interior area, and at least a portion of the electrically conductive material comprising a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium without allowing substantial medium perfusion through the porous material, and a controller adapted to be coupled to the source and to the generator to achieve a desired tissue heating effect by commanding conveyance of electrical energy by the generator for transmission by the electrically conductive material while commanding conveyance of medium containing ions by the source, thereby enabling ionic transport through the porous material while the electrically conductive material transmits electrical energy.
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97. A method for heating body tissue comprising the steps of
providing a catheter tube having a distal end that carries an electrode comprising a wall having an exterior peripherally surrounding an interior area, at least a portion of the wall comprising an electrically conductive material adapted to be coupled to a source of electrical energy to transmit electrical energy, a lumen for conveying a medium containing ions into the interior area, at least a portion of the electrically conductive material comprising a porous material sized to pass ions contained in the medium without allowing substantial medium perfusion through the porous material, electrically coupling a source of radio frequency energy to the electrically conductive material to a return electrode in contact with body tissue, guiding the catheter tube into a body, and ohmically heating body tissue by transmitting radio frequency through the electrically conductive material while conveying medium containing ions into the interior area of the wall to enable ionic transport through the porous material while the electrically conductive material transmits electrical energy.
Specification