Microwave ablation catheters having antennas with distal fire capabilities
First Claim
1. A microwave ablation catheter comprising:
- an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, the flexible tubular member including a distal portion, a proximal portion and a longitudinal catheter axis;
a coaxial transmission line disposed within the tubular member, the transmission line having proximal and distal ends and being suitable for transmission of microwave energy at frequencies in the range of approximately 800 to 6000 megahertz;
a connector suitable for coupling the proximal end of the transmission line to a microwave energy source;
an antenna coupled to the transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation, the antenna geometry being arranged to direct a majority of the field in a generally longitudinal direction relative to the catheter axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A variety of improved antenna arrangements for ablation catheters and methods for constructing catheter with these antenna arrangements are described. In various apparatus aspects of the invention, the catheter includes an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient. A transmission line suitable for transmitting electromagnetic energy is received within the tubular member. An antenna is coupled to the transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation. In one embodiment, the antenna takes the form of an antenna coil that is oriented such that its longitudinal axis extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular member. In another embodiment, a plurality of such laterally oriented antenna coils are provided at longitudinally spaced locations relative to the catheter axis. In other embodiments, the antenna coil is spirally wound. A variety of spiral antenna arrangements are contemplated. In some embodiments, the coil is wound in a substantially conical or frusto-conical manner expanding either distally or proximately. In still another embodiment, the antenna coil is wound in a substantially flat coil.
387 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A microwave ablation catheter comprising:
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an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, the flexible tubular member including a distal portion, a proximal portion and a longitudinal catheter axis; a coaxial transmission line disposed within the tubular member, the transmission line having proximal and distal ends and being suitable for transmission of microwave energy at frequencies in the range of approximately 800 to 6000 megahertz; a connector suitable for coupling the proximal end of the transmission line to a microwave energy source; an antenna coupled to the transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation, the antenna geometry being arranged to direct a majority of the field in a generally longitudinal direction relative to the catheter axis.
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2. A catheter comprising:
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an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, the flexible tubular member including a distal portion and a proximal portion and a longitudinal axis; a transmission line disposed within the tubular member, the transmission line having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of the transmission line is suitable for connection to an electromagnetic energy source; a connector suitable for coupling the proximal end of the transmission line to an electromagnetic energy source; an antenna coil coupled to the transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation, the antenna coil having a longitudinal axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A microwave ablation catheter comprising:
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an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, the flexible tubular member including a distal portion and a proximal portion and a longitudinal axis; a coaxial transmission line disposed within the tubular member, the coaxial transmission line having a center conductor, a shield, a dielectric material disposed between the center conductor and shield, and proximal and distal ends; a connector suitable for coupling the proximal end of the coaxial transmission line to a microwave energy source; a substantially helical antenna coil having at least two full turns, the antenna coil being coupled the distal end of the center conductor of the coaxial transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation, the antenna coil having a longitudinal axis that extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A catheter comprising:
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an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, the flexible tubular member including a distal portion and a proximal portion and a longitudinal axis; a transmission line disposed within the tubular member, the transmission line having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of the transmission line is suitable for connection to an electromagnetic energy source; a connector suitable for coupling the proximal end of the transmission line to an electromagnetic energy source; an antenna coil coupled to the transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation, wherein at least a portion of the antenna coil is spirally wound in one selected from the group consisting of a descending spiral and are ascending spiral, and wherein the diameter of the antenna coil increases or decreases in the direction from a proximal to distal end of the antenna thereby forming a descending or ascending spiral. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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23. A catheter comprising:
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an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, the flexible tubular member including a distal portion and a proximal portion and a longitudinal axis; a transmission line disposed within the tubular member, the transmission line having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end of the transmission line is suitable for connection to an electromagnetic energy source, a connector suitable for coupling the proximal end of the transmission line to an electromagnetic energy source; an antenna coil coupled to the transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation, wherein at least a portion of the antenna coil is wound in a substantially flat spirally wound coil, the antenna coil being spirally wound in one selected from the group consisting of a descending spiral wherein the diameter of the antenna coil decreases with adjacent turns and an ascending spiral wherein the diameter of the antenna coil increases with adjacent turns.
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27. A microwave ablation catheter comprising:
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an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, the flexible tubular member including a distal portion and a proximal portion and a longitudinal axis; a coaxial transmission line disposed within the tubular member, the coaxial transmission line having a center conductor, a shield, a dielectric material disposed between the center conductor and shield, and proximal and distal ends; a connector suitable for coupling the proximal end of the coaxial transmission line to a microwave energy source; a substantially spirally wound antenna coil having at least two full ascending or descending turns wherein the diameter of the antenna coil increases or decreases with adjacent turns the antenna coil being coupled to the distal end of the center conductor of the coaxial transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification