Systems and methods for visualizing tissue during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A probe, comprising:
- a catheter tube having a distal region,an imaging element comprising a fiber optic assembly on the distal region for visualizing tissue,a support structure on the distal region, the support structure expandable beyond the imaging element for contacting surrounding tissue away from the imaging element to allow for visualization tissue, anda diagnostic or therapeutic element on the support structure to contact surrounding tissue.
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Abstract
A catheter tube carries an imaging element for visualizing tissue. The catheter tube also carries a support structure, which extends beyond the imaging element for contacting surrounding tissue away from the imaging element. The support element stabilizes the imaging element, while the imaging element visualizes tissue in the interior body region. The support structure also carries a diagnostic or therapeutic component to contact surrounding tissue.
683 Citations
63 Claims
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1. A probe, comprising:
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a catheter tube having a distal region, an imaging element comprising a fiber optic assembly on the distal region for visualizing tissue, a support structure on the distal region, the support structure expandable beyond the imaging element for contacting surrounding tissue away from the imaging element to allow for visualization tissue, and a diagnostic or therapeutic element on the support structure to contact surrounding tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 55)
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5. A probe comprising
a catheter tube having a distal region, an imaging element on the distal region for visualizing tissue, and a support structure on the distal region extending beyond the imaging element for contacting surrounding tissue away from the imaging element, and a diagnostic or therapeutic element on the support structure to contact surrounding tissue, wherein the imaging element includes a phased array ultrasound transducer assembly.
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28. A probe comprising
a catheter tube having a distal region, an imaging element on the distal region for visualizing tissue, and a support structure on the distal region extending beyond the imaging element for contacting surrounding tissue away from the imaging element, and a diagnostic or therapeutic element on the support structure to contact surrounding tissue, wherein the support structure forms a three-dimensional structure, wherein the three-dimensional structure comprises an expandable body, and wherein the expandable body is porous.
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29. A system for ablating heart tissue, comprising;
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a catheter tube having a distal region, an imaging element on the distal region for visualizing surrounding endocardial tissue, a support body carried by the distal region of the catheter tube, the support structure expandable beyond the imaging element adapted to contact endocardial tissue away from the imaging element to allow for visualization of tissue, and a plurality of energy transmitting electrodes carried in a spaced apart relationship on the support body for use with a source of ablation energy, the spaced apart relationship being set to create, when the electrodes simultaneously transmit ablating energy from the source, an additive heating effect between the electrodes that forms a continuous lesion pattern in surrounding myocardial tissue that extends between the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 57)
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35. A system for ablating heart tissue, comprising;
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a catheter tub having a distal region, an imaging element on the distal region for visualizing surrounding endocardial tissue, a support element carried by the distal region of the catheter tube beyond the imaging element to contact endocardial tissue away from the imaging element, and a plurality of energy transmitting electrodes carried in a spaced apart relationship on the support element for use with a source of ablation energy, the spaced apart relationship of the electrodes being set to create, when the electrodes simultaneously transmit ablating energy from the source, an additive heating effect between the electrodes that forms a continuous lesion pattern in surrounding myocardial tissue that extends between the electrodes, wherein the electrodes comprise wire helically wrapped about the support element.
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44. A method for treating atrial fibrillation, comprising the steps of:
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introducing into an atrium a catheter tube carrying an optical imaging element and including a support structure spaced from the imaging element that contacts tissue in the atrium away from the imaging element, the support structure carrying a plurality of spaced apart energy transmitting electrodes for contact with tissue, simultaneously transmitting ablating energy from a source through each electrode to generate an additive heating effect between electrodes that forms a continuous lesion pattern in tissue contacted by the electrodes, and operating the imaging element to visualize tissue surrounding the support structure. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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56. A probe, comprising:
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a catheter tube having a distal region, an imaging element comprising a fiber optic assembly on the distal region for visualizing surrounding endocardial tissue, a support body called by the distal region of the catheter tube beyond the imagine element to contact endocardial tissue away from the imaging element, and a diagnostic or therapeutic, element on the support structure to contact surrounding tissue, wherein the optic fiber assembly comprises a lens optically coupled to an optic fiber path extending proximally from the distal region, a mirror surface optically coupled to the lens for transmitting and receiving optical energy, and an optical coherence domain reflectometer system optically coupled to the optic fiber path.
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58. A system for treating heart tissue, comprising:
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a catheter tube having a distal region, a fiber optic assembly on the distal region for visualizing surrounding endocardial tissue, a support body on the distal region of the catheter, the support body expandable radially beyond the fiber optic assembly to contact surrounding myocardial tissue when disposed in a patient'"'"'s cardiovascular region, thereby allowing for tissue visualization, and at least one of the group consisting of a pacing electrode on the support body for use with a source of pacing energy to pace surrounding myocardial tissue, a sensing electrode on the support body for sensing electrical events in surrounding myocardial tissue, or an ablation electrode on the support body for use with a source of ablation energy to form a lesion pattern in surrounding myocardial tissue.
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59. A system for treating heart tissue, comprising:
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a catheter tube having a distal region and adapted to be inserted into a heart chamber, an expandable body on the dial region defining a hollow interior and adapted to expand when fluid is introduced into the hollow interior, an optical imaging element within the hollow interior for visualizing surrounding endocardial tissue beyond the expandable body, and an ablation element on the distal region for use with a source of ablation energy to form a lesion pattern in surrounding myocardial tissue. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63)
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Specification