System for operating a RF ablation generator

• US 5,954,719 A
• Filed: 03/23/1998
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Irvine Biomedical, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Irvine Biomedical, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chen, Peter Cheng, Nguyen, Tho Hoang
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US09/046,237
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32-34, 606/41, 606/42, 607/100-105, 607/115, 607/116, 607/122
• US Class Current: 606/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• 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 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00654 with individual control of each of a plurality of energy emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00815 measured by a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0091 Handpieces of the surgical instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe

Abstract

A catheter-based system for operating a RF ablation generator comprising a RF splitter for delivering RF energy to a plurality of electrodes; a low-pass filter located between the RF splitter and an external EKG monitor for displaying real-time signal to said EKG monitor; and a software program having temperature data input from a plurality of temperature sensors and signal output capability, wherein the software program sends out signals to the RF splitter being adapted to control the RF energy output to each electrode.

Claims

1. A catheter-based RF generator system comprising:

a catheter having an elongate tubular element having a distal section, a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein a plurality of electrodes is disposed on the distal section;

wherein a handle means is attached to the proximal end of the elongate tubular element, and wherein a conducting wire is secured to each electrode;

a RF generator having electrical energy input and RF energy output capabilities, a controlling mechanism means, and a RF splitter, wherein the RF energy output is supplied to each electrode through each individual conducting wire;

a plurality of the temperature sensing means located at proximity of each of the electrodes, wherein temperature is constantly sensed and relayed to said controlling mechanism means;

a low-pass filter located between the RF splitter and an external EKG monitor for displaying real-time cardiac electrical signal on said EKG monitor so that said controlling mechanism means only allows ablation when the real-time cardiac electrical signal assures that the catheter is still at a proper location; and

a software program connected to the controlling mechanism means, the software program having temperature data input and signal output capability, wherein the software program sends out signals to the RF splitter being adapted to control the RF energy output to each of the electrodes at a predetermined temperature range, and wherein the sum of a total duration of the RF energy output delivered to each electrode is individually predetermined.

2. The catheter-based RF generator system of claim 1, wherein a steering mechanism is located at the handle means to cause at least one deflection for the distal section, wherein the steering mechanism comprises a steering wire, one end of the steering wire being attached at a certain point of the distal section while another end of the steering wire being attached to the steering mechanism at the handle means.

3. The catheter-based RF generator system of claim 1, wherein the sum of the total duration of the RF energy output delivered to each electrode is essentially about equal.

4. The catheter-based RF generator system of claim 1, wherein the mode of the RF energy delivery to each electrode is selected from the group consisting of a simultaneous delivery mode, a sequential delivery mode, a random delivery mode, and a combination of the above.

5. The catheter-based RF generator system of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are selected from the group consisting of a coil electrode, a tubular electrode, a needle electrode, and a microporous electrode.

6. The catheter-based RF generator system as in claim 1 further comprising a fluid irrigation means, wherein a fluid is introduced into at least one lumen of the elongate tubular element and is adapted to diffuse out of the catheter at its distal section.

7. The catheter-based RF generator system of claim 6, wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of saline, cooled saline, oxygenated saline, heparin solution, antibiotic fluid, and anti-inflammatory fluid.

8. A method of operating a catheter-based RF generator system comprising the steps of:

inserting a catheter into a heart chamber and positioning the catheter at a targeted ablative site, wherein the catheter having an elongate tubular element having a distal section, a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one lumen extending therebetween, wherein a plurality of electrodes is disposed on the distal section;

wherein a handle means is attached to the proximal end of the elongate tubular element, and wherein a conducting wire is secured to each electrode;

operating a RF generator, the RF generator having electrical energy input and RF energy output capabilities, a controlling mechanism means, and a RF splitter, wherein the RF energy output is supplied to each electrode through each individual conducting wire;

a low-pass filter located between the RF splitter and an external EKG monitor for displaying real-time cardiac electrical signal on said EKG monitor so that said controlling mechanism means only allows ablation when the real-time cardiac electrical signal assures the catheter is still at a proper location; and

operating a software program that is connected to the controlling mechanism means, wherein the software program has the temperature data input and signal output capability, wherein the software program sends out signals adapted to control the RF energy output to each of the electrodes at a predetermined temperature range, and wherein the sum of the total duration of the output RF energy delivered to each electrode is individually predetermined.

9. The method of operating the catheter-based RF generator system of claim 8, wherein a steering mechanism is located at the handle means to cause at least one deflection for the distal section.

10. The method of operating the catheter-based RF generator system of claim 8, wherein the sum of a total duration of the output RF energy delivered to each electrode is essentially equal.

11. The method of operating the catheter-based RF generator system of claim 8, wherein the mode of the RF energy output delivered to each electrode is selected from the group consisting of a simultaneous delivery, a sequential delivery, a random delivery and a combination of them.

12. The method of operating the catheter-based RF generator system of claim 8, wherein at least one electrode is selected from the group consisting of a coil electrode, a tubular electrode, a needle electrode, and a microporous electrode.

13. The method of operating the catheter-based RF generator system as in claim 8, further comprising a fluid irrigation means, wherein a fluid is introduced into the at least one lumen of the elongate tubular element and is adapted to diffuse out of the catheter at its distal section.

14. The method of operating the catheter-based RF generator system of claim 13, wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of saline, cooled saline, oxygenated saline, heparin solution, antibiotic fluid, or anti-inflammatory fluid.