Catheter based surgery

• US 6,321,109 B2
• Filed: 12/29/1998
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biosense, Inc. (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Biosense, Inc. (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ben-Haim, Shlomo, Fenster, Maier
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mercader, Eleni Mantis
• Application Number:
  US09/117,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20010003790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 600/424, 600/437, 600/439, 600/458, 600/464, 600/466, 600/462, 424/9.5, 604/22, 601/4, 601/2
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00247 Making holes in the wall of the heart, e.g. laser Myocardial revascularization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22008 used or promoted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/063 using impedance measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6856 with a distal loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6858 with a distal basket, e.g. expandable basket
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 : for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 : Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1064 : for adjusting radiation treatment in response to monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 : Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

A method of excavating tissue in the body, including bringing a catheter (60) to a location, injecting microbubbles (84) at the location and causing cavitation of tissue (76) at the location using ultrasound. Preferably, the microbubbles (84) are injected directly into the tissue, such as by using a hollow needle (62). Alternatively, microbubbles (84) are injected into the vascular bed of the tissue at the location, so that the capillaries (86) are infused with microbubbles (84).

Claims

1. An excavating probe for use in a generated magnetic field comprising:

(a) a probe body having a distal tip;

(b) a position sensor near the distal tip, the position sensor being a magnetic field receiver which determines the position of the tip by sensing the instantaneous position of the tip from a generated magnetic field; and

(c) a source of microbubbles at the tip.

2. A probe according to claim 1, wherein the source of microbubbles comprises a hollow needle which injects the microbubbles into tissue adjacent the tip.

3. A probe according to claim 2, comprising an ultrasonic imager which views regions adjacent said tip.

4. A probe according to claim 2, wherein the position sensor comprises an orientation sensor which determines the orientation of the tip of the probe.

5. A method of excavating within a generated magnetic field comprising:

(a) bringing a probe to a location, the probe comprising a probe body having a distal tip, a position sensor near the distal tip wherein the position sensor is a magnetic field receiver which determines the position of the tip by sensing the instantaneous position of the tip from a generated magnetic field and a source of microbubbles;

(b) injecting microbubbles at the location; and

(c) causing cavitation of tissue at the location using ultrasound.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein (b) comprises, injecting microbubbles directly into tissue at the location.