Apparatus for R-F ablation

• US 6,356,790 B1
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gaiser, John W., Ladd, Kevin C., Le, Le T., Maguire, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US09/361,444
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 607/98, 607/99, 607/101, 607/102, 607/104, 607/105, 607/113, 607/115, 607/116, 606/41, 606/42, 600/374, 600/373
• US Class Current: 607/102
• 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 2017/00101 using an array of thermosensors
• 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 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1273 including multiple generators in one device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6855 with a distal curved tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6857 with a distal pigtail shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6859 : with multiple distal splines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/015 : Details of the distal fixation of the movable mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0161 : wherein the distal tips have two or more deflection regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0138 : having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 : with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

An improved system and method for ablating a tissue site is provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises an ablation catheter employing one or more electrodes and multiple temperature sensors located along the catheter distal end. The temperature sensors control the power applied to the one or more electrodes. A deflection mechanism may be included to provide directional control to the catheter.

Claims

1. An ablation catheter comprising an elongated catheter body carrying a plurality of electrode coils each coupled to a separate conductor located within said catheter body, wherein at least one of said plurality of electrode coils has a proximal end spaced circumferentially less than one full turn of said electrode coil from a distal end of a different one of said plurality of electrode coils.

2. An ablation catheter as in claim 1 wherein said electrode coils are located on a distal end of the catheter body.

3. An ablation catheter as in claim 2 wherein the distal end of the catheter body including said electrode coils is flexible.

4. An ablation catheter as in claim 3 wherein the distal end of the ablation catheter including said electrode coils can be remotely deflected from a control handle located on a proximal end of the ablation catheter.

5. An ablation catheter as in claim 3 wherein the distal end of the ablation catheter including said electrode coils can be remotely rotated from a control handle located on a proximal end of the ablation catheter.

6. An ablation catheter as in claim 1 wherein the ablation catheter body includes a plurality of temperature sensors at least some of which are arranged along said catheter body adjacent said electrode coils and providing outputs indicative of temperature.

7. An ablation catheter as in claim 1 wherein each of said electrode coils has a helical configuration.

8. An ablation catheter as in claim 7 wherein at least one of said coils continues on a helical path defined by the helical configuration of an adjacent coil electrode.

9. An ablation catheter as in claim 1 wherein the catheter body is comprised at least partly of a tubular plastic member and said electrode coils are mounted to the tubular plastic member in an at least partially embedded configuration.

10. An ablation catheter as in claim 9 wherein at least a first of said electrode coils emerges through the tubular plastic member adjacent a second of said electrode coils such that mechanical characteristics of the catheter remain essentially constant along the portion of the catheter defined by the first and second electrode coils.

11. An ablation catheter comprising an elongated catheter body carrying on a flexible distal end thereof at least a first electrode and a second electrode, each of said first and second electrodes having a coil configuration and being coupled to a separate conductor located within said catheter body, a control handle at a proximal end of the catheter body from which the flexible distal end can be deflected, wherein said first and second flexible electrodes are arranged along the catheter body in a closely spaced relationship such that a distal portion of said first electrode is spaced circumferentially less than one full turn of a coil from a proximal end of said second second electrode, and mechanical characteristics of the catheter remain essentially constant along the portion of the catheter defined by the first and second electrodes.

12. An ablation catheter as in claim 11 wherein the distal end of the ablation catheter including said first and second electrodes can be remotely rotated from the control handle.

13. An ablation catheter as in claim 11 wherein the ablation catheter body includes a plurality of temperature sensors at least some of which are arranged along said catheter body adjacent said first and second electrodes and providing outputs indicative of temperature.

14. An ablation catheter as in claim 11 wherein said first and second electrodes each have a helical configuration.

15. An ablation catheter as in claim 14 wherein the second electrode continues on a helical path defined by the helical configuration of the first electrode.

16. An ablation catheter as in claim 15 wherein the catheter body is comprised at least partly of a tubular plastic member and said first and second electrodes are mounted to the tubular plastic member in an at least partially embedded configuration.

17. An ablation catheter comprising an elongated catheter body carrying on a distal end thereof at least a first electrode and a second electrode, each of said first and second electrodes coupled to a separate conductor located within said catheter body and coupled to at least one R-F power source capable of activating the first and second electrodes, wherein said first and second electrodes are arranged along the catheter body in a closely spaced relationship, wherein a distal end of said first electrode and a proximal end of said second electrode are coiled around said catheter body, said distal end of said first electrode being spaced circumferentially less than one full turn of a coil from said proximal end of said second electrode and not separated by circumferential insulators such that when the first and second electrodes are simultaneously activated the electrical field generated by the electrodes creates thermal effects which are essentially indistinguishable from those produced by a single, continuous electrode.

18. An ablation catheter as in claim 17 wherein the ablation catheter body includes a plurality of temperature sensors at least some of which are arranged along said catheter body adjacent said first and second electrodes and providing outputs indicative of temperature.

19. An ablation catheter as in claim 17 wherein said first and second electrodes each have a helical configuration.

20. An ablation catheter as in claim 19 wherein the second electrode continues on a helical path defined by the helical configuration of the first electrode.

21. An ablation catheter as in claim 17 wherein the catheter body is comprised at least partly of a tubular plastic member and said first and second electrodes are mounted to the tubular plastic member in an at least partially embedded configuration.