Ablation and imaging catheter

• US 6,658,279 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2001
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EP Technology (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EP Technology (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: McGee, David, Panescu, Dorin, Swanson, David K., TenHoff, Harm, Whayne, James G.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAW, SHAWNA JEANNINE
• Application Number:
  US09/993,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/437, 600/439, 600/374, 600/508, 607/122, 606/41, 606/194, 604/22
• US Class Current: 600/407
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0036 including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6859 with multiple distal splines
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/541 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/543 involving acquisition triggered by a physiological signal

Abstract

A catheter for ablating and imaging tissue includes a porous electrode structure comprising an interior region for receiving a conductive medium, an elongate tube having a distal tube end that extends within the interior region, and an ultrasonic transducer assembly housed within the distal tube end.

Claims

1. An ablation/imaging catheter, comprising:

an elongate tube having a distal tube end;

a porous electrode structure mounted to the distal tube end and comprising an interior region for receiving a conductive medium, the distal tube end extending within the interior region;

an electrode in communication with the interior region for delivering electrical energy to the conductive medium within the interior region; and

an ultrasound transducer assembly housed within the distal tube end.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound transducer assembly comprises an ultrasonic imaging core.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic transducer assembly comprises a phased array of ultrasound transducers.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the electrode is an annular ablation ring mounted on the distal tube end.

5. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the porous structure is microporous.

6. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the porous structure is inflatable.

7. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the porous structure comprises regenerated cellulose.

8. An ablation/imaging catheter, comprising:

an elongate tube having a distal tube end;

an electrode structure mounted to the distal tube end; and

an imaging element positionable distal to the distal tube end within an interior region of the electrode structure, wherein the imaging element is configured to emit energy through the distal tube end and electrode structure to produce an image, and the distal tube end and electrode structure are substantially transparent to the imaging energy.

9. The catheter of claim 8, wherein the imaging element comprises an ultrasound transducer.

10. The catheter of claim 8, wherein the imaging element comprises an ultrasonic imaging core.

11. The catheter of claim 8, wherein the electrode structure comprises a porous electrode structure having an interior region in which the imaging element operates.

12. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the imaging element is sealed from the interior region.

13. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the porous electrode is microporous.

14. The catheter of claim 11, wherein the porous electrode is inflatable.

15. The catheter of claim 8, wherein the electrode structure is substantially transparent to the imaging energy.

16. An ablation/imaging catheter, comprising:

an elongate tube having a distal tube end;

a porous electrode structure on the distal tube end and comprising an interior region for receiving a conductive medium therein;

a source of conductive medium connected to the elongate tube for delivering conductive medium into the interior region of the porous electrode structure such that energy may be delivered via the conductive medium to tissue outside the porous electrode structure; and

an ultrasound transducer assembly within the distal tube end.

17. The catheter of claim 16, further comprising an electrode in communication with the interior region for delivering electrical energy to the conductive medium within the interior region.

18. The catheter of claim 17, wherein the electrode is disposed within the interior region.

19. The catheter of claim 18, wherein the electrode is carried on the distal tube end.