Electrode arrangement for use in a medical instrument
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A catheter, comprising:
- an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, and having a longitudinal axis;
a longitudinal working member carried by the flexible tubular member and located near a distal portion of the flexible tubular member, the longitudinal working member being arranged to work in a first predetermined direction laterally to the side of the flexible tubular member, the first predetermined direction extending radially from the longitudinal axis of the tubular member;
a pair of spaced electrodes for sensing electrical activity of biological tissues inside the body of the patient, the electrodes being carried by the flexible tubular member and positioned in a second predetermined direction, which is relative to the first predetermined direction, the second predetermined direction extending radially from the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, wherein the electrodes provide a reference point for determining the radial position of the working member with respect to sensed biological tissue inside the body of the patient, the reference point allowing a user to properly align the working member with biological tissues targeted for work.
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Abstract
A medical instrument is disclosed. The medical instrument includes a pair of spaced apart and electrically isolated elongated wire electrodes positioned adjacent one another on a working member. The wire electrodes are arranged for sensing electrical activity of biological tissues inside the body of the patient. The medical instrument also includes a pair of electrically isolated electrode wires that extend through the working member. Each of the electrode wires are electrically coupled to an associated wire electrode.
338 Citations
82 Claims
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1. A catheter, comprising:
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an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, and having a longitudinal axis;
a longitudinal working member carried by the flexible tubular member and located near a distal portion of the flexible tubular member, the longitudinal working member being arranged to work in a first predetermined direction laterally to the side of the flexible tubular member, the first predetermined direction extending radially from the longitudinal axis of the tubular member;
a pair of spaced electrodes for sensing electrical activity of biological tissues inside the body of the patient, the electrodes being carried by the flexible tubular member and positioned in a second predetermined direction, which is relative to the first predetermined direction, the second predetermined direction extending radially from the longitudinal axis of the tubular member, wherein the electrodes provide a reference point for determining the radial position of the working member with respect to sensed biological tissue inside the body of the patient, the reference point allowing a user to properly align the working member with biological tissues targeted for work. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An ablation device comprising:
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a transmission line suitable for the transmission of electromagnetic energy;
an antenna coupled to the transmission line, the antenna being configured to create a directional electromagnetic field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation in a predetermined direction;
an antenna enclosure for enclosing at least a portion of the antenna;
an electrode carried by the antenna enclosure, and positioned in the predetermined direction to sense electrical activity of biological tissues. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A microwave ablation catheter, comprising:
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a flexible tubular member having a lumen therein, and being adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient;
a coaxial transmission line disposed within the lumen of the flexible tubular member, the coaxial transmission line including an inner conductor and an outer conductor suitable for the transmission of electromagnetic energy;
an antenna electrically coupled to the inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line, the antenna being positioned distally relative to the inner conductor and configured for creating an electromagnetic field;
an electrically conductive reflector positioned laterally to a first side of the antenna, the reflector being electrically coupled to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line, the reflector being configured for redirecting a portion of the electromagnetic field to a second side of the antenna opposite the reflector, wherein a majority of the electromagnetic field is directed away from the second side of the antenna, the antenna and reflector cooperating to produce a directional electromagnetic field that is sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation;
an antenna enclosure for encapsulating the antenna and the reflector, and being adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient;
a first electrode disposed on the antenna enclosure and positioned to the second side of the antenna opposite the reflector, the first electrode being configured for sensing electrical activity of biological tissues inside the patient;
a first electrode wire electrically coupled to the first electrode and extending through the antenna enclosure and the flexible tubular member;
a second electrode disposed on the antenna enclosure and positioned side by side to the first electrode, the second electrode being configured for sensing electrical activity of biological tissues inside the patient, the second electrode being spaced apart and electrically isolated from the first electrode; and
a second electrode wire electrically coupled to the second electrode and extending through the antenna enclosure and the flexible tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for ablating biological tissues using a catheter having a longitudinal ablation component configured for transmitting directional ablative energy to a first side of the catheter in a direction substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of the catheter, and having an electrode component configured for detecting electrical signals of biological tissues, the method comprising:
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introducing the catheter into a patient'"'"'s body;
monitoring electrical signals of biological tissues inside the patient'"'"'s body via the electrode component;
positioning the longitudinal ablation component in a region proximate biological tissues targeted for ablation using the monitored electrical signals;
determining the radial position of the longitudinal ablation component relative to the biological tissues targeted for ablation via the monitored electrical signals;
rotating the catheter about its longitudinal axis so that the first side of the longitudinal ablation component is facing the biological tissues targeted for ablation; and
transmitting the directional ablative energy to the first side of the longitudinal ablation component so as to cause ablation of the biological tissues targeted for ablation. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. An ablation device, comprising:
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an ablative energy source;
an ablative energy delivery device coupled to the ablative energy source, the ablative energy delivery device having a longitudinal working member configured for delivering ablative energy sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation in a substantially linear manner to one side of the ablative energy delivery device, the ablative energy delivery device having a cross sectional dimension that includes an outer perimeter; and
an electrode arrangement carried by the ablative energy delivery device, the electrode arrangement including a first and a second electrode configured for sensing electrical activity of biological tissues inside the body of the patient, the first and second electrodes being separated along the outer perimeter of the ablative energy delivery device by a first distance and a second distance, the first distance being smaller than the second distance. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A catheter, comprising:
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an elongated flexible tubular member adapted to be inserted into a vessel in the body of a patient, and having a longitudinal axis;
an electrode arrangement carried by the flexible tubular member and configured to sense electrical activity of biological tissues, the electrode arrangement including spaced apart first and second electrodes, each of the electrodes having centerlines that extend radially from the longitudinal axis of the flexible tubular member, the centerlines having an angle between them that is less than 45 degrees; and
a working member carried by the flexible tubular member, the working member working along a central axis that is disposed between the first and second electrodes and that is normal to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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Specification