Medical probe with reduced number of temperature sensor wires

• US 6,979,329 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: O'Brien, Dennis M., Dueiri, David, Thompson, Russell B., Burnside, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): VRETTAKOS, PETER J
• Application Number:
  US10/307,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20030120271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 606 27- 52
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• 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 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00726 Duty cycle
• 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 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially

Abstract

Systems and methods for reducing the number of temperature measurement wires in multiple temperature sensor ablation systems are described. In a preferred embodiment, temperature sensors capable of measuring the temperature of body tissue and transmitting the temperature data digitally are incorporated in a catheter or probe ablation system that also includes electrodes in operative contact with the sensors. The sensors are connected in parallel to a common electrical bus, thereby allowing the system to operate using a reduced number of electrical paths as compared to conventional ablation systems. The present invention is also directed to ablation systems that incorporate analog sensors rather than digital sensors. In this embodiment, the system utilizes digital switching, filtering circuits, or oscillators to reduce the number of wires required to operate the sensors.

Claims

1. A medical probe, comprising:

an elongate member configured to be used inside of a human body, the elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a plurality of temperature sensors carried by the distal end of the elongate member; and

a common electrical bus carried by the elongate member, and defining two or more electrical paths, each of which is coupled to the plurality of temperature sensors.

2. The medical probe of claim 1, wherein the common electrical bus extends through the elongate member and is directly connected to the plurality of temperature sensors.

3. The medical probe of claim 1, further comprising another bus extending through the elongate member, wherein the common electrical bus is located in the proximal end of the elongate member and is indirectly connected to the plurality of temperature sensors through the other bus.

4. The medical probe of claim 1, further comprising an electrode carried by the distal end of the elongate member, wherein one or more of the plurality of temperature sensors is located adjacent the electrode.

5. The medical probe of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of electrodes carried by the distal end of the elongate member, wherein the plurality of temperature sensors are respectively located adjacent the plurality of electrodes.

6. The medical probe of claim 1, further comprising a handle mounted to the proximal end of the elongate member, wherein the handle comprises an interface to connect a cable to the two or more electrical paths, the cable providing a connection between the probe and an ablation power generator.

7. The medical probe of claim 1, wherein the two or more electrical paths comprise a data line and a ground line.

8. The medical probe of claim 1, wherein the two or more electrical paths comprise a data line, a ground line, and a power line.

9. The medical probe of claim 1, wherein each of the two or more electrical paths comprises a single wire.

10. The medical probe of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensors are connected in parallel to the two or more electrical paths.

11. A medical probe, comprising:

an elongate member configured to be used inside of a human body, the elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end;

a plurality of temperature sensors carried by the distal end of the elongate member; and

a common electrical bus extending between the proximal and distal ends of the elongate member, and defining two or more electrical paths, each of which is coupled to the plurality of temperature sensors.

12. The medical probe of claim 11, wherein the common electrical bus is directly connected to the plurality of temperature sensors.

13. The medical probe of claim 11, further comprising an electrode carried by the distal end of the elongate member, wherein one or more of the plurality of temperature sensors is located adjacent the electrode.

14. The medical probe of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of electrodes carried by the distal end of the elongate member, wherein the plurality of temperature sensors are respectively located adjacent the plurality of electrodes.

15. The medical probe of claim 11, further comprising a handle mounted to the proximal end of the elongate member, wherein the handle comprises an interface to connect a cable to the two or more electrical paths, the cable providing a connection between the probe and an ablation power generator.

16. The medical probe of claim 11, wherein the two or more electrical paths comprise a data line and a ground line.

17. The medical probe of claim 11, wherein the two or more electrical paths comprise a data line, a ground line, and a power line.

18. The medical probe of claim 11, wherein each of the two or more electrical paths comprises a single wire.

19. The medical probe of claim 11, wherein the temperature sensors are connected in parallel to the two or more electrical paths.