RF ablation catheter including a virtual electrode assembly
First Claim
1. An ablation catheter comprising:
- an elongated catheter body extending between a catheter body proximal end and a catheter body distal end, the elongated catheter body including elongated electrical conductors extending between the catheter body proximal end and the catheter body distal end, a fluid port positioned in proximity to the catheter body proximal end and a fluid delivery lumen extending between the port and the catheter body distal end; and
a virtual electrode assembly terminating the catheter body distal end and including an inner electrode electrically coupled to the elongated conductors, a non-conductive outer cap fixed over the electrode and a fluid chamber formed between the inner electrode and the outer cap;
wherein the outer cap includes a cap inner surface, a cap outer surface and a plurality of pores extending between the cap inner surface and the cap outer surface;
the inner electrode includes an interior fluid trunk in fluid communication with the fluid delivery lumen of the catheter body, an exterior surface, one or more fluid distribution branches extending from the fluid trunk to the exterior surface, and one or more spacers protruding from the exterior surface and contacting the cap inner surface to maintain the fluid chamber between the inner electrode and the outer cap;
a connector ring facilitating coupling of the virtual electrode assembly to the catheter body distal end;
means for coupling the outer cap to the electrode assembly by engaging the one or more spacers of the inner electrode; and
when the inner electrode is energized, via the elongated conductor, and a conductive fluid is delivered through the one or more fluid distribution branches from the fluid trunk, supplied by the fluid delivery lumen of the catheter, the conductive fluid fills the fluid chamber and flows out from the chamber through the plurality of pores of the cap establishing ionic transport of ablation energy from the inner electrode to a target site in close proximity to the cap.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual ablation electrode assembly includes a non-conductive outer cap fitted over an inner electrode to form a fluid chamber between a cap inner surface and an exterior surface of the electrode. The inner electrode includes an interior fluid trunk and one or more fluid distribution branches extending from the fluid trunk to the exterior surface. A plurality of pores extends between the cap inner surface and a cap outer surface. When the electrode is energized and when fluid is delivered through the one or more fluid distribution branches from the trunk, the conductive fluid fills the fluid chamber and flows out from the chamber through the plurality of pores of the cap establishing ionic transport of ablation energy from the inner electrode to a target site in close proximity to the cap.
137 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An ablation catheter comprising:
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an elongated catheter body extending between a catheter body proximal end and a catheter body distal end, the elongated catheter body including elongated electrical conductors extending between the catheter body proximal end and the catheter body distal end, a fluid port positioned in proximity to the catheter body proximal end and a fluid delivery lumen extending between the port and the catheter body distal end; and a virtual electrode assembly terminating the catheter body distal end and including an inner electrode electrically coupled to the elongated conductors, a non-conductive outer cap fixed over the electrode and a fluid chamber formed between the inner electrode and the outer cap; wherein the outer cap includes a cap inner surface, a cap outer surface and a plurality of pores extending between the cap inner surface and the cap outer surface; the inner electrode includes an interior fluid trunk in fluid communication with the fluid delivery lumen of the catheter body, an exterior surface, one or more fluid distribution branches extending from the fluid trunk to the exterior surface, and one or more spacers protruding from the exterior surface and contacting the cap inner surface to maintain the fluid chamber between the inner electrode and the outer cap; a connector ring facilitating coupling of the virtual electrode assembly to the catheter body distal end; means for coupling the outer cap to the electrode assembly by engaging the one or more spacers of the inner electrode; and when the inner electrode is energized, via the elongated conductor, and a conductive fluid is delivered through the one or more fluid distribution branches from the fluid trunk, supplied by the fluid delivery lumen of the catheter, the conductive fluid fills the fluid chamber and flows out from the chamber through the plurality of pores of the cap establishing ionic transport of ablation energy from the inner electrode to a target site in close proximity to the cap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An ablation catheter comprising:
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an elongated catheter body extending between a catheter body proximal end and a catheter body distal end, the elongated catheter body including elongated electrical conductors extending between the catheter body proximal end and the catheter body distal end, a fluid port positioned in proximity to the catheter body proximal end and a fluid delivery lumen extending between the port and the catheter body distal end; and a virtual electrode assembly terminating the catheter body distal end and including an inner electrode electrically coupled to the elongated conductors, a non-conductive outer cap fixed over the electrode and a fluid chamber formed between the inner electrode and the outer cap; wherein the outer cap includes a cap inner surface, a cap outer surface and a plurality of pores extending between the cap inner surface and the cap outer surface; the inner electrode includes an interior fluid trunk in fluid communication with the fluid delivery lumen of the catheter body, an exterior surface, one or more fluid distribution branches extending from the fluid trunk to the exterior surface, and one or more spacers protruding from the exterior surface and contacting the cap inner surface to maintain the fluid chamber between the inner electrode and the outer cap; means for coupling the outer cap to the electrode assembly by engaging the one or more spacers of the inner electrode; and when the inner electrode is energized, via the elongated conductor, and a conductive fluid is delivered through the one or more fluid distribution branches from the fluid trunk, supplied by the fluid delivery lumen of the catheter, the conductive fluid fills the fluid chamber and flows out from the chamber through the plurality of pores of the cap establishing ionic transport of ablation energy from the inner electrode to a target site in close proximity to the cap, wherein the outer cap is formed of a material comprising a ceramic.
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23. An ablation catheter comprising:
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an elongated catheter body extending between a catheter body proximal end and a catheter body distal end, the elongated catheter body including elongated electrical conductors extending between the catheter body proximal end and the catheter body distal end, a fluid port positioned in proximity to the catheter body proximal end and a fluid delivery lumen extending between the port and the catheter body distal end; and a virtual electrode assembly terminating the catheter body distal end and including an inner electrode electrically coupled to the elongated conductors, a non-conductive outer cap fixed over the electrode and a fluid chamber formed between the inner electrode and the outer cap; wherein the outer cap includes a cap inner surface, a cap outer surface and a plurality of pores extending between the cap inner surface and the cap outer surface; the inner electrode includes an interior fluid trunk in fluid communication with the fluid delivery lumen of the catheter body, an exterior surface, one or more fluid distribution branches extending from the fluid trunk to the exterior surface, and one or more spacers protruding from the exterior surface and contacting the cap inner surface to maintain the fluid chamber between the inner electrode and the outer cap; means for coupling the outer cap to the electrode assembly by engaging the one or more spacers of the inner electrode; and when the inner electrode is energized, via the elongated conductor, and a conductive fluid is delivered through the one or more fluid distribution branches from the fluid trunk, supplied by the fluid delivery lumen of the catheter, the conductive fluid fills the fluid chamber and flows out from the chamber through the plurality of pores of the cap establishing ionic transport of ablation energy from the inner electrode to a target site in close proximity to the cap, wherein a maximum distance between the exterior surface of the electrode and the cap inner surface is between approximately 0.003 inch and approximately 0.005 inch.
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24. A virtual ablation electrode assembly, comprising:
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a non-conductive outer cap including a cap inner surface, a cap outer surface and a plurality of pores extending between the cap inner surface and the cap outer surface; an inner electrode including an interior fluid trunk, an exterior surface, one or more fluid distribution branches extending from the fluid trunk to the exterior surface, and one or more spacers protruding from the exterior surface and contacting the cap inner surface; means for coupling the outer cap to the electrode assembly by engaging the one or more spacers of the inner electrode; and a fluid chamber formed between the inner electrode and the outer cap and maintained by the one more spacers; wherein, when the electrode is energized and when fluid is delivered through the one or more fluid distribution branches from the trunk, the conductive fluid fills the fluid chamber and flows out from the chamber through the plurality of pores of the cap establishing ionic transport of ablation energy from the inner electrode to a target site in close proximity to the cap, and wherein the coupling means comprises one or more detents on the outer cap engaging the one or more spacers of the inner electrode. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification