Magnetic resonance imaging probes

• US 7,133,714 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2005
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SurgiVision Inc.
• Original Assignee: SurgiVision Inc.
• Inventors: Viohl, Ingmar, Karmarkar, Parag
• Primary Examiner(s): Arana, Louis M.
• Application Number:
  US11/146,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20060119361A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 600/423, 324/318, 324/322
• US Class Current: 600/423
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/287 involving active visualization of interventional instruments, e.g. using active tracking RF coils or coils for intentionally creating magnetic field inhomogeneities

Abstract

A magnetic resonance probe may include a plurality of center conductors, at least some center conductors including a conductive core and an insulator disposed at least partially about the core along at least a portion of the core, a first dielectric layer disposed at least partially about the plurality of center conductors in a proximal portion of the probe, an outer conductive layer at least partially disposed about the first dielectric layer, and a plurality of electrodes, at least one electrode being coupled to one of the center conductors and disposed at least partly on a probe surface.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance probe, comprising:

a plurality of center conductors, at least some center conductors including a conductive core and an insulator disposed at least partially about the core along at least a portion of the core;

a first dielectric layer disposed at least partially about the plurality of center conductors in a proximal portion of the probe;

an outer conductive layer at least partially disposed about the first dielectric layer; and

a plurality of electrodes, at least one electrode being coupled to one of the center conductors and disposed at least partly on a probe surface;

a ribbon disposed in a distal portion of the probe; and

a pull wire coupled to the ribbon.

2. The probe of claim 1, further comprising a second dielectric layer at least partially disposed about the outer conductive layer.

3. The probe of claim 1, further comprising a lubricious coating at least partially disposed about the outer conductive layer.

4. The probe of claim 1, wherein at least one insulator has a thickness equal to or less than about 100 microns.

5. The probe of claim 1, further comprising a connection to a high-pass filter through which the probe is coupleable to a magnetic resonance scanner.

6. The probe of claim 1, further comprising a connection to a low-pass filter through which the probe is coupleable to at least one of an electrophysiological recording system, a tissue stimulator, and an ablation energy source.

7. The probe of claim 1, wherein the pull wire is disposed in a lumen in the probe.

8. The probe of claim 1, further comprising a coolant lumen.

9. The probe of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of radially expandable arms, wherein at least one electrode is at least partly disposed on one arm.

10. The probe of claim 1, further comprising an ablation electrode disposed at a distal tip of the probe.

11. The probe of claim 1, further comprising an interface circuit coupled to the probe, the interface circuit including:

a signal splitter that directs a signal received from the probe to a magnetic resonance pathway and an electrophysiology pathway;

a high-pass filter disposed in the magnetic resonance pathway;

a low-pass filter disposed in the electrophysiology pathway;

a connector disposed in the magnetic resonance pathway for connecting to a magnetic resonance scanner; and

a connector disposed in the electrophysiology pathway for connecting to at least one of a tissue stimulator, a biopotential recording system, and an ablation energy source.

12. The probe of claim 1, further comprising a connector portion disposed at a proximal end of the probe, the connector portion including:

an outer conductor contact coupled to the outer conductive layer;

extended sections of at least some center conductors extending proximally beyond the outer conductor contact, at least one extended section having a center conductor contact coupled to one center conductor; and

an insulated area interposed between the outer conductor contact and the at least one center conductor contact.

13. A system for magnetic resonance imaging, comprising:

the magnetic resonance probe of claim 1

a interface electrically coupled to the probe, the interface including;

a signal splitter that directs a signal received from the probe to a magnetic resonance pathway and an electrophysiology pathway;

a high-pass filter disposed in the magnetic resonance pathway;

a low-pass filter disposed in the electrophysiology pathway;

a connector disposed in the magnetic resonance pathway for connecting to a magnetic resonance scanner; and

a connector disposed in the electrophysiology pathway for connecting to at least one of a tissue stimulator, a electrophysiological recording system, and an ablation energy source.

14. A magnetic resonance probe, comprising:

a plurality of center conductors, at least some center conductors including a conductive core and an insulator disposed at least partially about the core along at least a portion of the core;

a first dielectric layer disposed at least partially about the plurality of center conductors in a proximal portion of the probe;

an outer conductive layer at least partially disposed about the first dielectric layer; and

a plurality of electrodes, at least one electrode being coupled to one of the center conductors and disposed at least partly on a probe surface; and

an ablation electrode disposed at a distal tip of the probe.

15. A system for magnetic resonance imaging, comprising:

the magnetic resonance probe of claim 14; and

a interface electrically coupled to the probe, the interface including;

a signal splitter that directs a signal received from the probe to a magnetic resonance pathway and an electrophysiology pathway;

a high-pass filter disposed in the magnetic resonance pathway;

a low-pass filter disposed in the electrophysiology pathway;

a connector disposed in the magnetic resonance pathway for connecting to a magnetic resonance scanner; and

a ribbon disposed in a distal portion of the probe; and

a pull wire coupled to the ribbon

a connector disposed in the electrophysiology pathway for connecting to at least one of a tissue stimulator, a electrophysiological recording system, and an ablation energy source.

16. A magnetic resonance probe, comprising:

a plurality of center conductors, at least some center conductors including a conductive core and an insulator disposed at least partially about the core along at least a portion of the core;

a first dielectric layer disposed at least partially about the plurality of center conductors in a proximal portion of the probe;

an outer conductive layer at least partially disposed about the first dielectric layer; and

a plurality of electrodes, at least one electrode being coupled to one of the center conductors and disposed at least partly on a probe surface; and

a plurality of radially expandable arms, wherein at least one electrode is at least partly disposed on one arm.

17. The probe of claim 16, further comprising an ablation electrobe disposed at a distal tip of the probe.

18. A system for magnetic resonance imaging, comprising:

the magnetic resonance probe of claim 16; and

a interface electrically coupled to the probe, the interface including;

a signal splitter that directs a signal received from the probe to a magnetic resonance pathway and an electrophysiology pathway;

a high-pass filter disposed in the magnetic resonance pathway;

a low-pass filter disposed in the electrophysiology pathway;

a connector disposed in the magnetic resonance pathway for connecting to a magnetic resonance scanner; and

a ribbon disposed in a distal portion of the probe; and

a pull wire coupled to the ribbon.

a connector disposed in the electrophysiology pathway for connectin to at least one of a tissue stimulator, a elecrophysiological recording system, and an ablation energy source.