Ablation probe with peltier effect thermal control

• US 7,238,184 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2004
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: DiCarlo, Paul, Megerman, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOY, ALEX B
• Application Number:
  US10/802,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20050203505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606 20- 21
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0237 with a thermoelectric element in the probe for cooling purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0243 cooling of the hot side of the junction, e.g. heat sink
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/087 using semiconductors as heating element
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

A tissue ablation probe, system, and method are provided. The ablation probe comprises an elongated member, an ablative element mounted on the distal end of the elongated member, and at least one thermoelectric device mounted to the member in thermal communication with the ablative element. The system may include the ablation probe, thermal control circuitry for controlling the thermal effect of the thermoelectric device, and an ablation source for suppying ablation energy to the ablative element. A plurality of circumferentially distributed thermoelectric devices can be provided, so that radial tissue sectors can be selectively affected by independently controlling the thermal effect of the thermoelectric devices. In one embodiment, the thermoelectric device(s) can be used to cool a heat ablative element. In another embodiment, the thermoelectric device(s) can be used to heat an ablative element, thereby forming a heat ablative element. In still another embodiment, the thermoelectric device(s) can be used to cryogenically cool an ablative element, thereby forming a cryogenic ablative element.

Claims

1. An ablation probe, comprising:

an elongated member;

a heat ablative element mounted to a distal end of the elongated member; and

a plurality of independently controllable thermoelectric cooling devices mounted to the elongated member in thermal communication with the ablative element.

2. The ablation probe of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is rigid.

3. The ablation probe of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric devices are in direct contact with the ablative element.

4. The ablation probe of claim 1, wherein the ablative element is a radio frequency (RF) electrode.

5. The ablation probe of claim 1, wherein the ablative element comprises a plurality of tissue penetrating needle electrodes.

6. The ablation system of claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric devices are configured for absorbing heat from the ablative element.

7. The ablation probe of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled to the thermoelectric devices.

8. The ablation probe of claim 7, wherein the heat sink comprises a heat sink rod that extends through the elongated member, and a plurality of cooling fins formed at a proximal end of the heat sink rod.

9. The ablation probe of claim 7, wherein each of the thermoelectric devices comprises a cold side in thermal communication with the ablative element and a hot side in thermal communication with the heat sink.

10. An ablation system, comprising:

the ablation probe of claim 1;

thermal control circuitry electrically coupled to the thermoelectric devices the control circuitry configured for independently transmitting a signals to the thermoelectric devices whereby the thermoelectric devices cools the ablative element.

11. The ablation system of claim 10, further comprising an ablation source coupled to the ablative element.

12. The ablation system of claim 11, further comprising a console containing the thermal control circuitry and ablation source.

13. An ablation probe, comprising:

an elongated member;

a heat ablative element mounted to a distal end of the elongated member, the ablative element having a hollow cylindrical portion; and

a plurality of discrete, independently controllable, cooling devices circumferentially distributed around an inner surface of the cylindrical portion.

14. The ablation probe of claim 13, wherein the elongated member is rigid.

15. The ablation probe of claim 13, wherein the cooling devices are thermoelectric cooling devices.

16. The ablation probe of claim 13, wherein the ablative element is a radio frequency (RE) electrode.

17. The ablation probe of claim 13, wherein the ablative element is a tissue-penetrating electrode.

18. The ablation system of claim 13, wherein the cooling devices are configured for absorbing heat from the ablative element.

19. The ablation probe of claim 13, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled to the cooling devices.

20. The ablation probe of claim 19, wherein the heat sink comprises a heat sink rod that extends through the elongated member, and a plurality of cooling fins formed at a proximal end of the heat sink rod.

21. An ablation system, comprising:

the ablation probe of claim 13; and

thermal control circuitry configured for independently controlling the respective cooling devices, whereby the cooling devices cool the ablative element.

22. The ablation system of claim 21, further comprising an ablation source coupled to the ablative element.

23. The ablation system of claim 22, further comprising a console containing the thermal control circuitry and ablation source.

24. An ablation probe, comprising:

an elongated member;

a heat ablative element mounted to a distal end of the elongated member; and

a plurality of discrete, independently controllable, circumferentially distributed cooling devices in thermal communication with the ablative element.

25. The ablation probe of claim 24, wherein the elongated member is rigid.

26. The ablation probe of claim 24, wherein the cooling devices are thermoelectric cooling devices.

27. The ablation probe of claim 24, wherein the cooling devices are in direct contact with the ablative element.

28. The ablation probe of claim 24, wherein the ablative element is a radio frequency (RF) electrode.

29. The ablation probe of claim 24, wherein the ablative element is a tissue-penetrating electrode.

30. The ablation probe of claim 24, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled to the cooling devices.

31. The ablation probe of claim 30, wherein the heat sink comprises a heat sink rod that extends through the elongated member, and a plurality of cooling fins formed at a proximal end of the heat sink rod.

32. An ablation system, comprising:

the ablation probe of claim 24; and

thermal control circuitry configured for independently controlling the respective cooling devices, whereby the cooling devices cool the ablative element.

33. The ablation system of claim 32, further comprising an ablation source coupled to the ablative element.

34. The ablation system of claim 33, further comprising a console containing the thermal control circuitry and ablation source.