Tissue ablation using pulse modulated radio frequency energy
First Claim
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1. A method of treating tissue within a patient, comprising:
- delivering ablation energy to the tissue;
sensing a physiological parameter indicative of change in moisture concentration of the tissue;
alternately pulsing the ablation energy on and off to generate an energy pulse train, wherein the ablation energy is pulsed on if the sensed physiological parameter crosses a threshold value indicative of an increase in the moisture concentration, and is pulsed off if the sensed physiological parameter crosses a threshold value indicative of a decrease in the moisture concentration; and
amplitude modulating the ablation energy based on a width of a pulse within the energy pulse train.
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Abstract
Tissue ablation systems and methods are provided. Ablation energy (e.g., radio frequency energy) is delivered to the tissue and a physiological parameter (e.g., impedance and/or temperature) indicative of a change in moisture concentration of the tissue is sensed. The ablation energy is alternately pulsed on and off to generate an energy pulse train, with the ablation energy being pulsed on if the sensed physiological parameter crosses a threshold value indicative of an increase in the moisture concentration, and being pulsed off if the sensed physiological parameter crosses a threshold value indicative of a decrease in the moisture concentration.
282 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method of treating tissue within a patient, comprising:
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delivering ablation energy to the tissue; sensing a physiological parameter indicative of change in moisture concentration of the tissue; alternately pulsing the ablation energy on and off to generate an energy pulse train, wherein the ablation energy is pulsed on if the sensed physiological parameter crosses a threshold value indicative of an increase in the moisture concentration, and is pulsed off if the sensed physiological parameter crosses a threshold value indicative of a decrease in the moisture concentration; and amplitude modulating the ablation energy based on a width of a pulse within the energy pulse train. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of treating tissue within a patient, comprising:
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delivering ablation energy to the tissue; sensing a change in a physiological parameter of the tissue; alternately pulsing the ablation energy on and off to generate an energy pulse train, wherein the ablation energy is pulsed on when the sensed physiological parameter drops below a first one or more threshold values, and is pulsed off when the sensed physiological parameter rises above a second one or more threshold values; and amplitude modulating the ablation energy based on a width of a pulse within the energy pulse train. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An ablation energy generator, comprising:
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an energy source for outputting ablation energy; and control circuitry configured for receiving a sensed physiological parameter indicative of change in moisture concentration of the tissue, and for alternately pulsing the ablation energy on and off to generate an energy pulse train, wherein the ablation energy is pulsed on if the sensed physiological parameter crosses a threshold value indicative of an increase in the moisture concentration, and is pulsed off if the sensed physiological parameter crosses a threshold value indicative of a decrease in the moisture concentration, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured for amplitude modulating the ablation energy based on a width of a pulse within the energy pulse train. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An ablation energy generator, comprising:
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an energy source for outputting ablation energy; and control circuitry configured for receiving a sensed physiological parameter, and for alternately pulsing the ablation energy on and off to generate an energy pulse train, wherein the ablation energy is pulsed on when the sensed physiological parameter drops below a first one or more threshold values, and is pulsed off when the sensed physiological parameter rises above a second one or more threshold values, and wherein the controller is configured for generating an amplitude reduction signal if a pulse within the energy pulse train is below a pulse width threshold value, and wherein the control circuitry further comprises an amplitude modulator configured for decreasing the amplitude of the ablation energy in response to the amplitude reduction signal. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An ablation energy generator, comprising:
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an energy source for outputting ablation energy; and control circuitry configured for receiving a sensed physiological parameter, and for alternately pulsing the ablation energy on and off to generate an energy pulse train, wherein the ablation energy is pulsed on when the sensed physiological parameter drops below a first one or more threshold values, and is pulsed off when the sensed physiological parameter rises above a second one or more threshold values, and wherein the first one or more threshold values comprises a first plurality of threshold values that differ from each other, and the second one or more threshold values comprises a second plurality of threshold values that differ from each other.
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40. An ablation energy generator, comprising:
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an energy source for outputting ablation energy; and control circuitry configured for receiving a sensed physiological parameter, and for alternately pulsing the ablation energy on and off to generate an energy pulse train, wherein the ablation energy is pulsed on when the sensed physiological parameter drops below a first one or more threshold values, and is pulsed off when the sensed physiological parameter rises above a second one or more threshold values, and wherein the first plurality of threshold values gradually increase, and the second plurality of threshold values gradually increase.
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Specification