Visualization and ablation system variations

• US 8,235,985 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Voyage Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Saadat, Vahid, Peh, Ruey-Feng, Malchano, Zachary J., Rothe, Chris A.
• Primary Examiner(s): KOHARSKI, CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US12/209,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20090076498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 606 34- 45, 606/151, 606/108, 604/96.01, 604104-109
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• 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 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation

Abstract

Visualization and ablation system variations are described which utilize various tissue ablation arrangements. Such assemblies are configured to facilitate the application of bipolar energy delivery, such as RF ablation, to an underlying target tissue for treatment in a controlled manner while directly visualizing the tissue during the bipolar ablation process.

Claims

1. A tissue treatment system, comprising:

a reconfigurable and non-inflating hood structure having an attachment member and which is capable of intravascular delivery in a low profile delivery configuration and expansion to a deployed configuration which defines an open area bounded at least in part by the hood structure;

a fluid lumen in communication with the open area of the hood structure such that introduction of a conductive fluid through the lumen purges the open area of blood when the structure is further bounded by a tissue surface, wherein the open area is in fluid communication with an environment external to the hood structure through an opening defined by the hood structure; and

an instrument removably attachable to the hood structure via the attachment member such that a position of the hood structure is maintained relative to the instrument.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising an imaging element within or along the structure such that the open area is contained within a visual field of the imaging element.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the hood structure comprises a distal membrane which defines an aperture.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid lumen is positionable within or along the instrument.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a deployment catheter having a flexible shaft through which the instrument is positioned.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the instrument comprises an ablation probe.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the ablation probe is articulatable.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the instrument comprises an endoscope having an articulatable distal end.

9. A tissue treatment system, comprising:

a reconfigurable and non-inflating hood structure having a flexible shaft and which is capable of intravascular delivery in a low profile delivery configuration and expansion to a deployed configuration which defines an open area bounded at least in part by the structure;

a fluid lumen in communication with the open area of the hood structure such that introduction of a conductive fluid through the lumen purges the open area of blood when the structure is further bounded by a tissue surface, wherein the open area is in fluid communication with an environment external to the hood structure through an opening defined by the hood structure; and

an instrument removably positionable through the flexible shaft such that the hood structure is steerable via articulation of the instrument.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising an imaging element within or along the structure such that the open area is contained within a visual field of the imaging element.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the hood structure comprises a distal membrane which defines an aperture.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the fluid lumen is positionable within or along the instrument.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the instrument comprises an ablation probe.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the ablation probe is articulatable.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the instrument comprises an endoscope having an articulatable distal end.