System and methods for locating and ablating arrhythomogenic tissues

• US 8,639,310 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chen, Peter C., de la Rama, Alan, Hata, Cary K., Tran, Vivian
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Application Number:
  US13/778,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20130237791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 600/374, 600/381, 606/27, 606/41
• US Class Current: 600/374
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter
• 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 2017/00044 Sensing electrocardiography, i.e. ECG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00053 Mapping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0036 including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6855 with a distal curved tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6857 with a distal pigtail shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a variety of systems and methods for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region. Wherein the system includes a first catheter that has an expandable member, an ablation element, and a lumen configured to allow a second catheter therethrough. The second catheter includes a distal section in a ring shape and a plurality of electrodes coupled around the ring. Optionally a second lumen can be included through the first catheter that allows for contrast media to be delivered to the distal end of the system.

Claims

1. A system for sensing electrical events about a selected intrabody annulus region and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region, comprising:

a first catheter and a second catheter;

the first catheter comprising;

a first handle assembly;

a first shaft having a first proximal end coupled to the first handle assembly, and a first distal end, the first shaft extending along a first axis;

a first lumen extending entirely through the first distal end of the first shaft along the first axis;

a second lumen extending entirely through the first distal end of the first shaft along the first axis;

an ablation element provided adjacent the first distal end of the first shaft;

an expandable member adjacent the first distal end; and

wherein the first lumen is adapted to receive the second catheter therethrough;

the second catheter comprising;

a second handle assembly;

a second shaft having a second proximal end coupled to the second handle assembly, and a second distal end, the second shaft of the second catheter extending along a second axis; and

a distal ring provided at the second distal end of the second shaft of the second catheter and oriented substantially perpendicular to the second axis of the second shaft of the second catheter, the distal ring having a plurality of discrete electrodes positioned about the distal ring of the second catheter.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ablation element comprises a transducer.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the transducer comprises one of a radiofrequency ablation element or an acoustic ablation element.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the distal ring has a first diameter that is less than a second diameter of the fully expanded expandable member.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ablation element is housed inside the expandable member.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the expandable member comprises an inflatable balloon.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first handle assembly is configured to deflect the first distal end of the first catheter.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second handle assembly is configured to deflect the second distal end of the second catheter.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the second handle assembly is configured to change a diameter of the distal ring.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an energy source coupled to the ablation element.

11. A system for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region for treating internal body tissue in the selected annulus region, comprising:

a first catheter and a second catheter;

the first catheter comprising;

a first handle assembly;

a first shaft having a first proximal end coupled to the first handle assembly, and a first distal end, the first shaft extending along a first axis;

a first lumen extending through the first shaft along the first axis to a first opening at the first distal end;

a second lumen extending through the first shaft along the first axis to a second opening at the first distal end;

an expandable member adjacent the first distal end; and

an ablation element positioned within the expandable member,

wherein the first lumen is adapted to receive the second catheter therethrough, and

wherein only the first and second openings are distal of the expandable member along the first shaft;

the second catheter comprising;

a second handle assembly;

a second shaft having a second proximal end coupled to the second handle assembly, and a second distal end, the second shaft of the second catheter extending along a second axis; and

a distal ring provided at the second distal end of the second shaft of the second catheter and oriented substantially perpendicular to the second axis of the second shaft of the second catheter, the distal ring having a plurality of electrodes positioned in spaced-apart manner about the distal ring of the second catheter.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the distal ring has a first diameter that is less than a second diameter of the expandable member when fully expanded.

13. A system for sensing electrical events about a selected annulus region of the heart and for treating tissue in the selected annulus region, comprising:

a first catheter and a second catheter;

the first catheter comprising;

a first handle assembly;

a first shaft having a first proximal end coupled to the first handle assembly, and a first distal end, the first shaft extending along a first axis;

a first lumen extending to a first opening at the first distal end of the first shaft along the first axis;

a second lumen extending to a second opening at the first distal end of the first shaft along the first axis;

an expandable member positioned on the first shaft immediately proximal of the first and second openings; and

an ablation element provided within the expandable member,

wherein the first lumen is adapted to receive the second catheter therethrough;

the second catheter comprising;

a second handle assembly;

a second shaft having a second proximal end coupled to the second handle assembly, and a second distal end, the second shaft of the second catheter extending along a second axis; and

a distal ring provided at the second distal end of the second shaft of the second catheter and oriented substantially perpendicular to the second axis of the second shaft of the second catheter, the distal ring having a plurality of electrodes positioned in spaced-apart manner about the distal ring of the second catheter.