User interface for tissue ablation system

• US 8,657,814 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Werneth, Randell L., Flaherty, J. Christopher, Oral, Hakan, Morady, Fred, Roman, Ricardo David, Sherman, Marshall L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCOTT, AMANDA L
• Application Number:
  US11/438,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,836 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606 32- 42, 606/49, 600/300, 600/523, 600/525, 128/920, 128/922, 607 98-102, 607/113
• 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 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00654 with individual control of each of a plurality of energy emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7217 of noise originating from a therapeutic or surgical apparatus, e.g. from a pacemaker
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 : Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 : Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the ablation of tissue. Embodiments include an ablation catheter that has an array of ablation elements attached to a deployable carrier assembly. The carrier assembly can be constrained within the lumen of a catheter, and deployed to take on an expanded condition. The carrier assembly includes multiple electrodes that are configured to ablate tissue at low power. Systems include an interface unit with a visual display that provides a visual representation of the geometry of the ablation elements and/or provides selection means for selecting an icon provided on the display.

Claims

1. An ablation system, comprising:

an ablation catheter having at least two flexible ablation elements;

at least one electrode affixed to each ablation element reading at least one of ECG and EKG information, and transmitting energy to tissue in a monopolar mode, a bipolar mode, and a combination monopolar-bipolar mode;

an interface unit coupled with the ablation catheter including a control interface and a visual display;

the visual display having a graphic representation of the ablation elements, the electrodes, an electrical signal from each electrode, an indication of whether each electrode is selected to transmit energy, a current quantitative representation of a system parameter, a system parameter target value, and an indication of the selected energy mode.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the visual display includes a touch screen display capable of selecting an electrode to receive energy.

3. The ablation system of claim 1, wherein the visual display has a controllable cursor.

4. The ablation system of claim 3, further comprising a control for controlling the controllable cursor.

5. The ablation system of claim 4, wherein the control is positioned on said interface unit.

6. The ablation system of claim 5, wherein the control is outside of a sterile field of a patient.

7. The system of claim 3 further comprising a handheld remote control device, and the controllable cursor is controlled by said handheld remote control device.

8. The ablation system of claim 1 wherein the control interface is capable of selecting multiple electrodes displayed on the visual display.

9. The ablation system of claim 1 wherein the visual display indicates a system parameter, and the interface unit is capable of changing a value of the system parameter.

10. The ablation system of claim 1 wherein the system parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

an energy delivery parameter selected from the group consisting of;

current, voltage, frequency, power, monopolar mode or bipolar mode, duration, impedance and type of energy to be delivered;

a sensor parameter selected from the group consisting of;

tissue contact measurement value;

temperature, pressure, strain, impedance, ECG or EKG, cardiac flow rate, tissue thickness and tissue location;

an alarm parameter;

a physical catheter parameter; and

a threshold value for a system parameter.

11. The ablation system of claim 9 wherein the visual display indicates changes in the value of said system parameter.

12. The ablation system of claim 11 wherein the system parameter is a temperature, and the visual display indicates the temperature with color.

13. The ablation system of claim 9 further comprising an audio transducer, indicating an event selected from the group of:

a change in the system parameter, and the system parameter exceeding a threshold value.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the visual display further provides a visual representation of a patient'"'"'s anatomy, shown in geometric relation to the graphic representation.

15. The ablation system of claim 1 wherein the ablation catheter comprises:

a flexible, tubular body member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween; and

a control shaft received within the lumen of the tubular body member;

wherein the control shaft can pull the ablation elements within the lumen of the tubular body member and

can push the ablation elements distally beyond the distal end of the tubular body member.

16. The ablation system of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrode defines a triangular cross section.