Ablation catheter

• US 8,771,267 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2012
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Ablation Frontiers LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kunis, Christopher G., Roman, Ricardo David, Asconeguy, Alexander J., Flaherty, J. Christopher, Werneth, Randell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Application Number:
  US13/677,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20130116688A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 600/374
• 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 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• 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 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00375 Ostium, e.g. ostium of pulmonary vein or artery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• 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 2018/1435 Spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the mapping of electrical signals and 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 transformed from a compact, linear configuration to a helical configuration, such as to map and ablate pulmonary vein ostia.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate body defining a lumen therethrough;

a shaft extending through the lumen; and

an electrode array coupled to an inner surface of the lumen of the elongate body at a first end and coupled to the shaft at a second end, the shaft being slidingly disposed within the lumen alongside at least a portion of the electrode array, wherein linear manipulation of the shaft causes the electrode array to transition from a first geometric configuration to a second configuration, and wherein rotational manipulation of the shaft causes the electrode array to transition from the second geometric configuration to a third configuration.

2. The medical device according to claim 1, further comprising a linear actuator coupled to the shaft for the linear manipulation thereof.

3. The medical device according to claim 2, further comprising a rotational actuator coupled to the shaft for the rotational manipulation thereof.

4. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode array includes a plurality of electrodes, and wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes defines a non-circular cross section.

5. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the first geometric configuration is a substantially linear configuration, the second geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a first diameter, and the third geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a second diameter greater than the first diameter.

6. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the first geometric configuration is a substantially linear configuration, the second geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a first diameter, and the third geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a second diameter less than the first diameter.

7. The medical device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electrocardiograph unit in electrical communication with the electrode array; and

a radiofrequency signal generator in electrical communication with the electrode array.

8. An intravascular catheter, comprising:

a catheter body defining a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a shaft extending from the distal portion of the catheter body;

a carrier arm coupled to an inner surface of the catheter body, the carrier arm being transitionable from a substantially linear configuration to a substantially helical configuration;

a distal tip defining a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein a portion of the shaft is disposed within the first lumen and a portion of the carrier arm is disposed within the second lumen; and

an electrode array disposed on the carrier arm.

9. The intravascular catheter according to claim 8, further comprising a handle assembly coupled to the proximal portion of the catheter body.

10. The intravascular catheter according to claim 9, wherein the handle assembly includes a linear actuator coupled to the shaft for the longitudinal movement thereof.

11. The intravascular catheter according to claim 10, wherein the linear actuator element is releasably securable in a plurality of discrete positions on the handle assembly.

12. The intravascular catheter according to claim 9, wherein the handle assembly includes a rotational actuator coupled to the shaft for the rotation thereof.

13. The intravascular catheter according to claim 12, wherein the rotational actuator element is releasably securable in a plurality of discrete positions on the handle assembly.

14. The intravascular catheter according to claim 8, wherein the electrode array includes a plurality of electrodes, and wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes defines a non-circular cross section.

15. A method for ablating a tissue region, comprising:

positioning a treatment assembly of a medical device proximate a tissue region, the treatment assembly containing an electrode array having a first end coupled to an internal surface of a catheter body, and a second end coupled to a shaft extending from the catheter body and slidingly disposed within the catheter body alongside the first end of the electrode array;

manipulating the shaft in a linear direction to controllably transition the electrode array from a first geometric configuration to a second geometric configuration;

manipulating the shaft in a rotational direction to controllably transition the electrode array from the second geometric configuration to a third geometric configuration; and

delivering ablative energy to the treatment assembly.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first geometric configuration is a substantially linear configuration.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a first diameter.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the third geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a second diameter greater than the first diameter.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the third geometric configuration includes one of a helical or circular configuration defining a second diameter less than the first diameter.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein manipulating the shaft in a rotational direction to controllably transition the electrode array from the second geometric configuration to a third geometric configuration includes manipulating the shaft in a first rotational direction to obtain a third geometric configuration defining a second diameter greater than the first diameter, and manipulating the shaft in a second rotational direction to obtain a third geometric configuration defining a second diameter less than the first diameter.