Tuned RF energy and electrical tissue characterization for selective treatment of target tissues
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A catheter system for remodeling of a target tissue adjacent a blood vessel of a patient, the catheter system comprising:
- an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end with an axis therebetween;
a radially expandable structure coupled to the catheter body;
a plurality of flex circuits, each of the flex circuits including a polymer substrate attached to an outer surface of the radially expandable structure;
one or more pairs of bipolar electrodes coupled to each of the flex circuits and being engageable with a vessel wall of the blood vessel;
a power source electrically coupled to the one or more pairs of bipolar electrodes, the power source configured to energize the one or more pairs of bipolar electrodes with a controlled electrical remodeling energy that heats the target tissue so as to remodel the target tissue without thermally damaging a collateral tissue; and
a processor configured to determine the controlled electrical remodeling energy by monitoring a characteristic of a circuit comprising the one or more pairs of bipolar electrodes engaged against the vessel wall, the target tissue, and the collateral tissue,wherein the controlled electrical remodeling energy is such that energizing the circuit heats the target tissue to a target tissue treatment temperature so as to remodel the target tissue and heats the collateral tissue to a collateral tissue temperature that is lower than the target tissue treatment temperature.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter and catheter system can use energy tailored for remodeling and/or removal of target material along a body lumen, often of atherosclerotic material of a blood vessel of a patient. An elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure may have a plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces to radially engage atherosclerotic material when the structure expands. An atherosclerotic material detector system may measure and/or characterize the atherosclerotic material and its location, optionally using impedance monitoring.
1600 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A catheter system for remodeling of a target tissue adjacent a blood vessel of a patient, the catheter system comprising:
-
an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end with an axis therebetween; a radially expandable structure coupled to the catheter body; a plurality of flex circuits, each of the flex circuits including a polymer substrate attached to an outer surface of the radially expandable structure; one or more pairs of bipolar electrodes coupled to each of the flex circuits and being engageable with a vessel wall of the blood vessel; a power source electrically coupled to the one or more pairs of bipolar electrodes, the power source configured to energize the one or more pairs of bipolar electrodes with a controlled electrical remodeling energy that heats the target tissue so as to remodel the target tissue without thermally damaging a collateral tissue; and a processor configured to determine the controlled electrical remodeling energy by monitoring a characteristic of a circuit comprising the one or more pairs of bipolar electrodes engaged against the vessel wall, the target tissue, and the collateral tissue, wherein the controlled electrical remodeling energy is such that energizing the circuit heats the target tissue to a target tissue treatment temperature so as to remodel the target tissue and heats the collateral tissue to a collateral tissue temperature that is lower than the target tissue treatment temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
12. The catheter of system 8 wherein the processor is further configured to deliver the remodeling energy so as to limit heating of an adventitial layer of the blood vessel to no more than 63°
- C.
Specification