Ablation probe with fluid-based acoustic coupling for ultrasonic tissue imaging and treatment

• US 8,945,015 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation), Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation), Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Rankin, Darrell L., Koblish, Josef V., Deladi, Szabolcs
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Unsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAURITZEN, AMANDA L
• Application Number:
  US13/735,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20130197363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• US Class Current: 600/471
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• 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 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0237 for heart surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0044 for the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6869 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0883 for diagnosis of the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4254 using sensors mounted on the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/44 Constructional features of the ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 : Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4477 : using several separate ultrasound transducers or probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4494 : characterised by the arrangement of the transducer elements devices for short-range imaging using particular transducer elements arrangements under G01S15/8909; arrangements of transducers in generation of mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency B06B1/0607
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5207 : involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image reconstruction G06T11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/54 : Control of the diagnostic device
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 : with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/00 : Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests vaccination appliances for veterinary use A61D1/025 ; tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; combinations of vial and syringe for mixing or transferring their contents A61J1/20; holders for containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0004 : Applications of ultrasound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0043 : intra-cavitary
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 : with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0082 : Scanning transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

Devices and systems for ultrasonically imaging tissue and performing ablation therapy are disclosed. An ablation probe for treating and imaging body tissue includes an ablation electrode tip with a number of acoustic openings and a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors disposed within an interior lumen of the tip. The ultrasonic imaging sensors are supported within the interior lumen via an insert equipped with a number of recesses that receive the ultrasonic imaging sensors. An acoustically transparent shell disposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustic openings forms a fluid channel in the acoustic pathway of the sensors. During an ablation procedure, cooling fluid from an external fluid source is delivered through the fluid channel, providing an acoustic coupling effect between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the surrounding body tissue.

Claims

1. An ablation probe for treating and imaging body tissue, the ablation probe comprising:

an elongate probe body having a proximal section and a distal section;

an ablation electrode tip coupled to the distal section of the elongate probe body, the ablation electrode tip configured for delivering ablation energy to body tissue;

a plurality of acoustic openings disposed through the ablation electrode tip;

a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors disposed within an interior lumen of the ablation electrode tip;

an acoustically transparent member disposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustic openings, the acoustically transparent member comprising a tubular shell that circumferentially surrounds at least one of the plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors; and

a fluid channel interposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustically transparent member.

2. The probe of claim 1, wherein each ultrasonic imaging sensor is configured to transmit ultrasonic waves through the fluid channel, the acoustically transparent member, and a corresponding one of the acoustic openings.

3. The probe of claim 1, wherein the ablation electrode tip comprises a tubular-shaped metal shell.

4. The probe of claim 1, wherein the acoustic openings are located circumferentially about the ablation electrode tip.

5. The probe of claim 1, wherein the acoustically transparent member comprises a tubular-shaped shell.

6. The probe of claim 1, wherein fluid within the fluid channel acoustically couples the ultrasonic imaging sensors to the body tissue.

7. The probe of claim 1, wherein the ablation electrode tip further includes a plurality of irrigation ports.

8. The probe of claim 7, wherein the irrigation ports are located circumferentially about the ablation electrode tip.

9. The probe of claim 7, wherein the irrigation ports are located at least one of distally and proximally of the acoustic openings.

10. The probe of claim 7, wherein the ultrasonic imaging sensors are located within the interior lumen of the ablation electrode tip at a location proximal to the irrigation ports.

11. The probe of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic imaging sensors are each configured for transmitting laterally-directed ultrasonic waves from a side of the ablation electrode tip.

12. The probe of claim 11, further comprising at least one additional ultrasonic imaging sensor disposed within the ablation electrode tip, the at least one additional ultrasonic imaging sensor configured for transmitting ultrasonic waves in a distal direction away from a distal end of the ablation electrode tip.

13. The probe of claim 12, wherein the acoustically transparent member is further disposed between the at least one additional ultrasonic imaging sensor and a distal-facing acoustic opening disposed through the ablation electrode tip, and wherein the fluid channel is further interposed between the at least one additional ultrasonic imaging sensor and the distal-facing acoustic opening.

14. The probe of claim 1, further comprising an insert configured for supporting the ultrasonic imaging sensors within the interior lumen of the ablation electrode tip.

15. The probe of claim 14, wherein the insert comprises a cylindrically-shaped insert body including a plurality of recesses each configured for receiving an ultrasonic transducer.

16. The probe of claim 14, wherein a transmitting face of each ultrasonic imaging sensor is substantially flush with an outer surface of the insert body.

17. The probe of claim 14, wherein the interior lumen of the ablation electrode tip includes a proximal fluid chamber and a distal fluid chamber, wherein the proximal and distal fluid chambers are separated by the insert.

18. An ablation probe for treating and imaging body tissue, the ablation probe comprising:

an elongate probe body having a proximal section and a distal section;

an ablation electrode tip coupled to the distal section of the elongate probe body, the ablation electrode tip configured for delivering ablation energy to body tissue;

a plurality of acoustic openings disposed through the ablation electrode tip;

a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors disposed within an interior lumen of the ablation electrode tip, the plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors arrayed around a longitudinal axis of the ablation electrode tip to respectively face a plurality of different lateral directions with respect to the longitudinal axis;

an acoustically transparent member disposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustic openings; and

a fluid channel interposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustically transparent member.

19. An ablation probe for treating and imaging body tissue, the ablation probe comprising:

an elongate probe body having a proximal section and a distal section;

an ablation electrode tip coupled to the distal section of the elongate probe body, the ablation electrode tip configured for delivering ablation energy to body tissue;

a plurality of acoustic openings disposed through the ablation electrode tip;

a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors disposed within an interior lumen of the ablation electrode tip;

an acoustically transparent member disposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustic openings;

an insert within the interior lumen of the ablation electrode tip, the insert comprising a cylindrically-shaped insert body including a plurality of recesses that respectively receive the plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors; and

a fluid channel interposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustically transparent member.

20. The ablation probe of claim 19, wherein the interior lumen of the ablation electrode tip includes a proximal fluid chamber and a distal fluid chamber, wherein the proximal and distal fluid chambers are separated by the insert and the fluid channel fluidly connects the proximal fluid chamber to the distal fluid chamber.