System and method for energy delivery to tissue while monitoring position, lesion depth, and wall motion
First Claim
1. A method of ablating tissue in a patient as a treatment for fibrillation, said method comprising:
- providing an ablation device having only a single ultrasound transducer;
positioning the ablation device adjacent a target tissue;
moving the ablation device over a surface of the target tissue;
delivering a collimated beam of ultrasound energy to the target tissue with the single ultrasound transducer;
sensing energy reflected back from the target tissue with the single ultrasound transducer;
measuring a gap distance between the single ultrasound transducer and the surface of the target tissue, based on the sensed energy reflected back from the target tissue, while the ablation device moves over the surface of the target tissue, thereby generating a plurality of gap distances;
mapping the plurality of gap distances measured over the surface of the target tissue, thereby generating a map of the target tissue;
ablating the target tissue with the collimated beam of ultrasound energy;
maintaining a gap between the single ultrasound transducer and the target tissue so that there is no contact between the single ultrasound transducer and the target tissue while moving the ablation device, delivering the beam of energy, and sensing the energy reflected back from the target tissue; and
using the tissue map to plan one or more ablation paths and adjust energy delivery settings.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for ablating tissue include an ablation device having an energy source and a sensor. The energy source provides a beam of energy directable to target tissue, and the sensor senses energy reflected back from the target tissue. The sensor collects various information from the target tissue in order to facilitate adjustment of ablation operating parameters, such as changing power or position of the energy beam. Gap distance between the energy source and target tissue, energy beam incident angle, tissue motion, tissue type, lesion depth, etc. are examples of some of the information that may be collected during the ablation process and used to help control ablation of the tissue.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of ablating tissue in a patient as a treatment for fibrillation, said method comprising:
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providing an ablation device having only a single ultrasound transducer; positioning the ablation device adjacent a target tissue; moving the ablation device over a surface of the target tissue; delivering a collimated beam of ultrasound energy to the target tissue with the single ultrasound transducer; sensing energy reflected back from the target tissue with the single ultrasound transducer; measuring a gap distance between the single ultrasound transducer and the surface of the target tissue, based on the sensed energy reflected back from the target tissue, while the ablation device moves over the surface of the target tissue, thereby generating a plurality of gap distances; mapping the plurality of gap distances measured over the surface of the target tissue, thereby generating a map of the target tissue; ablating the target tissue with the collimated beam of ultrasound energy; maintaining a gap between the single ultrasound transducer and the target tissue so that there is no contact between the single ultrasound transducer and the target tissue while moving the ablation device, delivering the beam of energy, and sensing the energy reflected back from the target tissue; and using the tissue map to plan one or more ablation paths and adjust energy delivery settings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification