Ultrasound guided tissue ablation
First Claim
1. An ultrasound imaging assembly for an ablation system, the imaging assembly comprising:
- a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter defining a catheter lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the catheter configured and arranged for insertion into a bodily lumen;
an ablation tip at the distal end of the catheter, the ablation tip having a wall that defines a lumen, the wall including a plurality of openings, the lumen of the ablation tip in communication with the lumen of the catheter, the wall formed by metal and configured to deliver ablation energy to tissue; and
an imaging device disposed at least in part within the lumen of the ablation tip, the imaging device comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed within the lumen of the ablation tip and positioned to direct acoustic signals through the plurality of openings, respectively, the imaging device further comprising a drive motor within the lumen of the ablation tip.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging assembly comprises a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, an ablation tip at the distal end of the catheter, and an imaging device disposed within the ablation tip. The catheter defines a catheter lumen that extends from the proximal end to the distal end. The catheter is configured and arranged for insertion into a body lumen such as a blood vessel or heart chamber. The ablation tip has a wall that defines a lumen in communication with the lumen of the catheter. The imaging device is disposed within the lumen of the ablation tip, and is configured to transmit pulsed acoustic waves for generating images of body tissue at a target ablation site within the body.
262 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ultrasound imaging assembly for an ablation system, the imaging assembly comprising:
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a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter defining a catheter lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the catheter configured and arranged for insertion into a bodily lumen; an ablation tip at the distal end of the catheter, the ablation tip having a wall that defines a lumen, the wall including a plurality of openings, the lumen of the ablation tip in communication with the lumen of the catheter, the wall formed by metal and configured to deliver ablation energy to tissue; and an imaging device disposed at least in part within the lumen of the ablation tip, the imaging device comprising a plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed within the lumen of the ablation tip and positioned to direct acoustic signals through the plurality of openings, respectively, the imaging device further comprising a drive motor within the lumen of the ablation tip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An ultrasound imaging assembly for an ablation system, the imaging assembly comprising:
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a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter defining a catheter lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the catheter configured and arranged for insertion into a bodily lumen; an ablation tip at the distal end of the catheter, the ablation tip having a wall defining a lumen in communication with the lumen of the catheter; and an imaging device disposed at least in part within the lumen of the ablation tip, the imaging device comprising; a first stationary ultrasonic transducer located within the lumen of the ablation tip, the first stationary ultrasonic transducer configured to generate acoustic pulses and orientated to project the acoustic pulses in a first direction distally of the distal end of the ablation tip for imaging tissue located distally of the distal end of the ablation tip; a second stationary ultrasonic transducer located within the lumen of the ablation tip, the second stationary ultrasonic transducer coaxially aligned with the first stationary ultrasonic transducer, the second stationary ultrasonic transducer configured to generate acoustic pulses and orientated to project the acoustic pulses in a second direction that is opposite the first direction; and a drive motor configured for rotating a reflective surface within the lumen of the ablation tip, wherein the reflective surface is configured for reflecting the acoustic pulses generated by the second stationary ultrasonic transducer in a lateral direction with respect to the ablation tip for imaging tissue located adjacent to a circumference of the ablation tip.
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20. An ultrasound imaging assembly for an ablation system, the imaging assembly comprising:
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a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, the catheter defining a catheter lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the catheter configured and arranged for insertion into a bodily lumen; an ablation tip at the distal end of the catheter, the ablation tip having a wall defining a lumen in communication with the lumen of the catheter; and an imaging device disposed at least in part within the lumen of the ablation tip, the imaging device comprising; a first ultrasonic transducer configured for imaging tissue located distally of the distal end of the ablation tip; a second ultrasonic transducer configured for imaging tissue located adjacent to a circumference of the ablation tip; and a transformer comprising a stator and a rotor, the stator and the rotor inductively coupled to one another, the transformer electrically coupling the first and second ultrasonic transducers to an electrical lead via the inductive coupling between the stator and the rotor, wherein the transformer is configured for rotating the first and second ultrasonic transducers within the lumen of the ablation tip.
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Specification