Flexible microwave catheters for natural or artificial lumens

• US 9,220,562 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Brannan, Joseph D., Ladtkow, Casey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/110,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20140031812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00323 Cables or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00077 high, i.e. electrically conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00172 Connectors and adapters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00226 extending from a surface, i.e. Blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00232 having an irregular shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00273 Anchoring means for temporary attachment of a device to tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00345 Vascular system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00511 Kidney
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1846 : Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 : with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1884 : with non-uniform emissions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1892 : Details of electrical isolations of the antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/10 : for stereotaxic surgery, e.g. frame-based stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/022 : Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment

Abstract

A coupler for coupling a flexible coaxial cable, a fluid cooling system and the outer sheath of a catheter, the coupler including a fluid coupler body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a bypass bulb, an outer sheath, and a fluid sealing system housed in the fluid coupler body. The fluid sealing system includes a distal sealing diaphragm and a proximal sealing diaphragm configured to form a fluid-tight seal with the fluid coupler body.

Claims

1. A coupler for coupling a flexible coaxial cable, a fluid cooling system and the outer sheath of a catheter, the coupler comprising:

a fluid coupler body including;

a fluid inlet formed in the fluid coupler body and configured to operably couple to a source of cooling fluid and receive fluid therefrom;

a fluid outlet formed in the fluid coupler body and configured to operably couple to a fluid discharge;

a bypass bulb forming an aperture for slidably coupling with a coaxial cable; and

an outer sheath coupler forming an aperture for coupling with an outer sheath of a catheter while forming a fluid-tight seal therewith;

a fluid sealing system housed in the fluid coupler body including;

a distal sealing diaphragm configured to form a fluid-tight seal about an outer surface of an inflow lumen and a fluid-tight seal with an interior surface of the fluid coupler body defining an outflow plenum in fluid communication with the fluid outlet, the outflow plenum formed between a distal interior surface of the fluid coupler body, the outer surface of the inflow lumen, a distal side of the distal sealing diaphragm and the outer sheath coupler;

a proximal sealing diaphragm configured to form a fluid-tight seal about an outer surface of the coaxial cable and a fluid-tight seal with an interior surface of the fluid coupler body thereby forming an inflow plenum in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the outflow plenum formed between a proximal interior surface of the fluid coupler body, and a proximal side of the distal sealing diaphragm, a proximal side of the proximal sealing diaphragm.

2. The coupler according to claim 1, wherein the catheter is coaxially formed about the inner lumen;

the inner lumen is coaxially formed about the coaxial cable; and

the inflow plenum is in fluid communication with a fluid passageway formed between the outer surface of the coaxial cable and the inner surface of the inflow lumen.

3. The coupler according to claim 1, wherein the catheter is coaxially formed about the inner lumen;

the inner lumen is coaxially formed about the coaxial cable; and

the outflow plenum is in fluid communication with a fluid passageway formed between the outer surface of the inflow lumen and the inner surface of the outer sheath.

4. The coupler according to claim 1, wherein the catheter is coaxially formed about the inner lumen;

the inner lumen is coaxially formed about the coaxial cable;

the inflow plenum is in fluid communication with a fluid passageway formed between the outer surface of the coaxial cable and the inner surface of the inflow lumen; and

the outflow plenum is in fluid communication with a fluid passageway formed between the outer surface of the inflow lumen and the inner surface of the outer sheath.

5. The coupler according to claim 1, wherein the fluid coupler body slidably engages the coaxial cable.