Systems and methods of radiometrically determining a hot-spot temperature of tissue being treated

• US 9,277,961 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2014
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coral Sand Beach, LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics, Inc. (Medtronic Plc), Meridian Medical Systems LLC
• Inventors: Panescu, Dorin, Koblish, Josef Vincent, McCarthy, John F., Allison, Robert Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): MALAMUD, DEBORAH LESLIE
• Application Number:
  US14/285,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20150105765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• 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 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0007 Pyrometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00486 Adaptors for coupling parts with incompatible geometries
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00357 Endocardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00714 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00839 Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

According to some embodiments, systems for energy delivery to targeted tissue comprise a catheter with an ablation member, a radiometer configured to detect temperature data from the targeted tissue, a processor configured to determine a calculated temperature (e.g., an extreme temperature, such as a peak or trough temperature) within the tissue by applying at least one factor to the temperature data detected by the radiometer, the processor configured to compare the calculated temperature to a setpoint and an energy source configured to energize the ablation member and to regulate delivery of ablative energy to the targeted tissue of the subject based at least in part on the comparison. In some embodiments, the factor depends on at least one characteristic of the targeted tissue. Information regarding a tissue characteristic can be provided using information from an imaging set (e.g., intracardiac echo) or an electrical signal of the subject (e.g., electrocardiogram).

Claims

1. A system for energy delivery to a targeted tissue of a subject, comprising:

a catheter comprising a radiofrequency electrode;

a radiometer configured to detect temperature data from the targeted tissue;

a processor configured to determine a calculated temperature within the targeted tissue by applying at least one scaling factor to the temperature data detected by the radiometer, the processor being configured to compare the calculated temperature to a setpoint temperature; and

an energy source configured to energize the radiofrequency electrode and regulate delivery of ablative energy to the targeted tissue of the subject based at least in part on a comparison between the calculated temperature and the setpoint temperature.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the calculated temperature relates to a peak temperature within the targeted tissue.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one scaling factor comprises an estimation factor, the estimation factor depending on, at least in part, at least one characteristic of the targeted tissue.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one characteristic of the targeted tissue comprises at least one of:

a thickness of the targeted tissue, a type of the targeted tissue, a location of the targeted tissue and a density of the targeted tissue and a characteristic of the subject being treated.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein information related to the at least one characteristic of the targeted tissue is provided manually by a user.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein information related to the at least one characteristic of the targeted tissue is provided using at least one of imaging data and electrical signal data of the subject.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one factor further depends on at least one additional input, the at least one additional input comprises a characteristic of the subject being treated, the characteristic of the subject being treated comprising at least one of:

a subject'"'"'s age, a subject'"'"'s gender, a subject'"'"'s height, a subject'"'"'s weight and a condition or disease of the subject.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input device configured to receive the setpoint temperature, the setpoint temperature comprising a target ablation temperature of the targeted tissue or a set curve.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the energy source is configured to regulate the delivery of energy to the radiofrequency electrode by comparing the calculated temperature to the setpoint temperature.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one scaling factor is determined, at least in part, theoretically or experimentally.