System and method for visualizing tissue during ablation procedures

• US 9,421,066 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2014
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cardiofocus Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cardiofocus Incorporated
• Inventors: Melsky, Gerald, Sagon, Stephen, Sinofsky, Edward L., Farr, Norman E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROANE, AARON F
• Application Number:
  US14/530,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20150141845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 128/898, 606 15- 18, 606/33
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00087 Tools A61B17/00234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• 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 2018/0069 using fuzzy logic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00904 Automatic detection of target tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/023 for the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0036 including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0044 for the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 : Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots

Abstract

Systems for visualizing cardiac tissue during an ablation procedure are provided. In general, the systems include an imaging module configured to measure absorbance data at first and second wavelengths wherein the ratio of these absorbance values identifies the nature of the tissue (e.g., lesion, de novo tissue, etc.). The imaging module can also include a video system having at least two chips with corresponding bandpass filters centered at the first and second target wavelengths. The system can also include a processor and/or video monitor for combining the images produced by the various chips, determining treated and non-treated tissue based on the ratio of absorbance values at the target wavelengths, and displaying images of the treatment area. Methods of visualizing cardiac treatment areas during ablation procedures are also provided herein.

Claims

1. A method of treating atrial fibrillation, comprising:

delivering a distal portion of an ablation catheter to a position adjacent an ostium of a pulmonary vein;

irradiating a partial ring of tissue along the ostium via an illumination source slidably disposed within a lumen of the ablation catheter;

comparing a first amount of light reflected by the partial ring of tissue at a first, predetermined wavelength to a second amount of light reflected by the partial ring of tissue at a second, predetermined wavelength;

classifying the partial ring of tissue as a lesion or as de novo tissue if the first amount of light is less than or greater than the second amount of light, respectively; and

ablating the partial ring of tissue if classified as de novo tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, predetermined waveband is centered at about 550 nm, and the second predetermined waveband is centered at about 560 nm.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a real-time image of the tissue area with a type of false-coloring indicative of a treatment status.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the false coloring is indicative of a lesion.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating the irradiating, comparing, classifying, and ablating steps for each of a plurality of partial rings of tissue thereby providing a substantially continuous lesion around the ostium of the pulmonary vein.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a real-time image of the ostium of the pulmonary vein on a video monitor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the real-time image indicates partial rings as lesions or as de novo tissue.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein lesions are indicated by a type of false coloring.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the image is taken along a longitudinal axis of the catheter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of comparing a first amount of light reflected by the partial ring of tissue includes the use of a reflectivity sensor.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the reflectivity sensor comprises an endoscope.

12. The method of claim 10, further including an imaging module that is in communication with the reflectivity sensor and is configured to receive at least one of absorbance signals/data and reflectivity signals/data from the reflectivity sensor.

13. The method of claim 12, further including an image splitter that receives data from the reflectivity sensor and is configured to split an image into a desired number of images.