Intravascular catheter with hood and image processing systems

• US 9,468,364 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. (Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC)
• Inventors: Malchano, Zachary J., Peh, Ruey-Feng, Saadat, Vahid, Cooper, Ted J., Miller, David, Swaminathan, Veerappan
• Primary Examiner(s): Akar, Serkan
• Application Number:
  US12/618,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20100130836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,531 Days
• Field of Search: 358/516, 600/104, 600/109, 600/112, 600/114, 600/118, 600/121, 600/301, 600/407, 600/425, 600/459, 600/463, 600/476, 600/478, 604/523, 604/528, 606/14, 606/41, 606/192, 607/122
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• 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 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/366 Detecting abnormal QRS complex, e.g. widening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7289 Retrospective gating, i.e. associating measured signals or images with a physiological event after the actual measurement or image acquisition, e.g. by simultaneously recording an additional physiological signal during the measurement or image acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

Image processing systems are described which utilize various methods and processing algorithms for enhancing or facilitating visual detection and/or sensing modalities for images captured in vivo by an intravascular visualization and treatment catheter. Such assemblies are configured to deliver energy, such as RF ablation, to an underlying target tissue for treatment in a controlled manner while directly visualizing the tissue during the ablation process.

Claims

1. A method of imaging a tissue region which is under motion, comprising:

visualizing the tissue region within a body via an intravascular imaging catheter by viewing the tissue region through an open hood in contact with the tissue region and where the hood is purged of blood with a fluid, the visualizing resulting in a plurality of visual images of the tissue region;

recording electrical activity of the tissue region while visualizing the tissue region, the recording performed with a computer;

receiving a selection of a recurring portion of an event which repeats at least periodically in the electrical activity, the receiving performed with the computer;

selecting a visual image from the plurality of visual images of the tissue region captured by the intravascular imaging catheter during an instance of the recurring portion of the event, the visual image corresponding to the recurring portion of the event, the selecting performed with the computer;

capturing one or more additional visual images gated by the event over a period of time;

registering the selected visual image with one or more ablation parameters associated with an ablation process performed on the tissue region, the registering performed with the computer; and

displaying the selected visual image with the one or more registered ablation parameters, the displaying performed with the computer.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the visual image corresponding to the event.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting a plurality of visual images each captured during the event over a plurality of repeated events.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the visualizing comprises visualizing cardiac tissue within a chamber of a heart.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the visualizing further comprises recording the visual images of the tissue region simultaneously while recording the electrical activity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the recording comprises recording electrocardiogram data of the tissue region.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting an event comprises selecting an electrical event during a QRS Complex of the tissue region.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more ablation parameters is an operational parameter of an ablation catheter and is selected based upon a detected thickness of the tissue.