Ablation devices, systems and methods of using a high-resolution electrode assembly

• US 9,522,036 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2016
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EPIX Therapeutics, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Panescu, Dorin, Koblish, Josef Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): DELLA, JAYMI E
• Application Number:
  US15/179,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20160287328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 193 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00101 low, i.e. thermally insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• 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 2018/00672 lower
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00714 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00815 measured by a thermistor
• 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 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/128 : generating two or more frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 : using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 : with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 : in a matrix array
• 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 5/068 : using impedance sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150954 : Means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. by temperature sensitive sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/287 : Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 : Catheters

Abstract

According to some embodiments, an ablation device comprises an elongate body (e.g., a catheter) having a proximal end and a distal end, a first electrode (e.g., a radiofrequency electrode) positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, at least a second electrode (e.g., a radiofrequency electrode) positioned at a location proximal to the first electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode being configured to contact tissue of a subject and deliver radiofrequency energy sufficient to at least partially ablate the tissue, at least one electrically insulating gap positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode and a filtering element configured to present a low impedance at a frequency used for delivering ablation energy via the first and second electrodes.

Claims

1. A device for mapping and ablating tissue, comprising:

an elongate body comprising a proximal end and a distal end;

a first electrode portion positioned on the elongate body;

a second electrode portion positioned adjacent the first electrode portion, the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion being configured to at least partially contact the tissue of a subject and to deliver ablative energy sufficient to at least partially ablate the tissue;

at least one electrically insulating gap positioned between the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion, the at least one electrically insulating gap comprising a gap width separating the first and second electrode portions; and

wherein the first electrode portion is electrically coupled to the second electrode portion using a filtering element, wherein the filtering element is configured to present a low impedance at a frequency used for delivering the ablative energy via the first and second electrode portions, wherein the frequency used for delivering the ablative energy is within an operating radiofrequency range, and wherein the first and second electrode portions are configured to function like a single electrode within the operating radiofrequency range such that the first and second electrode portions collectively provide the ablative energy to the tissue, and wherein the first and second electrode portions are configured to function as separate electrodes at mapping frequencies that are outside the operating radiofrequency range.

2. The device of claim 1,

wherein the filtering element is configured to introduce an impedance of lower than 3 ohms (Ω

) across the first and second electrode portions at the frequency used for delivering the ablative energy; and

wherein the operating radiofrequency range is between 200 kHz and 10 MHz.

3. The device of claim 2,

wherein the elongate body comprises at least one irrigation passage, said at least one irrigation passage extending to the first electrode portion;

and

wherein the first electrode portion comprises at least one outlet port in fluid communication with the at least one irrigation passage.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one conductor configured to electrically couple an energy delivery module to at least one of the first and second electrode portions, wherein the at least one conductor is electrically coupled to the energy delivery module.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the filtering element comprises a capacitor.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the capacitor comprises a capacitance of 50 to 300 nF.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the filtering element (i) is included as part of the elongate body, or (ii) is separate of the elongate body.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one separator positioned within the at least one electrically insulating gap, wherein the at least one separator contacts a proximal end of the first electrode portion and a distal end of the second electrode portion.

9. A device for mapping and ablating tissue, comprising:

an elongate body comprising a proximal end and a distal end;

a first electrode portion positioned on the elongate body;

at least a second electrode portion positioned adjacent the first electrode portion, the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion being configured to at least partially contact the tissue of a subject and to deliver ablative energy sufficient to at least partially ablate the tissue;

at least one electrically insulating gap positioned between the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion, the at least one electrically insulating gap comprising a gap width separating the first and second electrode portions; and

wherein a filtering element is configured to electrically couple the first electrode portion to the second electrode portion, the filtering element being configured to present a low impedance at a frequency used for delivering the ablative energy via the first and second electrode portions;

wherein the frequency used for delivering the ablative energy is within an operating radiofrequency range; and

wherein the first and second electrode portions are configured to be energized as a unitary member within the operating radiofrequency range, and wherein the first and second electrode portions function as separate electrodes at frequencies that facilitate high-resolution mapping outside the operating radiofrequency range.

10. The device of claim 9,

further comprising at least one separator positioned within the at least one electrically insulating gap;

wherein the filtering element comprises a capacitor, wherein the capacitor comprises a capacitance of 50 to 300 nF;

wherein the frequency used for delivering the ablative energy is between 200 kHz and 10 MHz.

11. The device of claim 9, further comprising at least one separator positioned within the at least one electrically insulating gap, wherein the at least one separator contacts a proximal end of the first electrode portion and a distal end of the second electrode portion.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the filtering element comprises a capacitor and wherein the capacitor comprises a capacitance of 50 to 300 nF.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the elongate body comprises at least one irrigation passage, said at least one irrigation passage extending to the first electrode portion, and wherein the first electrode portion comprises at least one outlet port in fluid communication with the at least one irrigation passage.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the filtering element (i) is located on or within the elongate body, or (ii) is separate of the elongate body.

15. A device for mapping and ablating tissue, comprising:

an elongate body comprising a proximal end and a distal end;

a first electrode portion positioned on the elongate body; and

a second electrode portion positioned adjacent the first electrode portion, the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion being configured to at least partially contact the tissue of a subject and to at least partially ablate the tissue when energized at an operating radiofrequency range;

wherein the first electrode portion is physically separated from the second electrode portion; and

wherein a filtering element is configured to electrically couple the first electrode portion to the second electrode portion within the operating radiofrequency range such that the first and second electrode portions function like a single electrode, and wherein the first and second electrode portions function as separate electrodes at mapping frequencies that are outside the operating radiofrequency range.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the filtering element comprises a capacitor.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the elongate body comprises at least one irrigation passage, the at least one irrigation passage extending to the first electrode portion.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the first electrode portion comprises at least one outlet port in fluid communication with the at least one irrigation passage.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the filtering element is located on or within the elongate body.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the filtering element (i) is located on or within the elongate body, or (ii) is separate of the elongate body.