Flexible polymer electrode for MRI-guided positioning and radio frequency ablation

• US 9,675,410 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Paul, Saurav, Puryear, Harry, Tegg, Troy T., Thao, Chou
• Primary Examiner(s): Kish, James
• Application Number:
  US11/966,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20090171188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,455 Days
• Field of Search: 600411, 600422, 600423, 607 2, 607 5, 607 6, 607100, 607101, 607113, 607116, 607122, 607127, 606 27, 606 32, 606 41
• 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 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00815 measured by a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2068 using pointers, e.g. pointers having reference marks for determining coordinates of body points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3954 magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/287 involving active visualization of interventional instruments, e.g. using active tracking RF coils or coils for intentionally creating magnetic field inhomogeneities

Abstract

An electrode for use on a medical device is disclosed. The electrode may have a main body of electrically conductive material extending along an axis and may have a proximal end and a distal end. The electrode may also include a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tracking coil disposed in the body. The MRI tracking coil may comprise electrically insulated wire. A catheter including an electrode, as well as a method for determining the location of an electrode, are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An electrode for use on a medical device comprising:

a main body of electrically conductive material extending along an axis and comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a wall disposed about and defining a lumen extending along said axis;

an electrical conductor having a first end coupled to said body and a second end configured for connection to an energy source, wherein said conductor comprises electrically conductive wire having an insulated portion and an uninsulated portion, the uninsulated portion formed in a plurality of turns, wherein said uninsulated portion of said electrically conductive wire is disposed in said lumen and wherein at least part of said uninsulated portion of said electrically conductive wire is configured to engage said wall; and

a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tracking coil comprising electrically insulated wire that is wound in a plurality of turns that each extend circumferentially around said axis, wherein said MRI tracking coil further comprises an opening configured to receive a portion of the medical device that extends along said axis, wherein said MRI tracking coil is one of;

embedded directly within said wall; and

disposed directly within said lumen,

further wherein said MRI tracking coil is electrically coupled with two wires that are configured to transmit an induced electromotive force to an MRI system when the MRI system is activated, said induced electromotive force being indicative of a location of said MRI tracking coil.

2. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said lumen comprises a blind bore opening toward said proximal end of said body.

3. The electrode of claim 1, wherein said body comprises a polymer.

4. The electrode of claim 3, wherein said body comprises electrically conductive particles dispersed therein at a predefined density.

5. The electrode of claim 4, wherein said particles comprise a material with a magnetic susceptibility less than about 1×

10-4.

6. The electrode of claim 1, further comprising a thermal sensor disposed within a portion of said medical device that is disposed in said lumen, wherein said portion of said medical device is electrically insulative and thermally conductive.

7. The electrode of claim 1, wherein at least a distal portion of said body is configured for deflection relative to said axis.

8. The electrode of claim 7, wherein said MRI tracking coil is configured to move in correspondence with said deflection of said distal portion of said body.

9. An electrode for use on a medical device comprising:

a main body of electrically conductive material extending along an axis and comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a wall disposed about and defining a lumen extending along said axis;

an electrical conductor having a first conductor end and a second conductor end configured for connection to an energy source, said first conductor end electrically connected to one of a screen, a mesh, a braid, or a fabric of electrically conductive material engaging said body, wherein one of said screen, said mesh, said braid, or said fabric of electrically conductive material is disposed in said lumen and wherein at least part of one of said screen, said mesh, said braid, or said fabric of electrically conductive material is configured to engage said wall; and

a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tracking coil comprising electrically insulated wire that is wound in a plurality of turns that each extend circumferentially around said axis, wherein said MRI tracking coil further comprises an opening configured to receive a portion of the medical device that extends along said axis, wherein said MRI tracking coil is one of;

embedded directly within said wall; and

disposed directly within said lumen,

further wherein said MRI tracking coil is electrically coupled with two wires that are configured to transmit an induced electromotive force to an MRI system when the MRI system is activated, said induced electromotive force being indicative of a location of said MRI tracking coil.

10. The electrode of claim 9, wherein said lumen comprises a blind bore opening toward said proximal end of said body.

11. The electrode of claim 9, wherein said body comprises a polymer.

12. The electrode of claim 11, wherein said body comprises electrically conductive particles dispersed therein at a predefined density.

13. The electrode of claim 12, wherein said particles comprise a material with a magnetic susceptibility less than about 1×

10-4.

14. The electrode of claim 9, further comprising a thermal sensor disposed within a portion of said medical device that is disposed in said lumen, wherein said portion of said medical device is electrically insulative and thermally conductive.

15. The electrode of claim 9, wherein at least a distal portion of said body is configured for deflection relative to said axis.

16. The electrode of claim 15, wherein said MRI tracking coil is configured to move in correspondence with said deflection of said distal portion of said body.

17. An electrode for use on a medical device comprising:

a main body of electrically conductive material extending along an axis and comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a wall disposed about and defining a lumen extending along said axis;

an electrical conductor having a first end electrically connected to one of a screen, a mesh, a braid, or a fabric of electrically conductive material engaging said body, and a second end configured for connection to an energy source, wherein said conductor comprises electrically conductive wire having an insulated portion and an uninsulated portion, the uninsulated portion formed in a plurality of turns, wherein one of said screen, said mesh, said braid, or said fabric of electrically conductive material is disposed in said lumen, wherein at least part of one of said screen, said mesh, said braid, or said fabric of electrically conductive material is configured to engage said wall, wherein said uninsulated portion of said electrically conductive wire is disposed in said lumen, and wherein at least part of said uninsulated portion of said electrically conductive wire is configured to engage said screen, said mesh, said braid, or said fabric of electrically conductive material; and

a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tracking coil comprising electrically insulated wire that is wound in a plurality of turns that each extend circumferentially around said axis, wherein said MRI tracking coil further comprises an opening configured to receive a portion of the medical device that extends along said axis, wherein said MRI tracking coil is one of;

embedded directly within said wall; and

disposed directly within said lumen,

further wherein said MRI tracking coil is electrically coupled with two wires that are configured to transmit an induced electromotive force to an MRI system when the MRI system is activated, said induced electromotive force being indicative of a location of said MRI tracking coil.

18. The electrode of claim 17, wherein said lumen comprises a blind bore opening toward said proximal end of said body.

19. The electrode of claim 17, wherein at least a distal portion of said body is configured for deflection relative to said axis.

20. The electrode of claim 19, wherein said MRI tracking coil is configured to move in correspondence with said deflection of said distal portion of said body.