Vibration sensitive ablation device and method

• US 9,693,819 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Francischelli, David E., Jahns, Scott E., Keogh, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): DELLA, JAYMI E
• Application Number:
  US11/648,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20070118107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,835 Days
• Field of Search: 606 41, 606 45, 606 49, 606 51- 52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output with imaging means A61B90/37, A61B34/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00247 Making holes in the wall of the heart, e.g. laser Myocardial revascularization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0243 for immobilizing local areas of the heart, e.g. while it beats trocars attached to inner organs or inner body tissue A61B2017/3488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00107 Coatings on the energy applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 : using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00672 : lower
• 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 2018/00791 : Temperature
• 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 2018/0088 : Vibration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 : monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/146 : Scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 : for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation

Abstract

An ablation apparatus including a maneuvering mechanism, a conductive element attached to the apparatus, a sensor attached to the apparatus and an output device in communication with the sensor is provided. The sensor senses vibration during the ablation procedure and sends a signal to the output device to reduce power to the conductive element.

Claims

1. An ablation apparatus comprising:

a maneuvering mechanism;

a conductive element attached to the maneuvering mechanism;

a sensor attached to the maneuvering mechanism and operatively adapted to sense vibration including an initial vibration in organic tissue prior to an application of ablation energy and a self-generated simmering vibration emanating from the organic tissue in response to the application of ablation energy; and

an output device in communication with the sensor and operatively adapted to respond when a difference value has reached a given value, the difference value determined by comparison between a sensed initial signal from the sensor corresponding to the sensed initial vibration and a sensed second signal from the sensor corresponding to the sensed self-generated simmering vibration.

2. The ablation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the self-generated simmering vibration comprises excitation of water molecules.

3. The ablation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor is adapted to sense the self-generated simmering vibration through vibration of the conductive element.

4. The ablation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output device comprises a switch operatively adapted to turn off power to the conductive element when the difference value has reached the given value.

5. The ablation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output device is adapted to reduce power to the conductive element when the difference value exceeds a predetermined value.

6. The ablation apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a power source in communication with the conductive element, wherein the output device is configured to give a visual signal to a user to control the power source.

7. The ablation apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a power source in communication with the conductive element, wherein the output device is configured to give an audible signal to a user to control the power source.

8. The ablation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor is integrated with the conductive element.

9. The ablation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a microphone.

10. The ablation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a piezoelectric crystal.

11. The ablation apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a fluid supply in fluid communication with the ablation apparatus, wherein the output device includes a switch operatively adapted to turn off the fluid supply when the difference value has reached the given value.

12. The ablation apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a fluid supply in fluid communication with the ablation apparatus, wherein the output device is configured to give an indication to a user to control the fluid supply.

13. The ablation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the maneuvering mechanism is a hemostat-like tool.

14. The ablation apparatus of claim 1 wherein the maneuvering mechanism is a catheter.

15. An apparatus for ablating organic tissue, comprising:

a maneuvering mechanism;

a conductive element disposed adjacent a face of the maneuvering mechanism;

a sensor adjacent the conductive element, wherein the sensor is adapted to sense vibration including an initial vibration in the organic tissue prior to an application of ablation energy from the conductive element and a self-generated simmering vibration emanating from the organic tissue in response to the application of ablation energy; and

an output device in communication with the conductive element and the sensor, wherein the output device is operatively adapted to respond when a difference value has reached a given value and to reduce power to the conductive element when the difference value has reached the given value, the difference value determined by comparison between a sensed initial signal from the sensor corresponding to the sensed initial vibration and a second signal from the sensor corresponding to the sensed self-generated simmering vibration.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the sensor is a piezoelectric crystal.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the sensor is a piezoelectric polymer.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the sensor is a mechanical sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the sensor is integrated with the conductive element.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the output device is a switch operatively adapted to turn off a power source when the difference value has reached the given value.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the output device is adapted to give a signal to a user to control a power source operatively connected to the conductive element.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the maneuvering mechanism is a hemostat-like tool.

23. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the maneuvering mechanism is a catheter.

24. An ablation system for creating a tissue ablation site, the ablation system comprising:

an energy source;

an ablation apparatus operatively coupled to the energy source, the ablation apparatus having a tissue contact surface and one or more energy transfer elements positioned along the tissue contact surface; and

a sensor device operatively coupled to the energy source and including a sensor adapted to sense vibration including an initial vibration parameter in the tissue ablation site prior to application of ablation energy from the ablation apparatus and a self-generated simmering vibration parameter emanating from the tissue ablation site in response to the application of ablation energy, the sensor device further operatively adapted to vary energy supplied by the energy source to the one or more energy transfer elements in response to a difference value reaching a given value, the difference value determined by a comparison between an initial signal from the sensor corresponding to the sensed initial vibration parameter and a second signal from the sensor corresponding to the sensed self-generated simmering vibration parameter.

25. The ablation system of claim 24 wherein the ablation apparatus further has one or more suction openings positioned along the tissue contact surface and a suction conduit for providing suction from a suction source to the one or more suction openings, the suction conduit operatively connected with the one or more suction openings.

26. The ablation system of claim 24 wherein the ablation apparatus further comprises an irrigation fluid conduit for providing an irrigation fluid from an irrigation source to the tissue ablation site.

27. The ablation system of claim 26 wherein the irrigation fluid is an energy conducting liquid.

28. The ablation system of claim 26 wherein the irrigation fluid comprises one or more diagnostic or therapeutic agents.

29. The ablation system of claim 26 wherein the sensor device is further adapted to vary the irrigation fluid supplied to the irrigation conduit in response to the sensed self-generated simmering vibration parameter.

30. The ablation system of claim 24 wherein the ablation apparatus further comprises a maneuvering apparatus operatively connected with the tissue contact surface for maneuvering the one or more energy transfer elements.

31. The ablation system of claim 30 wherein the maneuvering apparatus includes at least one pull wire.

32. The ablation system of claim 30 wherein the maneuvering apparatus includes a handle.

33. The ablation system of claim 32 wherein the handle comprises one or more hinges or joints.

34. The ablation system of claim 33 wherein the one or more hinges or joints are actuated remotely.

35. The ablation system of claim 32 wherein the handle is shapeable.

36. The ablation system of claim 24 wherein the sensor device further comprises a maneuvering apparatus operatively connected with the sensor for maneuvering the sensor.

37. The ablation system of claim 36 wherein the maneuvering apparatus includes at least one pull wire.

38. The ablation system of claim 36 wherein the maneuvering apparatus includes a handle.

39. The ablation system of claim 38 wherein the handle comprises one or more hinges or joints.

40. The ablation system of claim 39 wherein the one or more hinges or joints are actuated remotely.

41. The ablation system of claim 38 wherein the handle is shapeable.

42. The ablation system of claim 24 further comprising an output device for alerting or informing a practitioner when the difference value has reached the given value.

43. The ablation system of claim 24 further comprising a generator operatively connected to the energy source.

44. The ablation system of claim 43 wherein the generator includes a control unit or processor.

45. The ablation system of claim 24 wherein the energy source is a radiofrequency (RF) energy source.

46. The ablation system of claim 24 wherein the energy source is an electrical energy source.

47. The ablation system of claim 24 wherein the energy source is a laser energy source.

48. The ablation system of claim 24 wherein the energy source is a thermal energy source.

49. The ablation system of claim 24 wherein the energy source is a microwave energy source.

50. The ablation system of claim 24 wherein the energy source is an ultrasound energy source.