Expandable vein ligator catheter having multiple leads, and method

• US 20040267258A1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: VNUS Medical Technologies Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Petty, Douglas M., Jones, Christopher S., Zikorus, Arthur W., Parker, Mark P., Farley, Brian E., Tartaglia, Joseph M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,406,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 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 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation

Abstract

A catheter includes a plurality of primary leads to deliver energy for ligating a hollow anatomical structure. Each of the primary leads includes an electrode located at the working end of the catheter. Separation is maintained between the primary leads such that each primary lead can individually receive power of selected polarity. The primary leads are constructed to expand outwardly to place the electrodes into apposition with an anatomical structure. High frequency energy can be applied from the leads to create a heating effect in the surrounding tissue of the anatomical structure. The diameter of the hollow anatomical structure is reduced by the heating effect, and the electrodes of the primary leads are moved closer to one another. Where the hollow anatomical structure is a vein, energy is applied until the diameter of the vein is reduced to the point where the vein is occluded. In one embodiment, a secondary lead is surrounded by the primary leads, and extends beyond the primary leads. The secondary lead includes an electrode at the working end of the catheter. The secondary lead can have a polarity opposite to the polarity of the primary leads in a bipolar configuration. The polarity of the leads can be switched and the catheter can be moved during treatment to ligate an extended length of the vein. The catheter can include a lumen to accommodate a guide wire or to allow fluid delivery.

Claims

1. A method of treating venous insufficiency, the method comprising the steps of:

introducing a catheter having a working end into a vein having an inner wall;

flattening the vein such that the inner wall of the vein is brought toward the working end of the catheter;

applying energy from the working end of the catheter to the vein to create a thermal effect in the vein so as to reduce the diameter of the vein and lead to occlusion of the vein;

retracting the catheter along the vein during the step of applying energy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a lengthy occlusion is formed along the area of the vein in which the catheter is retracted during the step of applying energy.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of delivering fluid to the vein where the working end of the catheter is located.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of delivering fluid comprises the step of delivering saline to the vein.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of delivering fluid comprises the step of delivering dielectric fluid to the vein.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of delivering fluid comprises the step of delivering heparin to the vein.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of applying RF energy.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of applying electrical energy from electrodes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying energy includes the step of applying light energy from a fiber optic.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of monitoring the vein during the step of flattening the vein.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of monitoring the temperature at the working end of the catheter in the vein during the step of applying energy.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the vein is a varicose vein.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of flattening the vein includes the step of compressing the anatomy surrounding the vein at the location of the working end of the catheter.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of flattening the vein includes the step of using an elastic compressive wrap around the anatomy surrounding the vein at the location of the working end of the catheter.