System and method for denaturing and fixing collagenous tissue

• US 20060057560A1
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auris Health, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Hansen Medical Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Wallace, Daniel T., Moll, Frederic H., Hlavka, Edwin J., Younge, Robert G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,976,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• 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 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/102 Modelling of surgical devices, implants or prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/105 Modelling of the patient, e.g. for ligaments or bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/107 Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/301 for introducing or steering flexible instruments inserted into the body, e.g. catheters or endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/715 Cable tensioning mechanisms for removing slack
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/742 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/37 Master-slave robots A61B34/35 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/71 : Manipulators operated by drive cable mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/76 : Manipulators having means for providing feel, e.g. force or tactile feedback

Abstract

A method for modifying a geometry of a collagenous tissue mass includes heating the collagenous tissue mass to a temperature sufficient to cause denaturation, and introducing a biocompatible fixative, such as genepin, into the collagenous tissue mass.

Claims

1. A method for modifying a geometry of a collagenous tissue mass, comprising:

heating the collagenous tissue mass to a temperature sufficient to cause denaturation; and

introducing a biocompatible fixative into the collagenous tissue mass.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue mass is heated using radio frequency energy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixative is introduced into the tissue mass by injection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue mass is heated using radio frequency energy delivered using an electrode carried on a flexible catheter, and wherein the fixative is inserted into the tissue mass by injection with a needle carried by the flexible catheter.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the flexible catheter is robotically controlled.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein needle comprises the electrode.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the catheter is actuated by an instrument driver in response to signals generated by manipulation of a controller.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the needle is controllably retractable and advanceable out of a port of the flexible catheter.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixative comprises genepin.

9. The method of claim 9, the flexible catheter comprising an imaging device having a field of view, the imaging device oriented such that at least a portion of the needle, when advanced out of the catheter port, is captured within the field of view.

10. The method of claim 9, the imaging device comprising an ultrasound transducer.

11. The method of claim 9, the imaging device comprising a CCD or optical camera.

13. A system for treating collagenous tissue, comprising:

an elongate flexible instrument having a lumen and a distal side port in communication with the lumen;

an imaging device carried on a distal portion of the instrument; and

an operative element configured to extend from, and retract into, the side port, the operative element selectively attachable to a energy source for heating collagenous tissue in contact with the operative element to a temperature sufficient to cause denaturation, the operative element further configured to deliver a fixative solution to the collagenous tissue,

wherein the imaging device is oriented such that at least a portion of the operative element, when extending out of the side catheter port, is captured within the field of view.

14. The system of claim 13, the imaging device comprising an ultrasound transducer.

15. The system of claim 13, the operative element comprising a conductive needle.

16. The system of claim 13, the instrument comprising a robotically controlled, flexible catheter.