BODY LUMEN JUNCTION LOCALIZATION

• US 20130338530A1
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3DT Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: 3DT Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Kassab, Ghassan S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,172,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/547
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• 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 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00541 Lung or bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0212 using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/068 using impedance sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1077 Measuring of profiles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for the localization of body lumen junctions and other intraluminal structure are disclosed. Various embodiments permit clinicians to identify the locations of intraluminal structures and medical devices during non-surgical medical techniques, such as cardiac ablation, by determining the intralumen conductance and/or cross-sectional area at a plurality of locations within the body lumen

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a device having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the device for placement into a body lumen;

a sensor on the device to collect conductance data from a distal portion of the device; and

a processor coupled to the sensor to confirm the device is positioned at a target location within the body lumen based on conductance data collected at a plurality of locations over a distance within the body lumen when the conductance sensor is immersed in a fluid within the body lumen.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprises a display, wherein the processor displays a profile of relative conductance values obtained at the plurality of locations.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the profile of relative conductance values is indicative of a change in relative cross-sectional area of the body lumen such that a junction of the body lumen can be identified.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the body lumen comprises a lumen selected from the group consisting of at least a portion of an atrium, a pulmonary vein-atrial junction, a blood vessel, a biliary tract, and an esophagus.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises blood.

6. A method for localizing a junction or other structure within a body lumen, comprising the steps of:

introducing at least part of a system into a body lumen, the system comprising;

a device having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the device for placement into a body lumen;

a sensor on the device to collect conductance data from a distal portion of the device; and

collecting conductance data at a plurality of locations over a distance within the body lumen when the conductance sensor is immersed in a fluid within the body lumen;

indicating the device is positioned at a target location within the body lumen based on the conductance data.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing electrical current flow to the body lumen through the device;

measuring a first conductance value at a first location in the body lumen;

moving the device to a second location in the body lumen; and

measuring a second conductance value at a second location in the body lumen.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining a profile of the body lumen based on the first conductance value of the first location and the second conductance value of the second location.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the profile of the body lumen comprises relative conductances.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying a profile of relative conductance values obtained at the plurality of locations.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the profile of relative conductance values is indicative of a change in relative cross-sectional area of the body lumen such that a junction of the body lumen can be identified.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the body lumen comprises a blood vessel, and the fluid comprises blood.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the body lumen comprises a lumen selected from the group consisting of at least a portion of an atrium, a biliary tract, and an esophagus.