System and method for assessing transmurality of ablation lesions

• US 6,584,360 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Keogh, James R., Jahns, Scott E., Francischelli, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kearney, Rosiland S.
• Application Number:
  US09/844,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/45-47, 606/50, 607/98, 607/115, 607/116, 607/119
• US Class Current: 607/98
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/02 by cooling, e.g. cryogenic techniques devices for cooling specific reflex points of the body within cell-life limits A61H39/06
• 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 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• 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 2017/00088 using thermistors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00092 using thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00101 using an array of thermosensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00203 with speech control or speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• 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 2018/00357 Endocardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00363 Epicardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 : with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00738 : Depth, e.g. depth of ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 : Duration
• 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 2018/0091 : Handpieces of the surgical instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0262 : using a circulating cryogenic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 : By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 : Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance

Abstract

A device for monitoring temperature generated by an ablation apparatus on organic tissue is provided. The device comprises a temperature sensing pad; and an output device to receive and display a representation of a lesion found on the ablated organic tissue. Ablation systems incorporating the device and methods of using the device are also provided.

Claims

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

an energy source;

an ablation device operatively coupled to the energy source, the ablation device comprising one or more energy transfer elements positioned along an ablation tissue contact surface of the ablation device; and

a sensor device operatively coupled to the energy source, the sensor device including a sensor adapted to sense a temperature parameter relating to the tissue ablation site, the sensor device having a sensor tissue contact surface, one or more suction openings positioned along the sensor tissue contact surface of the sensor device, and a suction conduit for providing suction from a suction source to the one or more suction openings, the suction conduit being operatively connected with the one or more suction openings.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the ablation device further comprises one or more suction openings positioned along the ablation tissue contact surface and 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.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the ablation device further comprises an irrigation fluid conduit for providing irrigation fluid from an irrigation source to the tissue ablation site.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the irrigation fluid is an energy-conducting liquid.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the irrigation fluid comprises one or more diagnostic or therapeutic agents.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the sensor further comprises a means for varying irrigation fluid supplied to the irrigation conduit in response to the sensed temperature parameter.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the ablation device further comprises a maneuvering apparatus operatively connected with the ablation tissue contact surface of the ablation device for maneuvering the energy transfer element.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the maneuvering apparatus includes at least one pull wire.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the maneuvering apparatus includes a handle.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the handle comprises one or more hinges or joints.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the one or more hinges or joints are actuated remotely.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the handle is shapeable.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor device further comprises a maneuvering apparatus operatively connected with the sensor tissue contact surface of the sensor device for maneuvering the sensor.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the maneuvering apparatus includes at least one pull wire.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the maneuvering apparatus includes a handle.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the handle comprises one or more hinges or joints.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the one or more hinges or joints are actuated remotely.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the handle is shapeable.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor device further comprises an output device for alerting or informing a practitioner regarding the temperature parameter relating to the tissue ablation site sensed by the sensor device.

20. The system of claim 1 further comprising a generator operatively connected to the energy source.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the generator includes a control unit or processor.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the energy source is an RF energy source.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the energy source is an electrical energy source.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy source is a laser energy source.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy source is a thermal energy source.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy source is a microwave energy source.

27. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy source is an ultrasound energy source.

28. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means for varying energy supplied by the energy source to the energy transfer elements in response to the sensed temperature parameter.

29. An ablation system for creating a tissue ablation site, the

an energy source;

an ablation device operatively coupled to the energy source, the ablation device comprising one or more energy transfer elements positioned along an ablation tissue contact surface of the ablation device; and

a sensor device operatively coupled to the energy source, the sensor device including a plurality of sensors adapted to sense a temperature parameter relating to the tissue ablation site, at least some of the sensors aligned in a row along a sensor tissue contact surface, one or more suction openings positioned along the sensor tissue surface of the sensor device.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the ablation device further comprises one or more suction openings positioned along the ablation tissue contact surface.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the ablation device further comprises an irrigation fluid conduit for providing irrigation fluid from an irrigation source to the tissue ablation site.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the irrigation fluid is an energy-conducting liquid.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the irrigation fluid comprises one or more diagnostic or therapeutic agents.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the sensor further comprises a varying irrigation fluid supplied to the irrigation conduit in response to the sensed temperature parameter.

35. The system of claim 29 wherein the ablation device further comprises a maneuvering apparatus operatively connected with the ablation tissue contact surface of the ablation device for maneuvering the energy transfer element.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the maneuvering apparatus includes at least one pull wire.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein the maneuvering apparatus includes a handle.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the handle comprises one or more hinges or joints.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the one or more hinges or joints are actuated remotely.

40. The system of claim 37 wherein the handle is shapeable.

41. The system of claim 29 wherein the sensor device further comprises a maneuvering apparatus operatively connected with the sensor tissue contact surface of the sensor device for maneuvering the sensor.

42. The system of claim 41 wherein the maneuvering apparatus includes at least one pull wire.

43. The system of claim 41 wherein the maneuvering apparatus includes a handle.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the handle comprises one or more hinges or joints.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein the one or more hinges or joints are actuated remotely.

46. The system of claim 43 wherein the handle is shapeable.

47. The system of claim 29 wherein the sensor device further comprises an output device for alerting or informing a practitioner regarding the temperature parameter relating to the tissue ablation site sensed by the sensor device.

48. The system of claim 29 further comprising a generator operatively connected to the energy source.

49. The system of claim 47 wherein the generator includes a control unit or processor.

50. The system of claim 29 wherein the energy source is an RF energy source.

51. The system of claim 29 wherein the energy source is an electrical energy source.

52. The system of claim 29 wherein the energy source is a laser energy source.

53. The system of claim 29 wherein the energy source is a thermal energy source.

54. The system of claim 29 wherein the energy source is a microwave energy source.

55. The system of claim 29 wherein the energy source is an ultrasound energy source.

56. The system of claim 29 further comprising a means varying energy supplied by the energy source to the energy transfer elements in response to the sensed temperature parameter.