System and method for assessing transmurality of ablation lesions

• US 6,706,038 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US10/409,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 606/34, 606/41, 606/45-47, 606/50, 607/98, 607/115, 607/116, 607/119, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/34
• 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. A method of ablating organic tissue comprising the steps of:

providing a temperature-sensing pad operatively adapted to sense a temperature of the tissue and an output device in communication with the pad, the output device operatively adapted to display a representation of a lesion found on a back side of the tissue;

positioning the pad against a back side of the tissue;

ablating the tissue with an ablation apparatus against a front side of the tissue;

sensing the temperature changes of the ablated tissue with the pad; and

ablating the tissue in accordance with the temperature changes.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

viewing the representation of the lesion; and

correlating the temperature changes of the ablated tissue with the representation of the lesion.