MRI-guided devices and MRI-guided interventional systems that can track and generate dynamic visualizations of the devices in near real time
First Claim
1. An MRI-compatible catheter, comprising:
- an elongated flexible shaft having a distal end portion, and an opposite proximal end portion;
a handle attached to the proximal end portion, wherein the handle includes an electrical connector interface configured to be in electrical communication with an MRI scanner;
an ablation tip at the shaft distal end portion, wherein an RF conductor extends longitudinally within the shaft to the electrical connector interface at the handle and that connects the ablation tip to an RF generator; and
at least one RF tracking coil positioned adjacent the distal end portion, wherein the at least one tracking coil includes a conductive lead extending between the at least one RF tracking coil and the electrical connector interface and configured to electrically connect the at least one tracking coil to an MRI scanner, wherein the conductive lead has a length sufficient to define an odd harmonic/multiple of a quarter wavelength of the operational frequency of the MRI Scanner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An MRI-compatible catheter includes an elongated flexible shaft having opposite distal and proximal end portions. A handle is attached to the proximal end portion and includes an actuator in communication with the shaft distal end portion that is configured to articulate the shaft distal end portion. The distal end portion of the shaft may include an ablation tip and includes at least one RF tracking coil positioned adjacent the ablation tip that is electrically connected to an MRI scanner. The at least one RF tracking coil is electrically connected to a circuit that reduces coupling when the at least one RF tracking coil is exposed to an MRI environment. Each RF tracking coil is a 1-10 turn solenoid coil, and has a length along the longitudinal direction of the catheter of between about 0.25 mm and about 4 mm.
594 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An MRI-compatible catheter, comprising:
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an elongated flexible shaft having a distal end portion, and an opposite proximal end portion; a handle attached to the proximal end portion, wherein the handle includes an electrical connector interface configured to be in electrical communication with an MRI scanner; an ablation tip at the shaft distal end portion, wherein an RF conductor extends longitudinally within the shaft to the electrical connector interface at the handle and that connects the ablation tip to an RF generator; and at least one RF tracking coil positioned adjacent the distal end portion, wherein the at least one tracking coil includes a conductive lead extending between the at least one RF tracking coil and the electrical connector interface and configured to electrically connect the at least one tracking coil to an MRI scanner, wherein the conductive lead has a length sufficient to define an odd harmonic/multiple of a quarter wavelength of the operational frequency of the MRI Scanner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An MRI-compatible catheter, comprising:
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an elongated flexible shaft having a distal end portion, and an opposite proximal end portion; a handle attached to the proximal end portion, wherein the handle includes an electrical connector interface configured to be in electrical communication with an MRI scanner; at least one RF tracking coil positioned adjacent the distal end portion, wherein the at least one tracking coil includes a conductive lead extending between the at least one RF tracking coil and the electrical connector interface and configured to electrically connect the at least one tracking coil to an MRI scanner, wherein the conductive lead has a length sufficient to define an odd harmonic/multiple of a quarter wavelength of the operational frequency of the MRI Scanner; and at least one RF shield coaxially disposed within the elongated shaft, the at least one RF shield comprising; elongated inner and outer conductors, each having respective opposite first and second end portions; and an elongated dielectric layer of MRI compatible material sandwiched between the inner and outer conductors and surrounding the inner conductor, wherein only the respective first end portions of the inner and outer conductors are electrically connected, and wherein the second end portions are electrically isolated. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An MRI-compatible catheter, comprising:
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an elongated flexible shaft having a distal end portion, and an opposite proximal end portion; a handle attached to the proximal end portion, wherein the handle includes an electrical connector interface configured to be in electrical communication with an MRI scanner; and at least one RF tracking coil positioned adjacent the distal end portion, wherein the at least one tracking coil includes a conductive lead extending between the at least one RF tracking coil and the electrical connector interface and configured to electrically connect the at least one tracking coil to an MRI scanner, wherein the conductive lead has a length sufficient to define an odd harmonic/multiple of a quarter wavelength of the operational frequency of the MRI Scanner, wherein the at least one tracking coil is a plurality of spaced apart tuned tracking coils, each connected to a tuning circuit with a diode at a proximal end of the device using respective coaxial cables, and wherein the coaxial cables each have an electrical length in an MRI Scanner measured from the tracking coil to the diode that is about ¼
lambda or a higher odd harmonic thereof (¾
lambda, 5/4 lambda and the like), and wherein the circuit is configured to identify the location of the tracking coils with a precision of at least about 1 mm.
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29. An MRI guided interventional system, comprising:
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at least one catheter configured to be introduced into a patient via a tortuous and/or natural lumen path, comprising; an elongated flexible shaft having a distal end portion, an opposite proximal end portion; and at least one RF tracking coil connected to a channel of an MRI scanner via a conductive lead, and wherein the conductive lead has a length sufficient to define an odd harmonic/multiple of a quarter wavelength of the operational frequency of the MRI Scanner; and a circuit adapted to communicate with and/or reside in the MRI scanner, the circuit configured to;
(a) obtain MR image data and generate a series of near real time (RT) MRI images of target anatomy of a patient during a surgical procedure using relevant anatomical scan planes associated with a 3-D MRI image space having a coordinate system;
(b) identify coordinates associated with a location of at least a distal end portion of the at least one catheter using the coordinate system of the 3-D MRI image space; and
(c) render near RT interactive visualizations of the at least one catheter in the 3-D image space with RT image data of target patient anatomical structure and a registered pre-acquired first volumetric model of the target anatomical structure of the patient, wherein the circuit illustrates the at least one catheter with a physical representation in the visualizations. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification