Microwave ablation catheter and method of utilizing the same

• US 9,993,296 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2015
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Ladtkow, Casey M., Brannan, Joseph D., Peterson, Darion R., Larson, Eric W., Haley, Kaylen J., Dickhans, William J., Case, Jason A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Rex R
• Application Number:
  US14/920,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20160038234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0233 Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/04 Endoscopic instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/06 Biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0216 Sampling brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00128 related to intensity or progress of surgical action
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00541 Lung or bronchi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0036 including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/064 using markers A61B5/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 : Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 : Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7425 : Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image geometric transforms for image registration G06T3/14; enhancement using image fusion G06T5/50; algorithms for registration of images G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 : Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 : Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/12 : Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/487 : involving fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 : for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 : in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

A microwave ablation catheter is provided. The microwave ablation catheter includes a coaxial cable connected at its proximal end to a microwave energy source and at its distal end to a distal radiating section. The coaxial cable includes inner and outer conductors and a dielectric positioned therebetween. The inner conductor extends distally past the outer conductor and is in sealed engagement with the distal radiating section. A balun is formed in part from a conductive material electrically connected to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable and extends along at least a portion of the coaxial cable. The conductive material has a braided configuration and is covered by at least one insulative material.

Claims

1. A microwave ablation system, comprising:

a microwave energy source;

a microwave ablation catheter including a coaxial cable having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the coaxial cable adapted to be connected at its proximal end portion to the microwave energy source, the coaxial cable including a distal radiating section disposed at its distal end portion, the coaxial cable further including inner and outer conductors and a dielectric positioned therebetween, the inner conductor extending distally past the outer conductor in sealed engagement with the distal radiating section, the outer conductor having a braided configuration and being configured to facilitate movement of the microwave ablation catheter through a branched luminal network of a patient;

a plurality of acoustic sensors positioned in airways proximate target tissue; and

a controller configured to measure a tissue property based on data received from the plurality of acoustic sensors.

2. The microwave ablation system according to claim 1, wherein the microwave ablation catheter further comprises a balun formed in part from a conductive material, the balun being electrically connected to the outer conductor of the coaxial cable and extending along at least a portion of the coaxial cable, the conductive material having a braided configuration and covered by at least one insulative material.

3. The microwave ablation system according to claim 1, wherein the insulative material covering the conductive material is polyethylene terephthalate.

4. The microwave ablation system according to claim 2, wherein the balun further comprises an insulator substantially between the conductive layer and the outer conductor.

5. The microwave ablation system according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the outer conductor is removed to form a feedgap between the distal radiating section and the balun.

6. The microwave ablation system according to claim 1, wherein the microwave ablation catheter further comprises an outer sheath that is configured to surround the coaxial cable.

7. The microwave ablation system according to claim 1, wherein the microwave ablation catheter further comprises:

a multi-lumen housing that is configured to receive the coaxial cable, distal radiating section, and balun,

wherein the multi-lumen housing includes a hub at a proximal end portion thereof, the hub including a plurality of ports.

8. The microwave ablation system according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of ports is an electrical port configured to provide electrical communication between the coaxial cable and a microwave energy source, and wherein at least two of the plurality of ports are a fluid intake port and a fluid return port configured to provide respective ingress and egress of a coolant to and from the multi-lumen housing for cooling the distal radiating section of the coaxial cable.

9. The microwave ablation system according to claim 7, wherein the multi-lumen housing includes a four lumen configuration having two lumens dedicated for communication with a respective one of the fluid intake and return ports and two lumens dedicated to support the coaxial cable including the balun.

10. The microwave ablation system according to claim 7, wherein the multi-lumen housing includes a five lumen configuration having four lumens two of which being dedicated for communication with the fluid intake port and two of which being dedicated for communication with the fluid return port and one lumen designated to support the coaxial cable including the balun.

11. The microwave ablation system according to claim 1, wherein the microwave ablation catheter further comprises at least one temperature sensor disposed proximate the distal radiating section and configured to measure a temperature of target tissue while the distal radiating section is energized.

12. The microwave ablation system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a radiometry system in operable communication with the microwave energy source,

wherein the at least one temperature sensor is configured to communicate with the radiometry system.

13. The microwave ablation system according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic sensors are configured to generate a ping across the airways during operating of the distal radiating section.

14. The microwave ablation system according to claim 1, wherein the tissue property is selected from the group consisting of an impedance, a dielectric, and a temperature.