Devices and methods for shaping therapy in fluid enhanced ablation
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Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10881443-B2
Publication Date
2021-01-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices and methods for shaping an ablation treatment volume formed in fluid enhanced ablation therapy are provided. The devices and methods disclosed herein utilize the interaction of fluids to create ablation treatment volumes having a variety of shapes. In one embodiment, a method for forming an ablation treatment volume having a desired shape includes delivering therapeutic energy to tissue to form an ablation treatment volume and simultaneously delivering a first fluid and a second fluid to the tissue. The first and second fluids can convect the therapeutic energy in a desired direction such that the ablation treatment volume has a desired shape.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to fluid-enhanced ablation in which an ablation device simultaneously emits energy from at least one ablation element and delivers a first fluid and a second fluid from first and second outlet ports. The first and second fluids convect the energy in a desired direction to define a treatment volume having a predetermined shape, including non-spherical shapes, by controlling how the interacting fluids move and shape the delivered energy within the treatment zone.
The disclosed devices implement different fluid functions by temperature differentiation. The first fluid is delivered at a therapeutic temperature capable of causing irreversible thermal damage to tissue, and the simultaneously delivered second fluid has a temperature less than the therapeutic temperature to selectively quench and prevent tissue damage.
The invention further specifies fluid-delivery architectures that support creating directional flow patterns and non-spherical treatment volume shapes. Examples described include multi-body catheter arrangements with three elongate bodies that are offset from each other, and single-body designs where a single elongate body includes an inner lumen with opposed longitudinal portions configured to deliver the first fluid and other opposed longitudinal portions configured to deliver the second fluid, with radially offset portions.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims collectively define fluid-enhanced ablation devices that simultaneously emit energy and deliver two fluids such that convection of the fluids directs the energy to form a predetermined treatment volume shape. Across the independent claims, the inventive features include directional energy convection by first/second fluids, temperature-based therapeutic versus quenching fluid behavior, and specific structural delivery arrangements that keep fluid paths distinct or use multiple offset elongate bodies to shape a non-spherical ablation treatment volume.
Simultaneous energy emission and dual-fluid convection for predetermined treatment shape
An ablation device configured to simultaneously emit energy from at least one ablation element and deliver a first fluid and a second fluid from first and second outlet ports such that the first and second fluids can convect the energy in a desired direction to define a treatment volume having a predetermined shape.
Therapeutic-temperature first fluid and cooler quenching second fluid
The first fluid delivered from the first outlet port has a therapeutic temperature capable of causing irreversible thermal damage to tissue, and the simultaneously delivered second fluid delivered from the second outlet port has a temperature less than the therapeutic temperature to selectively quench and prevent tissue damage.
Non-spherical treatment volume using three offset elongate bodies
An ablation device configured to simultaneously deliver a first fluid from a first elongate body and a second fluid from a second and third elongate bodies such that the first and second fluids interact to shape a non-spherical ablation treatment volume, wherein at least one of the elongate bodies is rigidly attached to the distal end of an elongate shaft.
Inner-lumen opposed portions for separate first and second fluid delivery with radial offset
An ablation device in which at least one elongate body comprises a single elongate body having an inner lumen extending therethrough with first and second opposed longitudinal portions configured to deliver the first fluid, and having third and fourth opposed longitudinal portions configured to deliver the second fluid, wherein the third and fourth portions are radially offset from the first and second portions.
Proximal and distal sidewall outlet ports with non-fluid-communicating channels
A single elongate body in which the first outlet port is formed in a proximal portion of a sidewall of the elongate body, the second outlet port is formed in a distal portion of the sidewall of the elongate body, and the device is configured to deliver the first and second fluids to the first and second outlet ports through channels not in fluid communication with each other.
The independent claims cover fluid-enhanced ablation devices where convection by simultaneously delivered first and second fluids directs energy to form a predetermined, including non-spherical, treatment volume. The claims further specify temperature differentiation for therapeutic versus quenching fluid behavior and define structural fluid-delivery arrangements using offset elongate bodies or a single elongate body with radially offset lumen portions and/or non-fluid-communicating channels to support the desired shaping.
Stated Advantages
Increased uniformity/volume versus conventional RF [stated in partial content summary].
Allows shaping the ablation treatment volume into desired non-spherical forms using fluid convection [stated in partial content summary].
Documented Applications
Ablation treatment in tissue using fluid-enhanced ablation (SERF: Saline Enhanced Radio Frequency) to define shaped treatment volumes.
Thermal damage management using a therapeutic-temperature first fluid and a cooler second fluid that selectively quenches to prevent tissue damage.
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