Ablation system with automated ablation energy element

Inventors

Melsky, Gerald • Estabrook, Brian • Baxter, Lincoln • Babko-Malyi, Sergei • Green, Ronald • DiCesare, Paul

Assignees

Cardiofocus Inc

Abstract

An ablation instrument (e.g., an ablation balloon catheter system) includes an elongate catheter having a housing with a window formed therein. An energy emitter is coupled to the elongate catheter and is configured to deliver ablative energy. A controller is received within the window and is coupled to the energy emitter such that axial movement of the controller within the window is translated to axial movement of the energy emitter and rotation of the controller within the window is translated into rotation of the energy emitter. The instrument includes a motor that is at least partially disposed within the housing of the catheter; a first gear that is operatively connected to and driven by the motor; and a second gear that is coupled to the energy emitter and is driven by the first gear to cause rotation of the energy emitter, while allowing the energy emitter to move axially.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an automated cardiac ablation balloon catheter system that forms arc-shaped ablation segments. An optical energy emitter, including a fiber optic, is coupled to an elongate catheter so that the emitter can rotate and translate axially under control. The system is configured to sweep an ablation arc over start and end points and to produce overlapping lesion segments for more complete arc-shaped lesion formation.

A controller is received within an opening in a catheter housing and is mechanically coupled to the energy emitter such that axial movement of the controller within the opening is translated to axial movement of the energy emitter, while rotation of the controller is translated into rotation of the energy emitter. A motor disposed at least partially within the housing drives a geared arrangement that includes a first gear and a second gear coupled to the energy emitter. The second gear drives rotation of the energy emitter while allowing the energy emitter to move axially.

The disclosed optical emitter arrangement includes a fiber optic at least partially contained within an elongated outer tube that surrounds a length of the fiber optic. The outer tube is fixedly attached to the controller at a first end, and the second gear is coupled to the outer tube such that the outer tube can slide axially through the second gear in response to axial movement of the controller. The fiber optic is fixedly attached to the controller distal to the first end of the outer tube and extends distal to the controller while the outer tube terminates within the controller.

The system also includes visualization or real-time confirmation using endoscope imaging and analysis of distal blood pool perturbation, with warnings when lesions are insufficient. The description further includes multiple mechanical embodiments to achieve axial movement translation without disrupting rotation, including geared arrangements that allow axial sliding, and optical architectures such as a GRIN lens and a reflector configured to project an arc or spot.

Claims Coverage

Only one independent claim is provided in the supplied claims list. It includes four inventive features combining an axial-translating, rotation-capable controller-to-fiber-optic coupling with a motor-driven geared arrangement that allows axial emitter motion while maintaining emitter rotation.

The provided independent claim centers on a catheter-housing opening that receives a controller whose axial movement and rotation are translated into corresponding axial movement and rotation of a fiber-optic energy emitter. A motor-driven gear train rotates the emitter via a second gear while permitting axial sliding of an outer tube that surrounds the fiber optic and is fixed to the controller.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications