Ablation techniques for the treatment of atrial fibrillation
Inventors
Peled, Omer • Mirabito, Anthony Jason
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11413089-B2
Publication Date
2022-08-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A catheter device provides a balloon structure and a side-firing laser lumen within the balloon to create lesions in the pulmonary vein (PV) in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Mounted on the balloon so as to contact the PV when the balloon is inflated are one or more electrodes which may be used in a measurement mode, a treatment mode, or both.
Core Innovation
The described invention relates to treating a human for atrial fibrillation using a device suitable for insertion into the pulmonary vein. The device includes at least one apertured lumen with a distal and a proximal end and an inflatable balloon in the vicinity of the distal end of the lumen. An optical fiber is at least partially within the lumen and disposed along the axis of the lumen to convey a beam of laser energy, and an opening is provided in the vicinity of the distal end and within the inflatable balloon.
An optical device is positioned on the optical fiber in the vicinity of the distal end and within the balloon to deflect a laser beam introduced near the proximal end and exiting near the distal end at angles other than along the lumen axis. The deflected laser energy impinges on the pulmonary vein wall through the inflated balloon. The optical fiber is rotatable around the lumen axis while the inflatable balloon remains stationary, and the optical device causes the laser energy to be directed away from the lumen axis toward the pulmonary vein wall.
The invention further integrates an electromagnetically actuated manipulator controllable to rotate the optical fiber around the lumen axis and a controller operatively connected to inflate the balloon, control a source of laser energy to convey laser energy to the optical fiber, and operate the manipulator to rotate the optical fiber while laser energy impinges on the pulmonary vein wall. In embodiments, at least one electrode formed on the balloon may be activated for measurement and/or treatment of the pulmonary vein wall, including operating the electrode for measurement before or after the laser energy has impinged on the pulmonary vein wall.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims directed to methods of treating a human for atrial fibrillation using a pulmonary-vein-insertable balloon catheter with a rotatable optical fiber, laser delivery via an optical beam deflector, and controller/manipulator control during laser impingement on the pulmonary vein wall. Across the independent claims, the core inventive combination comprises inflatable balloon placement, off-axis laser deflection onto the pulmonary vein wall, and rotation control of the optical fiber around the lumen axis while the balloon remains stationary.
Balloon-contained rotatable optical fiber delivering deflected laser energy to pulmonary vein wall
A pulmonary-vein-insertable device includes an inflatable balloon in the vicinity of a distal end, an optical fiber within at least one apertured lumen disposed along the lumen axis and suitable for conveying a beam of laser energy, and at least one opening within the inflatable balloon. An optical device on the optical fiber within the balloon deflects a laser beam to exit at angles other than along the lumen axis so that the deflected laser energy impinges on the pulmonary vein wall through the inflated balloon, while the optical fiber is rotatable around the lumen axis with the inflatable balloon remaining stationary.
Controller-controlled electromagnetically actuated manipulator for rotating optical fiber during laser impingement
The method provides an electromagnetically actuated manipulator controllable to rotate the optical fiber around the lumen axis and a controller operatively connected to cause inflation of the inflatable balloon, control a source of laser energy to convey laser energy along the lumen axis to the optical device for deflection and impingement on the pulmonary vein wall, and operate the manipulator to rotate the optical fiber around the lumen axis while laser energy impinges on the pulmonary vein wall.
Balloon electrode enabling measurement before or after laser impingement
The device further includes at least one electrode formed on the balloon, wherein the electrode may be activated for one or both of measurement and treatment of the pulmonary vein wall. The method comprises operating the at least one electrode for measurement before or after the laser energy has impinged on the pulmonary vein wall.
Optical deflector implemented as optical surface
The optical device on the optical fiber deflects the laser beam introduced in the vicinity of the proximal end, with the laser beam exited in the vicinity of the distal end at angles other than along the lumen axis, such that deflected laser energy impinges on the pulmonary vein wall through the inflated balloon. In a refinement, the optical device includes an optical surface configured for deflection.
Together, the independent claims cover laser-based atrial fibrillation treatment in the pulmonary vein using an inflatable balloon, off-axis laser deflection onto the pulmonary vein wall, and an electromagnetically actuated manipulator controlled by a controller to rotate a rotatable optical fiber around the lumen axis during laser impingement while maintaining a stationary balloon. One independent claim context further supports balloon-mounted electrodes for measurement before or after laser impingement.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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