Electrode assembly with thermal shunt member
Inventors
Schultheis, Eric Andrew • Koblish, Josef Vincent • Panescu, Dorin
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11642167-B2
Publication Date
2023-05-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
According to some embodiments, a medical instrument (for example, an ablation device) comprises an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an energy delivery member positioned at the distal end of the elongate body, a first plurality of temperature-measurement devices carried by or positioned within the energy delivery member, the first plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member, and a second plurality of temperature-measurement devices positioned proximal to a proximal end of the energy delivery member, the second plurality of temperature-measurement devices being thermally insulated from the energy delivery member.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an electrode assembly for an ablation catheter that integrates thermal shunting with a capacitive filtering element between discrete proximal and distal electrode portions. The filtering element electrically couples the electrode portions and is configured to present low impedance at a frequency used for delivering ablative energy via the proximal and distal electrode portions.
A plurality of thermal shunts are provided in thermal communication with the proximal and distal electrode portions to selectively remove heat from at least one of the electrode assembly and tissue being treated when the electrode assembly is activated. At least one thermal shunt extends at least partially through the interior of the electrode assembly to transfer heat during use, while other thermal shunts are differently sized and arranged with separation by a portion of the electrode assembly such that external surfaces of selected shunts contact an external surface of the proximal electrode portion.
In related embodiments, an ablation assembly includes an ablation member with a first discrete electrode and a second discrete electrode, and the plurality of thermal shunts removes heat from at least one of the ablation member and the tissue being treated when activated. The thermal shunts extend at least partially through an interior of the ablation member, include differently sized shunts, and are separated from one another by portions of the ablation assembly such that external surfaces of selected thermal shunts contact external surfaces of the proximal electrode portion.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims in the provided set cover four main inventive features: capacitor-based filtering between discrete proximal and distal electrode portions, a plurality of thermal shunts in thermal communication with the electrode assembly or ablation member, a thermal shunt arrangement with interior extension and differently sized shunts contacting a proximal electrode portion, and an ablation member having first and second discrete electrodes.
Capacitor filtering element with low impedance at ablative-energy frequency
A filtering element electrically coupling a proximal or first electrode portion to a distal or second electrode portion and configured to present a low impedance at a frequency used for delivering ablative energy via the proximal and distal electrode portions.
Thermal shunts selectively remove heat during activation
A plurality of thermal shunts in thermal communication with the proximal and distal electrode portions or with the ablation member to selectively remove heat from at least one of the electrode assembly or ablation member and tissue being treated when the electrode assembly or ablation assembly is activated.
Thermal shunt extending through interior to transfer heat during use
A first thermal shunt extends at least partially through an interior of the electrode assembly or ablation member to transfer heat during use.
Differently sized thermal shunts arranged with external surface contact to proximal electrode portion
A second thermal shunt is differently sized than the first thermal shunt and a third thermal shunt is separated from the second by a portion of the electrode assembly or ablation assembly, wherein an external surface of the second thermal shunt and an external surface of the third thermal shunt each contact an external surface of the proximal electrode portion.
Ablation member with first and second discrete electrodes
An ablation member having a first discrete electrode and a second discrete electrode, with the plurality of thermal shunts in thermal communication with the ablation member to remove heat from at least one selected from the group consisting of the ablation member and a tissue being treated when the ablation assembly is activated.
Across the independent claims, coverage centers on an electrode assembly or ablation assembly that combines capacitor-based low-impedance filtering between discrete electrode portions with a plurality of thermal shunts configured to extend through interior regions, differ in size, and provide selective heat removal to the electrode assembly or tissue during activation, including external-surface contact relationships to a proximal electrode portion.
Stated Advantages
Safer ablation.
Reduced proximal heating, char, thrombus.
Real-time feedback.
Noninvasive temperature monitoring without radiometry.
Mapping using the same electrodes that deliver energy.
Documented Applications
High-resolution mapping along a targeted anatomical area using an electrically insulating gap between distal and proximal electrode portions.
Temperature measurement and determination of orientation and peak temperature using temperature-measurement devices thermally insulated from the electrode at distal and proximal locations.
Contact sensing using multi-frequency impedance measurements to determine contact state or tissue ablation state.
Mapping and energy delivery using the same electrodes.
Interested in licensing this patent?