Methods of removing heat from an electrode using thermal shunting
Inventors
Schultheis, Eric Andrew • Koblish, Josef Vincent • Panescu, Dorin
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11701171-B2
Publication Date
2023-07-18
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 methods of heat removal from an electrode assembly or an ablation member during a tissue treatment procedure. Energy is delivered to an ablation system electrode assembly positioned along a distal end of a catheter, or to an ablation member positioned along a distal end of an elongate body, while heat is removed by providing a plurality of thermal shunt members along the distal end of the catheter or through the interior of the electrode assembly or ablation member.
The thermal shunt members are arranged with different radial thicknesses among a first shunt member, a second shunt member, and a third shunt member spaced apart along an axis parallel to the central axis. At least one fluid passage extends at least partially through the interior of the electrode assembly and through the interior of the thermal shunt members, and a fluid is delivered through the at least one fluid passage to enable heat removal associated with the electrode assembly or ablation member during the tissue treatment procedure.
In some implementations, the plurality of thermal shunt members transfers heat while not retaining heat and includes thermal material properties such as thermal diffusivity greater than a threshold, with diamond and/or other carbon-based materials. The specification further describes electrical and thermal configurations for RF ablation catheters, including distal electrode outlet ports and internal delivery and return lumens for saline or irrigation fluid to remove heat and prevent overheating.
The specification also describes a high-resolution electrode design using circumferential sections separated by electrically insulating gaps for mapping, electrical load balancing between electrode portions using RF conductors and band-pass filtering to achieve uniform heating, multi-temperature sensor systems and signal processing concepts for estimating a spatial temperature gradient and inferring lesion peak temperature and orientation, and contact sensing concepts using multi-frequency impedance magnitude, ratio, and phase with system-level de-embedding and correction.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are 1, 9, and 15, all directed to removing heat during a tissue treatment procedure by delivering energy to a distal electrode assembly or ablation member while delivering fluid through interior fluid passages associated with a plurality of thermal shunt members. The inventive features primarily cover the thermal shunt member arrangement and the internal fluid-passage heat-removal architecture.
Thermal shunt members with different radial thicknesses and interior fluid passages for heat removal
A method of heat removal during a tissue treatment procedure that delivers energy to an electrode assembly positioned along a distal end of a catheter or elongate body, where a plurality of thermal shunt members extends at least partially through the interior of the electrode assembly, including a first shunt member spaced from a second shunt member and a third shunt member spaced apart along an axis parallel to the central axis, with different radial thicknesses, and at least one fluid passage extending at least partially through the interior of the electrode assembly and the interior of the thermal shunt members, with fluid delivered through the at least one fluid passage.
Thermal shunt members in an ablation member with at least one interior fluid passage for heat removal
A method of heat removal from an ablation member during a tissue treatment procedure that delivers energy to an ablation member positioned along a distal end of an elongate body extending along a central axis, where a plurality of thermal shunt members extends at least partially through the interior of the ablation member, and at least one fluid passage extends at least partially through the interior of the plurality of thermal shunt members, with a first thermal shunt member spaced from a second thermal shunt member and a third shunt member differently sized than the first and second, and fluid delivered through the at least one fluid passage.
Across independent claims 1, 9, and 15, the core claim coverage is heat removal during tissue treatment by combining a distal electrode assembly or ablation member architecture that includes a plurality of thermal shunt members with defined spacing and different radial thicknesses or sizing relationships, and at least one interior fluid passage that extends through the interior of the electrode assembly or ablation member and through the thermal shunt members, with fluid delivery through the passage during energy delivery.
Stated Advantages
Reduced irrigation flow rates.
Reduced char/thrombus risk.
Lower temperatures in shunt networks compared with conventional heat transfer materials.
Reduced proximal edge heating.
Safer ablation with real-time feedback.
Documented Applications
RF ablation catheter systems and tissue treatment or ablation procedures that use heat removal from electrode assemblies or ablation members during delivery of energy.
High-resolution mapping of a targeted anatomical area using electrode configurations with electrically insulating gaps.
Temperature feedback concepts during ablation using multi-temperature sensors for estimating lesion peak temperature and orientation.
Contact sensing and tissue-type determination concepts during ablation using multi-frequency impedance magnitude, ratio, and phase with de-embedding and correction.
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