Esophagus isolation device

Abstract

An esophagus isolation catheter for deflecting an esophagus of a patient away from an ablation site in the left atrium of the patient's heart is provided. The catheter comprises an elongated catheter body and a deflectable section. In one embodiment, the catheter comprises a deflectable intermediate section mounted at the distal end of the catheter body and a generally straight tip section mounted at the distal end of the intermediate section. In this embodiment, the catheter comprises two puller wires, one anchored proximal the other. The intermediate section deflects to form a generally C-shaped curve. In an alternative embodiment, the catheter comprises a deflectable tip section mounted at the distal end of the catheter body. In this embodiment, the catheter comprises only one puller wire. The tip section carries a tip electrode having an atraumatic design to prevent damage to the esophagus upon deflection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevated side view of an esophagus isolation catheter according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a is a side cross-sectional view of the catheter body according to one embodiment of the present invention, including the junction between the catheter body and intermediate section;

FIG. 2 b is a side cross-sectional view, taken of the side opposite that of FIG. 2a, of the catheter body of the catheter of FIG. 2a, including the junction between the catheter body and the intermediate section;

FIG. 3 a is a side cross-sectional view of the catheter body according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, including the junction between the catheter body and intermediate section;

FIG. 3 b is a side cross-sectional view of a puller wire anchor according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 c is a side cross-sectional view of the puller wire anchor of FIG. 3b rotated 90°;

FIG. 4 a is a side cross-sectional view of a tip section according to one embodiment of the present invention, including the junction between the intermediate section and the tip section;

FIG. 4 b is a side cross-sectional view, taken of the side opposite that of FIG. 4a, of the tip section of the catheter according to FIG. 4a, including the junction between the intermediate section and the tip section;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the intermediate section of FIG. 2a, taken along line 5-5;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tip section of FIG. 4a, taken along line 6-6;

FIG. 7 is an elevated side view of an esophagus isolation catheter according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 a is a side cross-sectional view of the catheter body of the catheter of FIG. 7, including the junction between the catheter body and tip section;

FIG. 8 b is a side cross-sectional view, taken of the side opposite that of FIG. 8a, of the catheter body of the catheter of FIG. 8a, including the junction between the catheter body and tip section;

FIG. 8 c is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the tip section of FIG. 8a, taken along line 8c-8c;

FIG. 9 a is an exaggerated schematic depicting a catheter in a straight configuration in an esophagus according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 b is an exaggerated schematic depicting posterior deflection of the catheter of FIG. 9a; and

FIG. 9 c is an exaggerated schematic depicting lateral deflection of the catheter of FIG. 9a.

Claims

1. An esophagus isolation catheter adapted to sit within a patient's esophagus, the esophagus isolation catheter comprising: an elongated tubular catheter body having an axis, proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough;a deflectable section mounted at the distal end of the catheter body and adapted to deflect a region of the patient's esophagus away from an ablation site in a left atrium of the patient's heart; andmeans for deflecting the deflectable section.

2. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 1, wherein the deflectable section comprises an intermediate section having proximal and distal ends, the catheter further comprising a tip section mounted at the distal end of the intermediate section and extending generally along the axis of the catheter body.

3. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 2, further comprising a tip electrode at the distal end of the tip section.

4. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 2, wherein the means for deflecting the deflectable section comprises: a first puller wire having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the first puller wire being anchored near the distal end of the intermediate section;a second puller wire shorter than the first puller wire and having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the second puller wire being anchored near the proximal end of the intermediate section; anda control handle, wherein the proximal ends of the first and second puller wires are anchored within the control handle;whereby longitudinal movement of the first and second puller wires results in deflection of the intermediate section.

5. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 4, wherein the tip section is sufficiently long such that upon suitable manipulation of the control handle the tip section remains extended along the axis of the catheter body, resulting in deflection of the intermediate section in a generally C-shaped curve.

6. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 5, further comprising: a first compression coil in surrounding relation to the first puller wire, the first compression coil having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the first compression coil being anchored in the proximal end of the catheter body; anda second compression coil in surrounding relation to the second puller wire, the second compression coil having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the second compression coil being anchored in the proximal end of the catheter body.

7. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 6, wherein deflection of the intermediate section in a generally C-shaped curve is accomplished by first moving the second puller wire longitudinally relative to the catheter body and thereafter moving the first puller wire longitudinally relative to the catheter body.

8. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 5, further comprising: a first compression coil in surrounding relation to the first puller wire, the first compression coil having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the first compression coil being anchored in the intermediate section at the anchor site of the second puller wire; anda second compression coil in surrounding relation to the second puller wire, the second compression coil having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the second compression coil being anchored in the proximal end of the catheter body.

9. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 8, wherein deflection of the intermediate section in a generally C-shaped curve is accomplished by first moving the second puller wire longitudinally relative to the catheter body and thereafter moving the first puller wire longitudinally relative to the catheter body.

10. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 8, wherein deflection of the intermediate section in a generally C-shaped curve is accomplished by first moving the first puller wire longitudinally relative to the catheter body and thereafter moving the second puller wire longitudinally relative to the catheter body.

11. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 1, wherein the deflectable section comprises a tip section having proximal and distal ends mounted at the distal end of the catheter body.

12. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 11, wherein the distal end of the tip section carries a tip electrode, the tip electrode having an atraumatic design for preventing damage to the esophagus upon deflection.

13. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 11, wherein the means for deflecting the deflectable section comprises: a puller wire having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the puller wire being anchored at the proximal end of the catheter body; anda control handle, wherein the proximal end of the puller wire is anchored within the control handle;whereby longitudinal movement of the puller wire results in deflection of the tip section.

14. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 1, further comprising at least one radiopaque marker mounted on the deflectable section.

15. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of radiopaque markers mounted on the deflectable sections spanning substantially the length of the deflectable section.

16. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 14, wherein the radiopaque marker comprises a ring electrode at least partially comprising a radiopaque material.

17. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 15, wherein the radiopaque markers each comprise a ring electrode at least partially comprising a radiopaque material.

18. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring the temperature of esophageal tissue.

19. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 18, wherein the means for monitoring the temperature of esophageal tissue comprises at least one temperature sensor mounted on one or more of the catheter body and deflectable section.

20. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic sensor mounted within the deflectable section.

21. An esophagus isolation catheter adapted to sit within a patient's esophagus, the esophagus isolation catheter comprising: an elongated tubular catheter body having an axis, proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough;an intermediate section having proximal and distal ends mounted at the distal end of the catheter body and adapted to deflect a region of the patient's esophagus away from an ablation site in a left atrium of the patient's heart;a tip section having proximal and distal ends mounted at the distal end of the intermediate section and extending generally along the axis of the catheter body;a first puller wire having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the first puller wire being anchored near the distal end of the intermediate section;a second puller wire shorter than the first puller wire and having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the second puller wire being anchored near the proximal end of the intermediate section; anda control handle, wherein the proximal ends of the first and second puller wires are anchored within the control handle;whereby longitudinal movement of the first and second puller wires results in deflection of the intermediate section.

22. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 21, further comprising a tip electrode at the distal end of the tip section.

23. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 21, wherein the tip section is sufficiently long such that upon suitable manipulation of the control handle the tip section remains extended along the axis of the catheter body, resulting in deflection of the intermediate section in a generally C-shaped curve.

24. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 21, further comprising: a first compression coil in surrounding relation to the first puller wire, the first compression coil having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the first compression coil being anchored in the proximal end of the catheter body; anda second compression coil in surrounding relation to the second puller wire, the second compression coil having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the second compression coil being anchored in the proximal end of the catheter body.

25. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 24, wherein deflection of the intermediate section in a generally C-shaped curve is accomplished by first moving the second puller wire longitudinally relative to the catheter body and thereafter moving the first puller wire longitudinally relative to the catheter body.

26. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 21, further comprising: a first compression coil in surrounding relation to the first puller wire, the first compression coil having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the first compression coil being anchored in the intermediate section at the anchor site of the second puller wire; anda second compression coil in surrounding relation to the second puller wire, the second compression coil having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the second compression coil being anchored in the proximal end of the catheter body.

27. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 26, wherein deflection of the intermediate section in a generally C-shaped curve is accomplished by first moving the second puller wire longitudinally relative to the catheter body and thereafter moving the first puller wire longitudinally relative to the catheter body.

28. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 26, wherein deflection of the intermediate section in a generally C-shaped curve is accomplished by first moving the first puller wire longitudinally relative to the catheter body and thereafter moving the second puller wire longitudinally relative to the catheter body.

29. An esophagus isolation catheter adapted to sit within a patient's esophagus, the esophagus isolation catheter comprising: an elongated tubular catheter body having an axis, proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen therethrough;a tip section having proximal and distal ends mounted at the distal end of the catheter body and adapted to deflect a region of the patient's esophagus away from an ablation site in a left atrium of the patient's heart;a puller wire having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the first puller wire being anchored in the distal end of the tip section; anda control handle, wherein the proximal end of the puller wire is anchored within the control handle;whereby longitudinal movement of the puller wire results in deflection of the tip section.

30. An esophagus isolation catheter according to claim 29, wherein the distal end of the tip section carries a tip electrode, the tip electrode having an atraumatic design for preventing damage to the esophagus upon deflection.

31. A method of deflecting an esophagus of a patient away from an ablation site in the left atrium of the patient's heart, the method comprising: introducing the catheter of claim 1 into the esophagus of the patient;positioning the deflectable section of the catheter in the region of the esophagus corresponding to the ablation site in the patient's left atrium; anddeflecting the deflectable section of the catheter.

32. A method of deflecting an esophagus of a patient away from an ablation site in the left atrium of the patient's heart, the method comprising: introducing the catheter of claim 21 into the esophagus of the patient;positioning the deflectable section of the catheter in the region of the esophagus corresponding to the ablation site in the patient's left atrium; anddeflecting the deflectable section of the catheter.

33. A method of deflecting an esophagus of a patient away from an ablation site in the left atrium of the patient's heart, the method comprising: introducing the catheter of claim 29 into the esophagus of the patient;positioning the deflectable section of the catheter in the region of the esophagus corresponding to the ablation site in the patient's left atrium; anddeflecting the deflectable section of the catheter.

34. A method of deflecting an esophagus of a patient away from an ablation site in the left atrium of the patient's heart, the method comprising: introducing the catheter of claim 14 into the esophagus of the patient;positioning the deflectable section of the catheter in the region of the esophagus corresponding to the ablation site in the patient's left atrium using the radiopaque markers on the deflectable section; anddeflecting the deflectable section of the catheter.

35. A method of deflecting an esophagus of a patient away from an ablation site in the left atrium of the patient's heart, the method comprising: introducing the catheter of claim 15 into the esophagus of the patient;positioning the deflectable section of the catheter in the region of the esophagus corresponding to the ablation site in the patient's left atrium using the radiopaque markers on the deflectable section; anddeflecting the deflectable section of the catheter.