Claims
- 1. A radio-frequency-based catheter system for ablating biological tissues within the body vessel of a patient, comprising:
a) a catheter adapted for insertion into the body vessel of the patient, the catheter having a proximal portion, a distal portion with a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion; b) inner and outer coaxially aligned conductors extending within the catheter and coaxial with the lumen; c) a deflectable catheter guide disposed within the catheter lumen extending proximally within the catheter lumen and terminating distally of the distal end of the catheter to define a biological ablation pathway; and d) a radio-frequency antenna disposed at the distal portion of the catheter and in electrical communication with the inner and outer coaxially aligned conductors, the radio-frequency antenna being adaptable to receive and transmit radio-frequency energy for ablating biological tissue along the ablation pathway.
- 2. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 1, wherein the deflectable catheter guide comprises a flexible spine constructed of spring-like elastic material having a distal portion and a proximal portion and an elongated body disposed therebetween.
- 3. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the flexible spine is constructed of tubing material.
- 4. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 2, wherein the distal portion of the deflectable catheter guide includes an atraumatic tip.
- 5. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 4, wherein the deflectable catheter guide extends distally from the distal end to define a guide leader.
- 6. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 4, wherein the atraumatic tip is formed of radio-opaque material.
- 7. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 1, wherein the deflectable catheter guide includes at least one intracardiac electrocardiogram electrode.
- 8. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 2, wherein the flexible spine has variable stiffness along at least part of its length.
- 9. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 1, wherein the deflectable catheter guide is made of a shape memory alloy material.
- 10. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 2, wherein the deflectable catheter guide further comprises at least one pull wire tendon slidably disposed within the catheter lumen and having a distal portion affixed to the distal portion of the flexible spine for at least one of unidirectional and bidirectional control of the deflectable catheter guide.
- 11. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 10, wherein the distal portion of the catheter guide includes an atraumatic tip, and the spine and the pull wire tendon are secured to the atraumatic tip.
- 12. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 10, wherein the pull wire tendon is constructed of an elastic spring-like material.
- 13. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 10, wherein the pull wire tendon is constructed of a shape memory alloy.
- 14. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 10, wherein the spine includes a proximal tubular portion that the pull wire tendon extends through.
- 15. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 10, wherein the pull wire tendon includes a proximal end portion, and the radio-frequency-based catheter system further includes a control mechanism coupled to the proximal end portion of the pull wire tendon to control longitudinal movement of the pull wire tendon.
- 16. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 1, wherein the deflectable catheter guide further comprises at least one electrocardiogram electrode.
- 17. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 5, wherein the guide leader has a manually adjustable length.
- 18. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 5, wherein the guide leader has a predetermined fixed length.
- 19. The radio-frequency-based catheter system according to claim 1, wherein the radio-frequency antenna is adaptable to receive and transmit microwave energy at a frequency greater than 300 Megahertz.
- 20. A method of ablating biological tissue within the body vessel of a patient, comprising the steps of:
a) providing radio-frequency-based catheter for insertion into the body vessel of the patient, the catheter having a proximal portion, a distal portion with a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion; inner and outer coaxially aligned conductors extending within the catheter and coaxial with the lumen; a deflectable catheter guide disposed within the catheter lumen extending proximally within the catheter lumen and terminating distally of the distal end of the catheter to define a biological ablation pathway, the catheter guide including a distal end; and a radio-frequency antenna disposed at the distal portion of the catheter in electrical communication with the inner and outer coaxially aligned conductors and being adaptable to receive and transmit radio-frequency energy for ablating biological tissue along the ablation pathway; b) delivering the catheter guide and the radio-frequency antenna of the catheter to a targeted body tissue ablation site within the body vessel of a patient; c) positioning the radio-frequency antenna of the catheter adjacent to the body tissue to be ablated by anchoring the distal end of the catheter guide in the body vessel and deflecting the catheter guide so that the radio-frequency antenna of the catheter is adjacent to the body tissue to be ablated d) ablating the body tissue using the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna.
- 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the deflectable catheter guide comprises a flexible spine constructed of spring-like elastic material having a distal portion and a proximal portion and an elongated body disposed therebetween, and deflecting the catheter guide includes deflecting at least the guide leader.
- 22. The method of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the flexible spine is constructed of tubing material.
- 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the distal portion of the deflectable catheter guide includes an atraumatic tip, and anchoring the distal end of the catheter guide in the body vessel includes anchoring the atraumatic tip of the catheter guide in the body vessel.
- 24. The method of claim 20, wherein the deflectable catheter guide extends distally from the distal end to define a guide leader, and deflecting the catheter guide includes deflecting at least the guide leader.
- 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the atraumatic tip is formed of radio-opaque material.
- 26. The method of claim 20, wherein the deflectable catheter guide includes at least one intracardiac electrocardiogram electrode.
- 27. The method of claim 21, wherein the flexible spine has variable stiffness along at least part of its length.
- 28. The method of claim 20, wherein the deflectable catheter guide is made of a shape memory alloy material.
- 29. The method of claim 21, wherein the deflectable catheter guide further comprises at least one pull wire tendon slidably disposed within the catheter lumen and having a distal portion affixed to the distal portion of the flexible spine for at least one of unidirectional and bidirectional control of the deflectable catheter guide.
- 30. The method of claim 21, wherein the distal portion of the catheter guide includes an atraumatic tip, and the spine and the pull wire tendon are secured to the atraumatic tip, and deflecting the catheter guide includes pulling on the atraumatic tip with the pull wire tendon to cause the flexible spline to deflect.
- 31. The method of claim of claim 29, wherein the pull wire tendon is constructed of an elastic spring-like material.
- 32. The method of claim of claim 29, wherein the pull wire tendon is constructed of a shape memory alloy.
- 33. The method of claim 21, wherein the spine includes a proximal tubular portion that the pull wire tendon extends through.
- 34. The method of claim 29, wherein the pull wire tendon includes a proximal end portion, the radio-frequency-based catheter system further includes a control mechanism coupled to the proximal end portion of the pull wire tendon, and the method further includes controlling longitudinal movement of the pull wire tendon with the control mechanism.
- 35. The method of claim 24, wherein the guide leader has a manually adjustable length, and the method further includes manually adjusting the length of the guide leader before deflecting the catheter guide.
- 36. The method of claim 24, wherein the guide leader has a predetermined fixed length.
- 37. The method of claim 20, wherein the radio-frequency antenna is adaptable to receive and transmit microwave energy at a frequency greater than 300 Megahertz.
- 38. A shapeable curvilinear radio-frequency antenna apparatus for ablating biological tissue within the body vessel of a patient, comprising:
a) a flexible catheter body including a distal portion and an elongated lumen; b) inner and outer coaxially aligned conductors extending within the catheter and coaxial with the lumen; c) a flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna carried by the distal portion of the flexible catheter body in electrical communication with the inner and outer coaxially aligned conductors and adaptable to receive and transmit radio-frequency energy for ablating biological tissue; d) a pre-shaped deflection member carried by the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna adaptable to take a pre-shaped memory curvilinear configuration; e) a deflection regulating member operatively associated with the pre-shaped deflection member for regulating the deflection of said pre-shaped deflection member, wherein at least one of the pre-shaped deflection member and the deflection regulating member controllable for changing the configuration of the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna between a straight configuration and a pre-shaped memory curvilinear configuration.
- 39. The antenna apparatus of claim 38, wherein the pre-shaped deflection member is an elongated, flexible spine made of a shape-memory alloy and longitudinally disposed in the elongated lumen.
- 40. The antenna apparatus of claim 38, wherein the deflection regulating member is an elongated, rigid member longitudinally adjacent to the pre-shaped deflection member in the elongated lumen.
- 41. The antenna apparatus of claim 38, wherein the pre-shaped deflection member is movable for changing the configuration of the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna between a straight configuration and a pre-shaped memory curvilinear configuration.
- 42. The antenna apparatus of claim 38, wherein the deflection regulating member is movable for changing the configuration of the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna between a straight configuration and a pre-shaped memory curvilinear configuration.
- 43. The antenna apparatus of claim 38, wherein the deflection regulating member and the pre-shaped deflection member are relatively slidably with respect to each other in the elongated lumen.
- 44. The antenna apparatus of claim 43, further including a deflection control mechanism coupled to at least one of the pre-shaped deflection member and the deflection regulating member for changing the configuration of the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna between a straight configuration and a pre-shaped memory curvilinear configuration.
- 45. The antenna apparatus of claim 44, wherein the deflection control mechanism includes a movable control member that is rotatable to cause longitudinal movement of at least one of the pre-shaped deflection member and the deflection regulating member.
- 46. The antenna apparatus of claim 44, wherein the deflection control mechanism includes a movable control member that is movable in a linear direction to cause longitudinal movement of at least one of the pre-shaped deflection member and the deflection regulating member.
- 47. The antenna apparatus of claim 38, wherein the pre-shaped deflection member is incorporated into at least one of the catheter body and the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna.
- 48. The antenna apparatus of claim 47, wherein the deflection regulating member is slidably received within the elongated lumen for regulating the deflection of said pre-shaped deflection member.
- 49. The antenna apparatus of claim 38, further including a fluid pressure source and the deflection regulating member is fluid pressure within the elongated lumen from the fluid pressure source.
- 50. The antenna apparatus of claim 38, wherein the radio-frequency antenna is adaptable to receive and transmit microwave energy at a frequency greater than 300 Megahertz.
- 51. A method of ablating biological tissue within the body vessel of a patient, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a shapeable curvilinear radio-frequency antenna apparatus for ablating biological tissue within the body vessel of a patient, the shapeable curvilinear radio-frequency antenna apparatus including a flexible catheter body having a distal portion and an elongated lumen; inner and outer coaxially aligned conductors extending within the catheter and coaxial with the lumen; a flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna carried by the distal portion of the flexible catheter body in electrical communication with the inner and outer coaxially aligned conductors and adaptable to receive and transmit radio-frequency energy for ablating biological tissue; a pre-shaped deflection member carried by the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna adaptable to take a pre-shaped memory curvilinear configuration; a deflection regulating member operatively associated with the pre-shaped deflection member for regulating the deflection of said pre-shaped deflection member; b) delivering the shapeable curvilinear radio-frequency antenna apparatus to a targeted body tissue ablation site within the body vessel of a patient; c) controlling at least one of the pre-shaped deflection member and the deflection regulating member to change the configuration of the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna from a straight configuration to a pre-shaped memory curvilinear configuration so that the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna is adjacent to the body tissue to be ablated; and d) ablating the body tissue using the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna.
- 52. The method of claim 51, wherein the pre-shaped deflection member is an elongated, flexible spine made of a shape-memory alloy and longitudinally disposed in the elongated lumen.
- 53. The method of claim 51, wherein the deflection regulating member is an elongated, rigid member longitudinally adjacent to the pre-shaped deflection member in the elongated lumen.
- 54. The method of claim 51, wherein controlling at least one of the pre-shaped deflection member and the deflection regulating member includes moving the pre-shaped deflection member for changing the configuration of the flexible curvilinear shaped deflection member for changing the configuration of the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna from a straight configuration to a pre-shaped memory curvilinear configuration.
- 55. The method of claim 51, wherein controlling at least one of the pre-shaped deflection member and the deflection regulating member includes moving the deflection regulating for changing the configuration of the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna from a straight configuration to a pre-shaped memory curvilinear configuration.
- 56. The method of claim 51, wherein the deflection regulating member and the pre-shaped deflection member are relatively slidably with respect to each other in the elongated lumen, and controlling at least one of the pre-shaped deflection member and the deflection regulating member includes sliding at least one of the pre-shaped deflection member and the deflection regulating member relative to the other to change the configuration of the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna from a straight configuration to a pre-shaped memory curvilinear configuration.
- 57. The method of claim 51, further including a deflection control mechanism coupled to at least one of the pre-shaped deflection member and the deflection regulating member for changing the configuration of the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna from a straight configuration to a pre-shaped memory curvilinear configuration, and the method further includes using the deflection control mechanism to change the configuration of the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna from a straight configuration to a pre-shaped memory curvilinear configuration.
- 58. The method of claim 57, wherein the deflection control mechanism includes a movable control member that is rotatable to cause longitudinal movement of at least one of the pre-shaped deflection member and the deflection regulating member.
- 59. The method of claim 57, wherein the deflection control mechanism includes a movable control member that is movable in a linear direction to cause longitudinal movement of at least one of the pre-shaped deflection member and the deflection regulating member.
- 60. The method of claim 51, wherein the pre-shaped deflection member is incorporated into at least one of the catheter body and the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna.
- 61. The method of claim 60, wherein the deflection regulating member is slidably received within the elongated lumen for regulating the deflection of said pre-shaped deflection member.
- 62. The method of claim 51, further including a fluid pressure source and the deflection regulating member is fluid pressure within the elongated lumen from the fluid pressure source, and controlling at least one of the pre-shaped deflection member and the deflection regulating member includes supplying the elongated lumen with fluid pressure from the fluid pressure source to change the configuration of the flexible curvilinear radio-frequency antenna from a straight configuration to a pre-shaped memory curvilinear configuration.
- 63. The method of claim 51, wherein the radio-frequency antenna is adaptable to receive and transmit microwave energy at a frequency greater than 300 Megahertz.
Parent Case Info
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of provisional application 60/334,199 filed Nov. 29, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60334199 |
Nov 2001 |
US |