Optical feedback RF ablator and ablator tip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12349963-B2
Application number	US-202117187150-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2021
Priority date	Apr 13, 2011
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

An ablation catheter comprises an elongated catheter body; at least one ablation element disposed in a distal portion which is adjacent the distal end of the catheter body; an illumination optical element disposed in the distal portion, the illumination optical element being light-transmissive to emit light from the illumination optical element to the targeted tissue region; and a collection optical element disposed in the distal portion, the collection optical element being light-transmissive to collect one or more of returned, backscattered or newly excited light from the targeted tissue region. The illumination or excitation optical element and the collection optical element are axially spaced from one another and axially optically isolated from one another within the distal portion to substantially prevent light from traveling between the illumination optical element and the collection optical element along a path within the distal portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical feedback tip configured to be attached to a distal end of a medical apparatus, the optical feedback element comprising:
a hemispherocylindrical and light-transmissive plug defining an interior;
a plurality of optical emitters terminating within a first portion of the interior of the plug and configured to emit optical radiation towards tissue proximate the optical feedback tip; and
an optical receiver terminating within a second portion of the interior of the plug and configured to receive returned optical radiation from the tissue and to output an electrical signal responsive to the returned optical radiation,
wherein the first portion of the interior of the plug is optically isolated from the second portion of the interior of the plug.

2. The optical feedback tip according to claim 1 , further comprising a hemispherocylindrical shell, and wherein the plug is disposed within the shell.

3. The optical feedback tip according to claim 2 :
wherein the shell comprises one or more apertures,
wherein the plurality of optical emitters are positioned to emit the optical radiation through the one or more apertures, and
wherein the optical receiver is positioned to receive the returned optical radiation through the one or more apertures.

4. The optical feedback tip according to claim 2 , wherein the shell comprises a conductive material.

5. The optical feedback tip according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical emitters and the optical receiver are arranged along a longitudinal axis of the plug.

Assignees

• St Jude Medical Llc

Inventors

• Sliwa John W
• Morse Stephen A
• Ma Zhenyi

Classifications

• A61B2576/00

  Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis (A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2562/0233

  Special features of optical sensors or probes classified in A61B5/00 · CPC title

• A61B2018/00577

  Ablation · CPC title

• A61B2017/00061

  spectrum · CPC title

• A61B5/0036

  including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating · CPC title