Ablation probe with fluid-based acoustic coupling for ultrasonic tissue imaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015133920-A1
Application number	US-201514603173-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 22, 2015
Priority date	Jan 31, 2012
Publication date	May 14, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

Devices and systems for ultrasonically imaging tissue and performing ablation therapy are disclosed. An ablation probe for treating and imaging body tissue includes an ablation electrode tip with a number of acoustic openings and a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors disposed within an interior lumen of the tip. The ultrasonic imaging sensors are supported within the interior lumen via an insert equipped with a number of recesses that receive the ultrasonic imaging sensors. An acoustically transparent shell disposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustic openings forms a fluid channel in the acoustic pathway of the sensors. During an ablation procedure, cooling fluid from an external fluid source is delivered through the fluid channel, providing an acoustic coupling effect between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the surrounding body tissue.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An ablation system for treating and imaging body tissue, the system comprising:
a probe comprising:
an elongate probe body having a proximal section and a distal section;
an ablation electrode coupled to the distal section of the elongate probe body, the ablation electrode comprising a conductive shell having an interior, the ablation electrode configured for delivering ablation energy to body tissue;
a plurality of openings disposed through the ablation electrode;
a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors disposed within the interior of the conductive shell;
an acoustically transparent tubular member disposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the openings; and
a fluid channel interposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustically transparent member within the interior of the conductive shell;
a fluid source configured for delivering cooling fluid through the fluid channel of the probe, the cooling fluid configured to acoustically couple the ultrasonic imaging sensors to the body tissue; an ablation therapy module configured for generating and supplying an electrical ablation signal to the ablation electrode of the probe configured to ablate tissue; and an ultrasound imaging module configured for processing ultrasonic imaging signals received from the ultrasonic imaging sensors of the probe.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each ultrasonic imaging sensor is configured to transmit ultrasonic waves through the fluid channel, the acoustically transparent member, and a corresponding one of the openings.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the conductive shell of the ablation electrode is a tubular metal shell.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the openings are located circumferentially about the ablation electrode.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ablation electrode further includes a plurality of irrigation ports.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the irrigation ports are in fluid communication with the fluid channel.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the irrigation ports are located circumferentially about the ablation electrode.

8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the irrigation ports are located distally and proximally of the openings.

9 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the ultrasonic imaging sensors are located within the interior of the conductive shell at a location proximal to the irrigation ports.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic imaging sensors are each configured for transmitting laterally-directed ultrasonic waves from a side of the ablation electrode.

11 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising at least one additional ultrasonic imaging sensor disposed within the interior of the conductive shell, the at least one additional ultrasonic imaging sensor configured for transmitting ultrasonic waves in a distal direction away from a distal end of the ablation electrode.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the acoustically transparent member is further disposed between the at least one additional ultrasonic imaging sensor and a distal-facing opening disposed through the ablation electrode, and wherein the fluid channel is further interposed between the at least one additional ultrasonic imaging sensor and the distal-facing opening.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the acoustically transparent tubular member circumferentially surrounds the plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors.

14 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a graphical user interface, wherein the ultrasound imaging module is configured to generate images on the graphical user interface based on the ultrasonic imaging signals and indicative of body tissue sensed by the ultrasonic imaging sensors.

15 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an insert configured for supporting the ultrasonic imaging sensors within the ablation electrode.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the insert comprises a cylindrically-shaped insert body including a plurality of recesses each configured for receiving an ultrasonic transducer.

17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein a transmitting face of each ultrasonic imaging sensor is substantially flush with an outer surface of the insert body.

18 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the ablation electrode includes a proximal fluid chamber and a distal fluid chamber, wherein the proximal and distal fluid chambers are separated by the insert.

19 . An ablation system for treating and imaging body tissue, the system comprising:
a probe comprising:
an elongate probe body having a proximal section and a distal section;
an ablation electrode coupled to the distal section of the elongate probe body, the ablation electrode configured for delivering ablation energy to body tissue;
a plurality of openings disposed through the ablation electrode;
a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors disposed within an interior lumen of the ablation electrode, the plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors facing a plurality of different lateral directions with respect to a longitudinal axis of the ablation electrode, the plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors respectively aligned with the plurality of openings to send and receive ultrasonic imaging signals through the plurality of openings;
an acoustically transparent member disposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the openings; and
a fluid channel interposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustically transparent member;
a fluid source configured for delivering cooling fluid to the interior lumen of the ablation electrode, the cooling fluid configured to acoustically couple the ultrasonic imaging sensors to the body tissue; an ablation therapy module configured for generating and supplying an electrical ablation signal to the ablation electrode; and an ultrasound imaging module configured for processing ultrasonic imaging signals received from the plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors.

20 . An ablation system for treating and imaging body tissue, the system comprising:
a probe comprising:
an elongate probe body having a proximal section and a distal section;
an ablation electrode coupled to the distal section of the elongate probe body, the ablation electrode configured for delivering ablation energy to body tissue;
a plurality of openings disposed through the ablation electrode;
a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors disposed within an interior lumen of the ablation electrode;
an acoustically transparent member disposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the openings;
an insert within the interior lumen of the ablation electrode, the insert attached to the plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors; and
a fluid channel interposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustically transparent member,
wherein the interior lumen of the ablation electrode includes a proximal fluid chamber and a distal fluid chamber, wherein the proximal and distal fluid chambers are separated by the insert and the fluid channel fluidly connects the proximal fluid chamber to the distal fluid chamber;
a fluid source configured for delivering cooling fluid to the fluid channel of the probe; an ablation therapy module configured for generating and supplying an electrical signal to the ablation electrode of the probe; and an ultrasound imaging module configured for processing ultrasonic imaging signals received from the ultrasonic imaging sensors of the probe.

Assignees

• Koninkl Philips Nv
• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Rankin Darrell L
• Koblish Josef V
• Deladi Szabolcs

Classifications

• A61B2090/3782

  transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument · CPC title

• A61B18/1206

  Generators therefor · CPC title

• A61B17/320068

  using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic (A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745) · CPC title

• A61B2090/378

  using ultrasound · CPC title

• A61B8/5207

  involving processing of raw data to produce diagnostic data, e.g. for generating an image · CPC title