Systems and methods for visualizing ablated tissue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9084611-B2
Application number	US-201213624902-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2012
Priority date	Sep 22, 2011
Publication date	Jul 21, 2015
Grant date	Jul 21, 2015

Abstract

Systems and methods for visualizing ablated tissue are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system for imaging tissue comprising: a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end; an inflatable balloon disposed about the distal end of the catheter; and an optical housing extending from the distal end of the catheter into the balloon, the optical housing being configured to position inside the balloon a light source for illuminating a tissue outside the balloon and a camera for imaging the illuminated tissue.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for imaging endocardial tissue comprising:
an endovascular catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, the endovascular catheter being sized for an endovascular approach to an endocardial tissue;
an inflatable balloon disposed about the distal end of the endovascular catheter, the balloon being made of a compliant ultraviolet (UV) light transparent material and shaped for placement against the endocardial tissue;
a guidewire for guiding the endovascular catheter to the endocardial tissue;
an ablation member disposed outside the balloon for ablation of a portion of the endocardial tissue; and
an optical housing extending from the endovascular catheter into the balloon, the optical housing comprising a UV light source emitting light having a wavelength between about 300 nm and about 400 nm for illuminating the endocardial tissue outside the balloon to excite NADH fluorescence in the endocardial tissue and a camera for imaging the illuminated tissue, wherein the UV light source and the camera are positioned inside the balloon beyond the distal tip of the endovascular catheter.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a UV light emitting diode (LED).

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera includes image sensors that convert an optical image into an electronic signal.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a gap formed between an outside surface of the optical housing and an inner wall of the balloon, the gap providing a fluid path between an inflation lumen of the endovascular catheter and the balloon for inflating and deflating the balloon.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the optical housing is rotatable in relation to the balloon.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a support tube extending beyond the distal tip of the catheter to provide a structural support for the balloon.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a tip around a distal end of the support tube, the tip being configured to act as an ablation element.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the support tube includes an inner lumen in communication with an inner lumen of the catheter for passing an ablation member distally of the balloon.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first light source and a second light source capable of generating light of a different wavelength than the first light source.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display system connected to the camera for generating an image of the illuminated tissue based on a NADH fluorescence detected by the camera.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the camera and the display system are in a wireless communication.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a filter having a center wavelength of 460 nm with a 50 nm bandwidth coupled with the camera.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera is coupled to a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera having a quantum efficiency of at least about 50% to about 70% at about 460 nm.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera is coupled to a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera having a quantum efficiency of about 90% at about 460 nm.

15. A system for imaging endocardial tissue comprising:
an endovascular catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, the endovascular catheter being sized for an endovascular approach to an endocardial tissue;
a support tube extending beyond the distal end of the endovascular catheter and having a tip around a distal end of the support tube;
an inflatable balloon disposed about the distal end of the endovascular catheter, the balloon being made of a compliant ultraviolet (UV) light transparent material and shaped for placement adjacent the endocardial tissue;
a guidewire for guiding the endovascular catheter to the endocardial tissue;
an ablation member disposed outside the balloon for ablation of a portion of the endocardial tissue; and
an optical housing extending from the distal end of the endovascular catheter into the balloon;
a UV light source inside the balloon, the light source being supported by the optical housing, the UV light source producing light having a wavelength between about 300 nm and about 400 nm for illuminating the endocardial tissue outside the balloon to excite NADH in the endocardial tissue; and
a camera inside the balloon, the camera being supported by the optical housing and configured to detect NADH fluorescence from the endocardial tissue illuminated by light from the UV light source to image the endocardial tissue illuminated by the UV light source.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the optical housing is rotatable in relation to the balloon to rotate the camera and the light source in relation to the balloon.

17. The system of claim 15 comprising a second light source for providing white light.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising a filter having a center wavelength of 460 nm with a 50 nm bandwidth coupled with the camera.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the camera is coupled to a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera having a quantum efficiency of at least about 50% to about 70% at about 460 nm.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the camera is coupled to a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera having a quantum efficiency of about 90% at about 460 nm.

21. A system for imaging tissue comprising:
an endovascular catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, the endovascular catheter being sized for an endovascular approach to a cardiac tissue;
a guidewire for guiding the endovascular catheter to the cardiac tissue;
an ablation member disposed at the distal end of the endovascular catheter;
an irrigation port to displace blood with a fluid about the distal end of the catheter; and
an optical housing extending from the distal end of the catheter, the optical housing being configured to support a light emitting diode (LED) light source, the LED light source emitting light having a wavelength between about 300 nm and about 400 nm for illuminating the cardiac tissue to excite NADH in the cardiac tissue and a visualization device including a plurality of image sensors that convert an optical image into an electronic signal for imaging the illuminated tissue
an inflatable balloon disposed about the distal end of the endovascular catheter, the balloon being made of a compliant ultraviolet (UV) light transparent material and shaped for placement against the cardiac tissue; wherein the light source and the visualization device are positioned inside the balloon beyond the distal tip of the endovascular catheter.

22. A system for imaging tissue comprising:
a sheath for infusing a fluid capable of displacing blood and transmitting light;
an endovascular catheter disposed within the sheath, the endovascular catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, the endovascular catheter being sized for an endovascular approach to a cardiac tissue;
a guidewire for guiding the endovascular catheter to the cardiac tissue;
an ablation member disposed at the distal end of the endovascular catheter;
an optical housing extending from the distal end of the catheter, the optical housing being configured to support a light emitting diode (LED) light source, the LED light source producing light having a wavelength between about 300 nm and about 400 nm for illuminating the cardiac tissue to excite NADH in the cardiac tissue and a visualization device including a plurality of image sensors that convert an optical image into an electronic signal for ima

Assignees

• Univ George Washington
• Luxcath Llc

Inventors

• Amirana Omar
• Armstrong Kenneth C
• Kay Matthew W
• Mercader Marco A
• Ransbury Terrance J
• Sarvazyan Narine

Classifications

• A61B1/0676

  at distal tip of an endoscope · CPC title

• A61B1/00045

  Display arrangement · CPC title

• A61B2018/0212

  using an instrument inserted into a body lumen, e.g. catheter · CPC title

• A61B90/30

  Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure · CPC title

• A61B5/6853

  with a balloon · CPC title