Open irrigated ablation catheter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9456867-B2
Application number	US-201414209779-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

Medical devices and methods for using medical devices are disclosed. An example medical device may include an open-irrigated ablation catheter. The open-irrigated ablation catheter may include a catheter body, an electrode tip body with irrigation ports at a distal end, and a coolant conduit. The distal end of the coolant conduit may extend into a proximal portion of the electrode tip body. Fluid flow from the coolant conduit may be diverted proximally and/or towards the wall of the electrode tip body by one or more openings proximal of a closed distal end of the conduit or by a structure blocking and diverting flow from an open distal end of the conduit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An open-irrigated ablation catheter system, comprising:
a catheter body with a distal end;
an electrode tip body with a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis, the proximal end configured for connection to the distal end of the catheter body, the electrode tip body having a wall defining an open interior region, the wall having one or more irrigation ports, wherein the wall is conductive for delivering radio frequency (RF) energy, wherein the one or more irrigation ports are in fluid communication with the open interior region to allow fluid to flow from the open interior region through the one or more irrigation ports; and
a coolant conduit disposed within the catheter body, the coolant conduit having a fluid directing mechanism at a distal end thereof configured to direct fluid laterally towards the wall, the fluid directing mechanism including one or more side openings proximal of the distal end of the coolant conduit and further including surfaces that are angled acutely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the electrode tip body such that coolant flowing through the coolant conduit exits the one or more side openings at an angle towards the distal end of the catheter body.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the electrode tip body is closed and the proximal end of the electrode tip body is open, the system further comprising a distal insert positioned within the electrode tip body to separate the open interior region into a distal fluid reservoir and a proximal fluid reservoir, the distal insert having an opening connecting the distal and proximal fluid reservoirs.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more side openings in the coolant conduit are in fluid communication with the proximal fluid reservoir.

4. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a thermocouple, wherein the distal insert includes a second opening therethrough to receive the thermocouple such that a distal end of the thermocouple is positioned in the distal fluid reservoir.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wall of the electrode tip body has an exterior surface with one or more side openings therein, the system further comprising one or more mapping electrodes positioned in the one or more side openings in the exterior surface of the wall.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the coolant conduit includes two or more lumens.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the coolant conduit is closed.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the coolant conduit is open and extends distal of the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the fluid directing mechanism includes a blocking member spaced from the open distal end of the coolant conduit, wherein the blocking member extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the coolant conduit, wherein the blocking member is positioned such that flow of fluid from the coolant conduit impacts the blocking member and is directed laterally towards the wall of the electrode tip body.

9. An open-irrigated turbulent flow catheter system, comprising:
a catheter body with a distal end; an electrode tip body with a distal end and a proximal end configured for connection to the distal end of the catheter body, the electrode tip body defining an open interior region and one or more irrigation ports, wherein the electrode tip body is conductive for delivering radio frequency (RF) energy;
a coolant conduit disposed within the catheter body, the coolant conduit having a distal end, the coolant conduit having one or more side openings therein proximal of the distal end, wherein the one or more side openings are angled proximally such that at least a portion of coolant flowing through the coolant conduit is directed towards the proximal end of the electrode tip body; and
a distal insert positioned within the electrode tip body and separating the open interior region into a distal fluid reservoir and a proximal fluid reservoir, wherein the entire distal insert is spaced apart from and positioned distally from the distal end of the coolant conduit, wherein the distal end of the coolant conduit is positioned in the proximal fluid reservoir, the distal insert having an opening connecting the distal and proximal fluid reservoirs, wherein the one or more irrigation ports are disposed in the distal fluid reservoir.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the distal end of the coolant conduit extends distal of the distal end of the catheter body, within the open interior region.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the distal end of the electrode tip body is closed and the proximal end of the electrode tip body is open.

12. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a thermocouple, wherein the distal insert includes a second opening therethrough to receive the thermocouple such that a distal end of the thermocouple is positioned in the distal fluid reservoir.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electrode tip body has an exterior surface with openings therein, the system further comprising mapping electrodes positioned in the openings in the exterior surface.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the coolant conduit includes two or more lumens, each lumen having a distal end and one or more side openings proximal of the distal end.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the distal end of the coolant conduit is closed.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electrode tip body has a circumferential wall, and wherein the distal insert has an exterior surface at least a portion of which is directly coupled to the circumferential wall.

17. An open-irrigated ablation catheter system, comprising:
a catheter body;
an electrode tip body with a distal end and a proximal end configured for connection to a distal end of the catheter body, the electrode tip body having a wall defining an open interior region, the wall having one or more irrigation ports in fluid communication with the open interior region, wherein the wall is conductive for delivering radio frequency (RF) energy;
a coolant conduit disposed within the catheter body, an open distal end of the coolant conduit extending distal of the distal end of the catheter body;
a blocking member spaced from the open distal end of the coolant conduit, the blocking member configured to interrupt and divert distal flow of fluid from the coolant conduit; and
a distal insert positioned within the electrode tip body separating the open interior region into a distal fluid reservoir and a proximal fluid reservoir, wherein the blocking member is positioned within the proximal fluid reservoir.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the blocking member is a plate extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the coolant conduit, wherein flow of fluid from the coolant conduit impacts the plate and is directed towards the wall of the electrode tip body.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the plate extends radially beyond the coolant conduit.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc
• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Lawrence David
• Lawrence Eliza
• Kim Isaac J

Classifications

• A61B2018/00351

  Heart · CPC title

• A61B2018/00029

  open · CPC title

• A61B2018/00839

  Bioelectrical parameters, e.g. ECG, EEG · CPC title

• A61B18/1492 Primary

  having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B18/18

  by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves · CPC title