US20100042098A1 - Systems and methods for creating a lesion using transjugular approach - Google Patents
Systems and methods for creating a lesion using transjugular approach Download PDFInfo
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- US20100042098A1 US20100042098A1 US12/582,561 US58256109A US2010042098A1 US 20100042098 A1 US20100042098 A1 US 20100042098A1 US 58256109 A US58256109 A US 58256109A US 2010042098 A1 US2010042098 A1 US 2010042098A1
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B18/04—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by heating
- A61B18/12—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by heating by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
- A61B18/14—Probes or electrodes therefor
- A61B18/1492—Probes or electrodes therefor having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B18/04—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by heating
- A61B18/12—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by heating by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
- A61B18/14—Probes or electrodes therefor
- A61B18/1477—Needle-like probes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B2018/00053—Mechanical features of the instrument of device
- A61B2018/0016—Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B2018/00315—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body for treatment of particular body parts
- A61B2018/00345—Vascular system
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B2018/00315—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body for treatment of particular body parts
- A61B2018/00345—Vascular system
- A61B2018/00404—Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B2018/00571—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body for achieving a particular surgical effect
- A61B2018/00577—Ablation
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B18/04—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by heating
- A61B18/12—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by heating by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
- A61B18/14—Probes or electrodes therefor
- A61B2018/1405—Electrodes having a specific shape
- A61B2018/1425—Needle
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B18/04—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by heating
- A61B18/12—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by heating by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
- A61B18/14—Probes or electrodes therefor
- A61B2018/1405—Electrodes having a specific shape
- A61B2018/1425—Needle
- A61B2018/143—Needle multiple needles
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B18/00—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body
- A61B18/04—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by heating
- A61B18/12—Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body by heating by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
- A61B18/14—Probes or electrodes therefor
- A61B2018/1475—Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
Definitions
- the field of the invention relates to medical devices, and more particularly, to medical devices and methods of their use for treating tumors or other targeted bodily tissue using electrical energy.
- Tissue may be destroyed, ablated, or otherwise treated using thermal energy during various therapeutic procedures.
- Many forms of thermal energy may be imparted to tissue, such as radio frequency electrical energy, microwave electromagnetic energy, laser energy, acoustic energy, or thermal conduction.
- radio frequency ablation may be used to treat patients with tissue anomalies, such as liver anomalies and many primary cancers, such as cancers of the stomach, bowel, pancreas, kidney and lung.
- RFA treatment involves the destroying undesirable cells by generating heat through agitation caused by the application of alternating electrical current (radio frequency energy) through the tissue.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,576 describes an ablation apparatus that includes a plurality of wire electrodes.
- Each of the wires includes a proximal end that is coupled to a generator; and a distal end that may project from a distal end of a cannula.
- the wires are arranged in an array with the distal ends located generally radially and uniformly spaced apart from the catheter distal end.
- the wires may be energized in a monopolar or bipolar configuration to heat and necrose tissue within a precisely defined volumetric region of target tissue.
- the current may flow between closely spaced wire electrodes (bipolar mode) or between one or more wire electrodes and a larger, common electrode (monopolar mode) located remotely from the tissue to be heated.
- the array of wires may be arranged uniformly, e.g., substantially evenly and symmetrically spaced-apart so that heat is generated uniformly within the desired target tissue volume.
- Such devices may be used either in open surgical settings, in laparoscopic procedures, and/or in percutaneous interventions.
- tumor near a vessel may be difficult to ablate. This is because the vessel continuously provide blood to the tumor during an ablation procedure, thereby carrying heat away from a targeted region. As a result, it may be difficult to achieve a complete burn for the tumor near the vessel.
- a method of treating a tissue region includes inserting a flexible sheath within a vessel, the vessel leading to a tissue region, placing a distal end of the sheath through a wall of the vessel to thereby position the distal end at or adjacent the tissue region, deploying a plurality of electrodes from the distal end of the sheath such that tips of the deployed electrodes approximately face towards a proximal end, and delivering energy to at least a portion of the tissue region using the deployed electrodes.
- a system for treating tissue within a tissue region using electrical energy includes a flexible sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body extending between the proximal and the distal ends, wherein the body is sized such that it can be placed within a blood vessel, and has a length such that when placed within the blood vessel, the proximal end is outside a patient's body and the distal end is adjacent the tissue region, and an array of electrodes slidably disposed within a lumen of the sheath, wherein the sheath further has a sharp distal tip for puncturing a vessel.
- a system for treating tissue within a tissue region using electrical energy includes a flexible sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body extending between the proximal and the distal ends, wherein the body is sized such that it can be placed within a blood vessel, and has a length such that when placed within the blood vessel, the proximal end is outside a patient's body and the distal end is adjacent the tissue region, a shaft having a body, the body having a wall and a plurality of openings through the wall, and an array of electrodes coupled to the shaft, and slidably disposed within a lumen of the sheath.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a system for delivering electrical energy to tissue in accordance with some embodiments.
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of an ablation device, showing electrode tines constrained within a sheath.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the ablation device of FIG. 2 , showing the electrode tines deployed from the sheath.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a system for delivering electrical energy to tissue in accordance with other embodiments.
- FIGS. 5A-5D are cross-sectional views, showing a method for treating tissue, in accordance with some embodiments.
- FIG. 1 shows an ablation system 10 , in accordance with some embodiments.
- the ablation system 10 includes a source of energy 12 , e.g., a radio frequency (RF) generator, and an ablation device 18 configured to be coupled to the generator 12 via a cable 20 during use.
- RF radio frequency
- the generator 12 is preferably capable of operating with a fixed or controlled voltage or current so that power and current diminish as impedance of the tissue being ablated increases. Exemplary generators are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,149, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
- the preferred generator 12 may operate at relatively low fixed voltages, typically below one hundred fifty volts (150 V) peak-to-peak, and preferably between about fifty and one hundred volts (50-100 V).
- Such radio frequency generators are available from Boston Scientific Corporation, assignee of the present application, as well as from other commercial suppliers. It should be noted that the generator 12 is not limited to those that operate at the range of voltages discussed previously, and that generators capable of operating at other ranges of voltages may also be used.
- the ablation device 18 of FIG. 1 is a ablation assembly 50 that includes a sheath 52 having a lumen 54 , a shaft 56 having a proximal end 58 and a distal end 60 , and a plurality of electrode tines (or wires) 62 secured to the distal end 60 of the shaft 56 .
- the proximal end 58 of the shaft 56 may include a connector (not shown) for coupling to the generator 12 .
- the ablation assembly 50 may itself include a cable (not shown) on the proximal end 58 of the shaft 56 , and a connector may be provided on the proximal end of the cable (not shown).
- the sheath 52 has a length between about forty and one hundred and thirty centimeters (40-130 cm), and more preferably, between sixty and eighty (60-80 cm). Also, the sheath 52 has an outer diameter or cross sectional dimension between about one and five millimeters (1-5 mm), and more preferably, between two and four millimeters (2-4 mm).
- the sheath 52 is configured (e.g., sized and shaped) such that it can be inserted within a vessel (e.g., a jugular vein), and that a body of the cannula 52 can extend between a proximal end 72 located outside a patient's body and a distal end 70 located at or adjacent a target region, e.g., a liver, when the sheath 52 is inserted into a jugular vein.
- a vessel e.g., a jugular vein
- a body of the cannula 52 can extend between a proximal end 72 located outside a patient's body and a distal end 70 located at or adjacent a target region, e.g., a liver, when the sheath 52 is inserted into a jugular vein.
- the sheath 52 may also have other lengths and outer cross sectional dimensions, depending upon the application.
- the sheath 52 may be formed from a polymer, and the like, as long as it is sufficiently flexible for allowing the sheath 52 to be steered through a vessel.
- the sheath 52 may be electrically active or inactive, depending upon the manner in which electrical energy is to be applied.
- the sheath 52 coaxially surrounds the shaft 56 such that the shaft 56 may be advanced axially from or retracted axially into the lumen 54 of the sheath 52 .
- the shaft 56 can be made from any of a variety of elastic materials, such as a polymer, or a metal, as long as it is sufficiently elastic to be steered through a vessel.
- the shaft 56 can be a Nitinol tube having a plurality of openings for providing a desired flexibility for the tube, which is available at Boston Scientific Corporation, the Precision Vascular Division. In other cases, instead of being a tube, the shaft 56 can have a solid cross-section.
- a handle 64 may be provided on the proximal end 58 of the shaft 56 to facilitate manipulating the shaft 56 .
- the electrode tines 62 is compressed into a low profile when disposed within the lumen 54 of the sheath 52 , as shown in FIG. 2 . As shown in FIG.
- FIG. 3 shows an exemplary two-wire array including electrode tines 62 biased towards a generally “U” shape and substantially uniformly separated from one another about a longitudinal axis of the shaft 56 .
- each electrode tine 62 may have other shapes, such as a “J” shape, a flare shape, a bent shape, a parabolic shape, and/or the array may have one electrode tine 62 or more than two electrode tines 62 .
- the array may also have non-uniform spacing to produce an asymmetrical lesion.
- the electrode tines 62 are formed from spring wire, superelastic material, or other material, such as Nitinol, that may retain a shape memory. During use of the ablation assembly 50 , the electrode tines 62 are deployed into a target tissue region to deliver energy to the tissue to create a lesion. Ablation devices having a spreading array of electrode tines have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,576, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
- a marker may be placed on the handle 64 and/or on the proximal end 58 of the shaft 56 for indicating a rotational orientation of the shaft 56 during use.
- the ablation assembly 50 may also carry one or more radio-opaque markers (not shown) to assist positioning the ablation assembly 50 during a procedure, as is known in the art.
- the ablation assembly 50 may further include a radio opaque marker located at a distal end 70 of the sheath 52 or the shaft 56 .
- one or more of the electrode tines 62 may each carry a radio opaque element (e.g., a marker).
- the ablation assembly 50 may also include a sensor, e.g., a temperature sensor and/or an impedance sensor (not shown), carried by the distal end of the shaft 56 and/or one or more of the electrode tines 62 .
- the energy source 12 may be configured to control an amount of energy delivered to the electrode tines 62 based at least in part on a signal provided by the sensor.
- the ablation assembly 50 further include a steering mechanism 80 secured to the proximal end 72 of the sheath 52 for steering a distal end 70 of the sheath 52 .
- the steering mechanism 80 includes a rotatable cam and one or more steering wires (not shown) connected between the cam and the distal end 70 of the sheath 52 .
- the cam can be rotated to apply tension to a steering wire, thereby causing the distal end 70 of the sheath 52 to bend.
- Further details regarding the steering mechanism 80 are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,535, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. Steering devices that can be used with the ablation assembly 50 have also been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,254,088, 5,336,182, 5,358,478, 5,364,351, 5,395,327, 5,456,664, 5,531,686, 6,033,378, and 6,485,455, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
- the ablation assembly 50 does not include the steering mechanism 80 .
- a separate introducer sheath or introducer catheter may be used to gain access through a vessel.
- the introducer sheath may have a pre-bent distal end for assisting steering through a vessel.
- the introducer sheath may be steered using a guidewire in a conventional manner, or may include a steering mechanism, such as the steering mechanism 80 discussed previously, for steering its distal end.
- the introducer sheath/catheter can have a sharp distal tip for piercing tissue.
- the ablation assembly 50 can include a guidewire (not shown) to assist placement of the distal end 70 of the sheath 52 in a conventional manner.
- the guidewire may be located within the lumen 54 of the sheath 52 , or alternatively, located within another lumen (not shown) in the sheath 52 that is parallel to the lumen 54 .
- the ablation device 18 is not necessarily limited to the ablation assembly 50 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , and that the ablation device 18 may be selected from a variety of devices that are capable of delivering ablation or therapeutic energy.
- medical devices may also be used that are configured for delivering ultrasound energy, microwave energy, and/or other forms of energy for the purpose of ablation, which are well known in the art.
- the ablation assembly 50 also includes an electrode 90 secured to the sheath 52 .
- a wire (not shown) may be disposed within the wall of the sheath 52 to electrically couple the electrode 90 to the generator 12 during use.
- the electrode 90 and the array of electrodes 62 are connected to opposite terminals of the generator 12 for delivering energy to target tissue in a bipolar mode.
- the ablation assembly 50 does not include the electrode 90 ( FIG. 4 ).
- the system 10 further includes an electrode pad 92 electrically coupled to the generator 12 .
- the electrode pad 92 functions as a return electrode, and operates in conjunction with the ablation assembly 50 to deliver energy to target tissue in a monopolar mode.
- the ablation system 10 may be used to treat at least a portion, e.g., a target tissue TS, within a treatment region TR within tissue T located beneath skin or an organ surface S of a patient.
- a portion e.g., a target tissue TS
- the introducer sheath 100 can be inserted through a patient's skin and into a vessel V.
- the introducer sheath 100 is then steered through the vessel V in a conventional manner (e.g., using a guidewire or a steering mechanism) until its distal end 102 is at or adjacent to the treatment region TR.
- a conventional manner e.g., using a guidewire or a steering mechanism
- the sharp distal tip of the introducer sheath 100 can then be used to puncture the vessel V to gain access to the treatment region TR.
- the ablation assembly 50 is inserted into the introducer sheath 100 , and is advanced until the distal end 70 of the sheath 52 of the ablation assembly 50 reaches the treatment region TR ( FIG. 5B ).
- the ablation assembly 50 instead of using an introducer sheath/catheter 100 , if the ablation assembly 50 includes the steering mechanism 80 , the ablation assembly 50 can be inserted through a patient's skin and into the vessel V, and be steered to a desired location at or adjacent to the target region TR.
- a transjugular approach may be used, in which the distal end 70 is inserted through a jugular vein in the patient's neck. After the distal end 70 of the sheath 52 has been inserted through the patient's skin, the distal end 70 is then steered to the tissue T, such as a liver tissue, through the vessel V.
- the sheath 52 may be steered by using the guidewire in a conventional manner, or by applying tension to steering wire(s) (if the steering mechanism 80 is provided). If the sheath 52 has a sharp distal tip, it can be used to puncture the vessel V to allow the distal end 70 of the sheath 52 to gain access to the target region TR.
- a separate puncturing device such as a wire or a needle, can be inserted through the sheath 52 to puncture the vessel V.
- the shaft 56 of the ablation assembly 50 is then advanced distally, thereby deploying the array of electrode tines 62 from the distal end 70 of the sheath 52 into the target tissue TS at the target region TR.
- delivering the electrode tines 62 via the vessel V that leads to the target region TR is advantageous in that, if any bleeding occurs at the target region TR, it will do so back into the vessel V.
- the electrode tines 62 are deployed such the electrode tines 62 are located in close proximity (e.g., within 0.1 millimeter (mm) to 10 mm) to the vessel V.
- the distal ends of the electrode tines 62 are positioned among or around sub-branches (not shown) of the vessel V, thereby allowing ablation energy to be effectively delivered to the target tissue TS while minimizing, or at least reducing, the effect of the heat sink due to blood delivered to or from the target region TR.
- the distal ends 63 of the deployed electrode tines 62 are distal to the distal end of the vessel V.
- the distal ends 63 of the deployed electrode tines 62 may be proximal to the distal end of the vessel V such that the deployed electrode tines 62 at least partially circumscribe a portion of the vessel V.
- the electrode tines 62 are biased to curve radially outwardly as they are deployed from the sheath 52 .
- the shaft 56 of the ablation device 18 may be advanced sufficiently such that the electrode tines 62 fully deploy to circumscribe substantially tissue within the target tissue TS of treatment region TR, as shown in FIG. 5D .
- the electrode tines 62 may be only partially deployed or deployed incrementally in stages during a procedure.
- energy preferably RF electrical energy
- the generator 12 may deliver energy from the generator 12 to the wires 62 of the ablation device 18 , thereby substantially creating a lesion at the target tissue TS of the treatment region TR.
- the electrode 90 and the electrodes 62 will operate to deliver ablation energy in a bipolar mode. In such cases, ablation energy will flow between the electrode 90 and the array of electrodes 62 .
- the electrode pad 92 may be coupled to the opposite terminal (not shown) of the generator 12 , and is placed on the patient's skin in a conventional manner.
- the deployed electrodes 62 have distal ends 63 that point at least partially towards a proximal end (e.g., a component of the vector representing the direction in which the distal ends 63 point is towards a proximal end—e.g., towards the vessel V).
- a proximal end e.g., a component of the vector representing the direction in which the distal ends 63 point is towards a proximal end—e.g., towards the vessel V.
- the electrode tines 62 of the ablation device 18 may be retracted into the lumen 54 of the sheath 52 , and the ablation device 18 may be removed from the treatment region TR. In some cases, the entire treatment region TR may be ablated in a single pass. In other cases, if it is desired to perform further ablation to increase the lesion size or to create lesions at different site(s), e.g., at other target tissue TS, within the treatment region TR or elsewhere, the electrode tines 62 of the ablation device 18 may be introduced and deployed at different target site(s), and the same steps discussed previously may be repeated.
- the electrode tines 62 may be a single electrode made from a plurality of conductive components, or a plurality of electrodes.
- the term, “a plurality of electrodes” should not be limited to more than one electrode, and may include a single electrode having a plurality of conductive components/parts.
- the specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.
- the present inventions are intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the present inventions as defined by the claims.
Abstract
A method of treating a tissue region includes inserting a flexible sheath within a vessel, the vessel leading to a tissue region, placing a distal end of the sheath through a wall of the vessel to thereby position the distal end is at or adjacent the tissue region, deploying a plurality of electrodes from the distal end of the sheath such that tips of the deployed electrodes approximately face towards a proximal end, and delivering energy to the tissue region using the deployed electrodes.
Description
- 1. Field
- The field of the invention relates to medical devices, and more particularly, to medical devices and methods of their use for treating tumors or other targeted bodily tissue using electrical energy.
- 2. Background
- Tissue may be destroyed, ablated, or otherwise treated using thermal energy during various therapeutic procedures. Many forms of thermal energy may be imparted to tissue, such as radio frequency electrical energy, microwave electromagnetic energy, laser energy, acoustic energy, or thermal conduction.
- In particular, radio frequency ablation (RFA) may be used to treat patients with tissue anomalies, such as liver anomalies and many primary cancers, such as cancers of the stomach, bowel, pancreas, kidney and lung. RFA treatment involves the destroying undesirable cells by generating heat through agitation caused by the application of alternating electrical current (radio frequency energy) through the tissue.
- Various RF ablation devices have been suggested for this purpose. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,576 describes an ablation apparatus that includes a plurality of wire electrodes. Each of the wires includes a proximal end that is coupled to a generator; and a distal end that may project from a distal end of a cannula. The wires are arranged in an array with the distal ends located generally radially and uniformly spaced apart from the catheter distal end. The wires may be energized in a monopolar or bipolar configuration to heat and necrose tissue within a precisely defined volumetric region of target tissue. The current may flow between closely spaced wire electrodes (bipolar mode) or between one or more wire electrodes and a larger, common electrode (monopolar mode) located remotely from the tissue to be heated. To assure that the target tissue is adequately treated and/or to limit damaging adjacent healthy tissues, the array of wires may be arranged uniformly, e.g., substantially evenly and symmetrically spaced-apart so that heat is generated uniformly within the desired target tissue volume. Such devices may be used either in open surgical settings, in laparoscopic procedures, and/or in percutaneous interventions.
- Currently, tumor near a vessel may be difficult to ablate. This is because the vessel continuously provide blood to the tumor during an ablation procedure, thereby carrying heat away from a targeted region. As a result, it may be difficult to achieve a complete burn for the tumor near the vessel.
- In accordance with some embodiments, a method of treating a tissue region includes inserting a flexible sheath within a vessel, the vessel leading to a tissue region, placing a distal end of the sheath through a wall of the vessel to thereby position the distal end at or adjacent the tissue region, deploying a plurality of electrodes from the distal end of the sheath such that tips of the deployed electrodes approximately face towards a proximal end, and delivering energy to at least a portion of the tissue region using the deployed electrodes.
- In accordance with other embodiments, a system for treating tissue within a tissue region using electrical energy includes a flexible sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body extending between the proximal and the distal ends, wherein the body is sized such that it can be placed within a blood vessel, and has a length such that when placed within the blood vessel, the proximal end is outside a patient's body and the distal end is adjacent the tissue region, and an array of electrodes slidably disposed within a lumen of the sheath, wherein the sheath further has a sharp distal tip for puncturing a vessel.
- In other embodiments, a system for treating tissue within a tissue region using electrical energy includes a flexible sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body extending between the proximal and the distal ends, wherein the body is sized such that it can be placed within a blood vessel, and has a length such that when placed within the blood vessel, the proximal end is outside a patient's body and the distal end is adjacent the tissue region, a shaft having a body, the body having a wall and a plurality of openings through the wall, and an array of electrodes coupled to the shaft, and slidably disposed within a lumen of the sheath.
- Other aspects and features will be evident from reading the following detailed description of the embodiments.
- The drawings illustrate the design and utility of the illustrated embodiments, in which similar elements are referred to by common reference numerals. In order to better appreciate how advantages and objects of the embodiments are obtained, a more particular description of the embodiments is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
-
FIG. 1 illustrates a system for delivering electrical energy to tissue in accordance with some embodiments. -
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of an ablation device, showing electrode tines constrained within a sheath. -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the ablation device ofFIG. 2 , showing the electrode tines deployed from the sheath. -
FIG. 4 illustrates a system for delivering electrical energy to tissue in accordance with other embodiments. -
FIGS. 5A-5D are cross-sectional views, showing a method for treating tissue, in accordance with some embodiments. -
FIG. 1 shows anablation system 10, in accordance with some embodiments. Theablation system 10 includes a source ofenergy 12, e.g., a radio frequency (RF) generator, and anablation device 18 configured to be coupled to thegenerator 12 via acable 20 during use. - The
generator 12 is preferably capable of operating with a fixed or controlled voltage or current so that power and current diminish as impedance of the tissue being ablated increases. Exemplary generators are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,149, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. Thepreferred generator 12 may operate at relatively low fixed voltages, typically below one hundred fifty volts (150 V) peak-to-peak, and preferably between about fifty and one hundred volts (50-100 V). Such radio frequency generators are available from Boston Scientific Corporation, assignee of the present application, as well as from other commercial suppliers. It should be noted that thegenerator 12 is not limited to those that operate at the range of voltages discussed previously, and that generators capable of operating at other ranges of voltages may also be used. - Turning to
FIGS. 2 and 3 , in the illustrated embodiments, theablation device 18 ofFIG. 1 is aablation assembly 50 that includes asheath 52 having alumen 54, ashaft 56 having aproximal end 58 and adistal end 60, and a plurality of electrode tines (or wires) 62 secured to thedistal end 60 of theshaft 56. Theproximal end 58 of theshaft 56 may include a connector (not shown) for coupling to thegenerator 12. Alternatively, theablation assembly 50 may itself include a cable (not shown) on theproximal end 58 of theshaft 56, and a connector may be provided on the proximal end of the cable (not shown). - In the illustrated embodiments, the
sheath 52 has a length between about forty and one hundred and thirty centimeters (40-130 cm), and more preferably, between sixty and eighty (60-80 cm). Also, thesheath 52 has an outer diameter or cross sectional dimension between about one and five millimeters (1-5 mm), and more preferably, between two and four millimeters (2-4 mm). In one implementation, thesheath 52 is configured (e.g., sized and shaped) such that it can be inserted within a vessel (e.g., a jugular vein), and that a body of thecannula 52 can extend between aproximal end 72 located outside a patient's body and adistal end 70 located at or adjacent a target region, e.g., a liver, when thesheath 52 is inserted into a jugular vein. In other embodiments, thesheath 52 may also have other lengths and outer cross sectional dimensions, depending upon the application. Thesheath 52 may be formed from a polymer, and the like, as long as it is sufficiently flexible for allowing thesheath 52 to be steered through a vessel. Thesheath 52 may be electrically active or inactive, depending upon the manner in which electrical energy is to be applied. Thesheath 52 coaxially surrounds theshaft 56 such that theshaft 56 may be advanced axially from or retracted axially into thelumen 54 of thesheath 52. Theshaft 56 can be made from any of a variety of elastic materials, such as a polymer, or a metal, as long as it is sufficiently elastic to be steered through a vessel. For example, theshaft 56 can be a Nitinol tube having a plurality of openings for providing a desired flexibility for the tube, which is available at Boston Scientific Corporation, the Precision Vascular Division. In other cases, instead of being a tube, theshaft 56 can have a solid cross-section. Optionally, ahandle 64 may be provided on theproximal end 58 of theshaft 56 to facilitate manipulating theshaft 56. Theelectrode tines 62 is compressed into a low profile when disposed within thelumen 54 of thesheath 52, as shown inFIG. 2 . As shown inFIG. 3 , theproximal end 58 of theshaft 56 or the handle 64 (if one is provided) can be advanced to deploy thewires 62 from thelumen 54 of thesheath 52. When theelectrode tines 62 are unconfined outside thelumen 54 of thesheath 52, they assume a relaxed expanded configuration.FIG. 3 shows an exemplary two-wire array includingelectrode tines 62 biased towards a generally “U” shape and substantially uniformly separated from one another about a longitudinal axis of theshaft 56. Alternatively, eachelectrode tine 62 may have other shapes, such as a “J” shape, a flare shape, a bent shape, a parabolic shape, and/or the array may have oneelectrode tine 62 or more than twoelectrode tines 62. The array may also have non-uniform spacing to produce an asymmetrical lesion. In some embodiments, theelectrode tines 62 are formed from spring wire, superelastic material, or other material, such as Nitinol, that may retain a shape memory. During use of theablation assembly 50, theelectrode tines 62 are deployed into a target tissue region to deliver energy to the tissue to create a lesion. Ablation devices having a spreading array of electrode tines have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,576, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. - Optionally, a marker (not shown) may be placed on the
handle 64 and/or on theproximal end 58 of theshaft 56 for indicating a rotational orientation of theshaft 56 during use. In other embodiments, theablation assembly 50 may also carry one or more radio-opaque markers (not shown) to assist positioning theablation assembly 50 during a procedure, as is known in the art. For example, in some embodiments, theablation assembly 50 may further include a radio opaque marker located at adistal end 70 of thesheath 52 or theshaft 56. Alternatively or additionally, one or more of theelectrode tines 62 may each carry a radio opaque element (e.g., a marker). Optionally, theablation assembly 50 may also include a sensor, e.g., a temperature sensor and/or an impedance sensor (not shown), carried by the distal end of theshaft 56 and/or one or more of theelectrode tines 62. In such cases, theenergy source 12 may be configured to control an amount of energy delivered to theelectrode tines 62 based at least in part on a signal provided by the sensor. - In the illustrated embodiments, the
ablation assembly 50 further include asteering mechanism 80 secured to theproximal end 72 of thesheath 52 for steering adistal end 70 of thesheath 52. Thesteering mechanism 80 includes a rotatable cam and one or more steering wires (not shown) connected between the cam and thedistal end 70 of thesheath 52. During use, the cam can be rotated to apply tension to a steering wire, thereby causing thedistal end 70 of thesheath 52 to bend. Further details regarding thesteering mechanism 80 are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,535, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. Steering devices that can be used with theablation assembly 50 have also been described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,254,088, 5,336,182, 5,358,478, 5,364,351, 5,395,327, 5,456,664, 5,531,686, 6,033,378, and 6,485,455, the entire disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein. - In other embodiments, the
ablation assembly 50 does not include thesteering mechanism 80. In such cases, a separate introducer sheath or introducer catheter may be used to gain access through a vessel. The introducer sheath may have a pre-bent distal end for assisting steering through a vessel. Alternatively, the introducer sheath may be steered using a guidewire in a conventional manner, or may include a steering mechanism, such as thesteering mechanism 80 discussed previously, for steering its distal end. In some embodiments, the introducer sheath/catheter can have a sharp distal tip for piercing tissue. - In other embodiments, the
ablation assembly 50 can include a guidewire (not shown) to assist placement of thedistal end 70 of thesheath 52 in a conventional manner. The guidewire may be located within thelumen 54 of thesheath 52, or alternatively, located within another lumen (not shown) in thesheath 52 that is parallel to thelumen 54. - It should be noted that the
ablation device 18 is not necessarily limited to theablation assembly 50 shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 , and that theablation device 18 may be selected from a variety of devices that are capable of delivering ablation or therapeutic energy. For example, medical devices may also be used that are configured for delivering ultrasound energy, microwave energy, and/or other forms of energy for the purpose of ablation, which are well known in the art. In the illustrated embodiments, theablation assembly 50 also includes anelectrode 90 secured to thesheath 52. A wire (not shown) may be disposed within the wall of thesheath 52 to electrically couple theelectrode 90 to thegenerator 12 during use. Theelectrode 90 and the array ofelectrodes 62 are connected to opposite terminals of thegenerator 12 for delivering energy to target tissue in a bipolar mode. In other embodiments, theablation assembly 50 does not include the electrode 90 (FIG. 4 ). In such cases, thesystem 10 further includes anelectrode pad 92 electrically coupled to thegenerator 12. Theelectrode pad 92 functions as a return electrode, and operates in conjunction with theablation assembly 50 to deliver energy to target tissue in a monopolar mode. - Referring now to
FIGS. 5A-5D , theablation system 10 may be used to treat at least a portion, e.g., a target tissue TS, within a treatment region TR within tissue T located beneath skin or an organ surface S of a patient. First, if an introducer sheath/catheter 100 is provided, theintroducer sheath 100 can be inserted through a patient's skin and into a vessel V. Theintroducer sheath 100 is then steered through the vessel V in a conventional manner (e.g., using a guidewire or a steering mechanism) until itsdistal end 102 is at or adjacent to the treatment region TR. As shown inFIG. 5A , the sharp distal tip of theintroducer sheath 100 can then be used to puncture the vessel V to gain access to the treatment region TR. Next, theablation assembly 50 is inserted into theintroducer sheath 100, and is advanced until thedistal end 70 of thesheath 52 of theablation assembly 50 reaches the treatment region TR (FIG. 5B ). In other embodiments, instead of using an introducer sheath/catheter 100, if theablation assembly 50 includes thesteering mechanism 80, theablation assembly 50 can be inserted through a patient's skin and into the vessel V, and be steered to a desired location at or adjacent to the target region TR. In one implementation, a transjugular approach may be used, in which thedistal end 70 is inserted through a jugular vein in the patient's neck. After thedistal end 70 of thesheath 52 has been inserted through the patient's skin, thedistal end 70 is then steered to the tissue T, such as a liver tissue, through the vessel V. Thesheath 52 may be steered by using the guidewire in a conventional manner, or by applying tension to steering wire(s) (if thesteering mechanism 80 is provided). If thesheath 52 has a sharp distal tip, it can be used to puncture the vessel V to allow thedistal end 70 of thesheath 52 to gain access to the target region TR. In other embodiments, a separate puncturing device, such as a wire or a needle, can be inserted through thesheath 52 to puncture the vessel V. - Turning to
FIG. 5C , after thesheath 52 is properly placed, theshaft 56 of theablation assembly 50 is then advanced distally, thereby deploying the array ofelectrode tines 62 from thedistal end 70 of thesheath 52 into the target tissue TS at the target region TR. As illustrated, delivering theelectrode tines 62 via the vessel V that leads to the target region TR is advantageous in that, if any bleeding occurs at the target region TR, it will do so back into the vessel V. In the illustrated embodiments, theelectrode tines 62 are deployed such theelectrode tines 62 are located in close proximity (e.g., within 0.1 millimeter (mm) to 10 mm) to the vessel V. In such arrangement, the distal ends of theelectrode tines 62 are positioned among or around sub-branches (not shown) of the vessel V, thereby allowing ablation energy to be effectively delivered to the target tissue TS while minimizing, or at least reducing, the effect of the heat sink due to blood delivered to or from the target region TR. As shown in the figure, the distal ends 63 of the deployedelectrode tines 62 are distal to the distal end of the vessel V. Alternatively, the distal ends 63 of the deployedelectrode tines 62 may be proximal to the distal end of the vessel V such that the deployedelectrode tines 62 at least partially circumscribe a portion of the vessel V. Preferably, theelectrode tines 62 are biased to curve radially outwardly as they are deployed from thesheath 52. Theshaft 56 of theablation device 18 may be advanced sufficiently such that theelectrode tines 62 fully deploy to circumscribe substantially tissue within the target tissue TS of treatment region TR, as shown inFIG. 5D . Alternatively, theelectrode tines 62 may be only partially deployed or deployed incrementally in stages during a procedure. - Next, energy, preferably RF electrical energy, may be delivered from the
generator 12 to thewires 62 of theablation device 18, thereby substantially creating a lesion at the target tissue TS of the treatment region TR. If the system ofFIG. 1 is used, theelectrode 90 and theelectrodes 62 will operate to deliver ablation energy in a bipolar mode. In such cases, ablation energy will flow between theelectrode 90 and the array ofelectrodes 62. Alternatively, if the system ofFIG. 4 is used, theelectrode pad 92 may be coupled to the opposite terminal (not shown) of thegenerator 12, and is placed on the patient's skin in a conventional manner. In such cases, ablation energy will flow between theelectrode pad 92 and theelectrodes 62, thereby delivering ablation energy in a monopolar manner. As shown in the figure, the deployedelectrodes 62 have distal ends 63 that point at least partially towards a proximal end (e.g., a component of the vector representing the direction in which the distal ends 63 point is towards a proximal end—e.g., towards the vessel V). Such configuration allows the ablation energy to be effectively delivered to the target tissue TS while minimizing, or at least reducing, the heat sink effect resulted from blood flowing to or from the vessel V. - When a desired lesion at the target tissue TS of the treatment region TR has been created, the
electrode tines 62 of theablation device 18 may be retracted into thelumen 54 of thesheath 52, and theablation device 18 may be removed from the treatment region TR. In some cases, the entire treatment region TR may be ablated in a single pass. In other cases, if it is desired to perform further ablation to increase the lesion size or to create lesions at different site(s), e.g., at other target tissue TS, within the treatment region TR or elsewhere, theelectrode tines 62 of theablation device 18 may be introduced and deployed at different target site(s), and the same steps discussed previously may be repeated. - Although particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the present inventions to the preferred embodiments, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventions. For example, the
electrode tines 62 may be a single electrode made from a plurality of conductive components, or a plurality of electrodes. As such, the term, “a plurality of electrodes” should not be limited to more than one electrode, and may include a single electrode having a plurality of conductive components/parts. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. The present inventions are intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the present inventions as defined by the claims.
Claims (21)
1-21. (canceled)
22. A system for treating tissue within a tissue region surrounding a vessel or lumen using electrical energy, comprising:
a flexible sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body extending between the proximal and the distal ends, wherein the body is sized such that it can be placed within a vessel or lumen, and has a length such that when placed within the vessel or lumen, the proximal end is outside a patient's body and the distal end is adjacent the tissue region;
an elastic shaft configured for slidable movement within the vessel or lumen, the sheath and elastic shaft having sufficient flexible for allowing the sheath and shaft to be steered through the vessel or lumen; and
an array of biased electrodes tines disposed at a distal end of the elastic shaft, the array of biased electrodes having a compressed, low profile configuration when in the vessel or lumen and a relaxed, expanded configuration when outside the vessel or lumen such that tips of the electrode tines face proximally.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the sheath comprises a sharp distal tip configured for puncturing the vessel or lumen.
24. The system of claim 22 , wherein the sheath has a length that is between 40 cm and 130 cm.
25. The system of claim 22 , wherein the electrode tines have uniform spacing between adjacent electrode tines.
26. The system of claim 22 , wherein the electrode tines have non-uniform spacing between adjacent electrode tines.
27. The system of claim 22 , further comprising a steering device secured to a proximal end of the flexible sheath and configured to steer the distal end of the sheath.
28. The system of claim 27 , the steering device comprising a rotatable cam and one or more steering wires extending from the rotatable cam to the distal end of the sheath.
29. The system of claim 22 , wherein the distal end of the flexible sheath comprises a pre-bent portion.
30. The system of claim 22 , further comprising a guidewire disposed within a lumen of the sheath.
31. The system of claim 22 , further comprising a radio opaque marker located at the distal end of the sheath.
32. The system of claim 22 , further comprising a marker disposed on the proximal end of the flexible shaft.
33. The system of claim 22 , further comprising an electrode located at the distal end of the sheath.
34. The system of claim 22 , wherein the electrode tines are configured to at least partially circumscribe a portion of the vessel or lumen when deployed from the flexible sheath.
35. The system of claim 22 , further comprising a sensor disposed at the distal end of the flexible sheath.
36. The system of claim 35 , wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor.
37. The system of claim 35 , wherein the sensor comprises an impedance sensor.
38. A system for treating tissue within a tissue region surrounding a vessel or lumen using electrical energy, comprising:
a flexible sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body extending between the proximal and the distal ends, wherein the body is sized such that it can be placed within a vessel or lumen, and has a length such that when placed within the vessel or lumen, the proximal end is outside a patient's body and the distal end is adjacent the tissue region, the body including a wall having a plurality of openings passing through the wall and configured to increase the flexibility of the sheath;
an elastic shaft configured for slidable movement within the vessel or lumen, the sheath and elastic shaft having sufficient flexible for allowing the sheath and shaft to be steered through the vessel or lumen; and
an array of biased electrodes tines disposed at a distal end of the elastic shaft, the array of biased electrodes having a compressed, low profile configuration when in the vessel or lumen and a relaxed, expanded configuration when outside the vessel or lumen.
39. The system of claim 38 , further comprising a sharp distal tip configured for puncturing the vessel or lumen.
40. The system of claim 38 , further comprising a steering device secured to a proximal end of the flexible sheath and configured to steer the distal end of the sheath.
41. The system of claim 38 , wherein the electrode tines are configured to at least partially circumscribe a portion of the vessel or lumen when deployed from the flexible sheath.
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US20060293738A1 (en) | 2006-12-28 |
US20140221992A1 (en) | 2014-08-07 |
WO2007001741A1 (en) | 2007-01-04 |
US7615050B2 (en) | 2009-11-10 |
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