US6017338A
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US
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Fluid cooled and perfused tip for a catheter
Assignee: Biosense Webster Inc
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Filing: 1995-06-30
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Granted: 2000-01-25
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Expires: 2015-06-30
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to an ablation catheter which controls the temperature and reduces the coagulation of biological fluids on a tip of a catheter, prevents the impedance rise of tissue in contact with the catheter tip, and maximizes the potential energy transfer to the tissue, thereby allowing an increase in the lesion size produced by the ablation. The ablation catheter includes a catheter body. The ablation catheter also includes a tip for monitoring electrical potentials, and applying electrical energy to a biological tissue. A fluid source is positioned at one end of the catheter for supplying a fluid flow through the catheter to the tip means. Passages are positioned within the tip in a variety of manners for directing the fluid flow through the tip means to the exterior surface of the tip to control the temperature and form a protective fluid layer around the tip. Monitoring structure is also positioned within the tip structure for measurement of the electrical potentials in a biological tissue. Ablation structure is also positioned within the tip for application of ablative energy to the biological tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory G. Brucker
- 👤 Jerome Philip Saul
- 👤 Steven D. Savage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 07:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1492; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/283; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0068; A61M25/0069; A61M25/0082; A61B18/1402; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22038; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00065; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00357; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00982; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/1253; A61B2018/1467; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/3094; A61F2002/30968; A61M1/00; A61M1/84; A61M1/85; A61M2025/0073
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An ablation catheter that reduces coagulation of biological materials on a tip of the catheter by precluding ablation-inhibiting impedance rise of biological tissue adjacent the tip, the ablation catheter comprising: a tip positioned at a distal end of the catheter to monitor electrical potentials and to apply ablation energy to a biological tissue, the tip having an exterior surface; a fluid source positioned to supply a fluid flow through the catheter to the tip; and structure defining a plurality of passages comprising interconnected interstitial spaces within the tip to direct fluid flow through the tip toward the exterior surface of the tip and to preclude ablation-inhibiting impedance rise of biological tissue adjacent the tip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An ablation catheter that reduces coagulation of biological materials on a tip of the catheter by precluding ablation-inhibiting impedance rise of biological tissue adjacent the tip, the ablation catheter comprising: a tip positioned at a distal end of the catheter to monitor electrical potentials and to apply ablation energy to a biological tissue, the tip having an exterior surface; a fluid source positioned to supply a fluid flow through the catheter to the tip; and structure defining a plurality of passages comprising interconnected interstitial spaces within the tip to direct fluid flow through the tip toward the exterior surface of the tip and to preclude ablation-inhibiting impedance rise of biological tissue adjacent the tip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1, further comprising ablation means at the tip for applying the ablation energy to the biological tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1, further comprising monitoring means at the tip for measuring electrical potentials within the biological tissue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1, wherein the structure defining the plurality of passages provides a fluid protective layer to minimize contact of the tip with biological materials.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The ablation catheter of claim 1, wherein the tip applies at least 100 W of ablation energy to the tissue while the structure defining a plurality of passages directs fluid flow toward the exterior surface at a rate of no more than 15 ml/min.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
A catheter tip for signal measurement and monitoring, the catheter tip comprising: an exterior surface; means for providing fluid communication and commensurate flow of fluid from inside the tip to portions of the exterior surface of the tip through a plurality of randomly formed passages that direct the fluid flow from inside the tip over the exterior surface of tip; and monitoring means within the tip for measurement of electrical potentials in a biological tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
A catheter tip for signal measurement and monitoring, the catheter tip comprising: an exterior surface; means for providing fluid communication and commensurate flow of fluid from inside the tip to portions of the exterior surface of the tip through a plurality of randomly formed passages that direct the fluid flow from inside the tip over the exterior surface of tip; and monitoring means within the tip for measurement of electrical potentials in a biological tissue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The catheter tip of claim 6, wherein the means for providing fluid communication and flow provides a fluid protective layer at the exterior surface of the tip to minimize contact of the tip with biological materials.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter tip of claim 7, wherein the fluid protective layer is a continuous fluid protective layer surrounding the tip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter tip of claim 8, wherein the fluid protective layer covers the entire exterior surface of the tip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter tip of claim 6, wherein the means for providing fluid communication and flow cools the tip to cool biological tissue adjacent the tip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The catheter tip of claim 6, wherein the means for providing fluid communication and flow comprises structure defining a plurality of randomly disposed interstitial spaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
An ablation catheter for delivering ablation energy to biological tissue, the ablation catheter comprising: a tip disposed at a distal end of the ablation catheter to deliver at least 70 W of ablation energy to the tissue, the tip having an exterior; a fluid source disposed at a proximal end of the ablation catheter; an internal lumen extending through the catheter to provide fluid communication between the fluid source and the tip; and path structure within the tip to direct fluid flow from the internal lumen toward the exterior of the tip at a flow rate of no more than 10 ml/min for 70 W of ablation energy, the catheter precluding ablation-inhibiting impedance rise.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
114 words
An ablation catheter for delivering ablation energy to biological tissue, the ablation catheter comprising: a tip disposed at a distal end of the ablation catheter to deliver at least 70 W of ablation energy to the tissue, the tip having an exterior; a fluid source disposed at a proximal end of the ablation catheter; an internal lumen extending through the catheter to provide fluid communication between the fluid source and the tip; and path structure within the tip to direct fluid flow from the internal lumen toward the exterior of the tip at a flow rate of no more than 10 ml/min for 70 W of ablation energy, the catheter precluding ablation-inhibiting impedance rise.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ablation catheter of claim 12, wherein the path structure directs fluid flow evenly over the exterior of the tip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The ablation catheter of claim 13, wherein the path structure directs the fluid flow to form a protective layer over the exterior of the tip.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ablation catheter of claim 14, wherein the protective fluid layer is a continuous layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The ablation catheter of claim 14, wherein the protective fluid layer surrounds the tip.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ablation catheter of claim 12, wherein fluid flow through the path structure cools the tip.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ablation structure of claim 12, wherein the path structure provides a specific flow of at least 0.29 ml/mm 2 /min. for a 10 ml/min. flow rate and at least 70 W of delivered ablation energy.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
130 words
An ablation catheter for application of energy to biological tissue, the ablation catheter comprising: a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen; a tip at the distal end of the catheter, the tip including at least one electrode through which ablative energy is applied to the biological tissue, the electrode having an external surface; a plurality of fluid paths disposed through the electrode, the fluid paths being generally between 5 and 20 microns in diameter and being constructed to direct fluid from the lumen through the electrode to the external surface of the electrode to form a protective layer of fluid around the electrode; and a fluid source for directing fluid through the lumen and the plurality of fluid paths to the external surface of the electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
130 words
An ablation catheter for application of energy to biological tissue, the ablation catheter comprising: a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen; a tip at the distal end of the catheter, the tip including at least one electrode through which ablative energy is applied to the biological tissue, the electrode having an external surface; a plurality of fluid paths disposed through the electrode, the fluid paths being generally between 5 and 20 microns in diameter and being constructed to direct fluid from the lumen through the electrode to the external surface of the electrode to form a protective layer of fluid around the electrode; and a fluid source for directing fluid through the lumen and the plurality of fluid paths to the external surface of the electrode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The ablation catheter of claim 19, wherein the electrode comprises a ring electrode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The catheter of claim 19, wherein the electrode comprises a microporous structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-24 | 2003-07-26 | 2004-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-24 | 2007-07-26 | 2008-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-24 | 2011-07-26 | 2012-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |