Catheters for imaging, sensing electrical potentials, and ablating tissue
US6004269A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2090/3782
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An acoustic imaging system for use within a heart has a catheter (6), an ultrasound device (10) incorporated into the catheter (6), and an electrode (300, 304, 334, 394) mounted on the catheter (6). The ultrasound device (10) directs ultrasonic signals toward an internal structure in the heart to create an ultrasonic image, and the electrode (300, 304, 334, 394) is arranged for electrical contact with the internal structure. A chemical ablation device (55, 86, 314, 396) mounted on the catheter (6) ablates at least a portion of the internal structure by delivery of fluid to the internal structure. The ablation device (55) may include a material that vibrates in response to electrical excitation, the ablation being at least assisted by vibration of the material. The ablation device may alternatively be a transducer (414) incorporated into the catheter (6), arranged to convert electrical signals into radiation and to direct the radiation toward the internal structure. The electrode may be a sonolucent structure (304, 334) incorporated into the catheter (6).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.