Method and apparatus for aligning an ablation catheter and a temperature probe during an ablation procedure
US8731684B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 20, 2009 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01K13/20
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus for aligning an ablation catheter and a temperature probe relatively for an ablation procedure includes an ablation catheter with a first antenna for ablating tissue at an ablation site in a patient's body and a temperature probe for placement in a body passage having a wall portion adjacent to the ablation site so that a second antenna in the probe is positioned opposite the first antenna. A microwave source provides a pulse modulated microwave signal to one of the antennas and a radiometer is in circuit with the other antenna. A synchronizing device in circuit with the microwave source and the radiometer enables the radiometer to synchronously detect the microwave signal so that the radiometer provides an alignment signal whose strength reflects the degree of alignment of the first and second antennas which signal may be used to control an alignment display. An alignment method using the apparatus is also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.