Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090312754 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING CATHETER CONTACT FORCE DURING A MEDICAL PROCEDURE - A method for measuring the contact force exerted on tissue by a probe for heating the tissue and containing an antenna which is connected to a radiometer whose output reading indicates the temperature at depth of the tissue contacted by the probe comprises displaying the output reading of the radiometer, applying sufficient power to the probe to heat the tissue to a selected first temperature that is not lethal to the tissue, moving the probe into contact with the tissue, observing the increase in the displayed temperature reading that occurs when the probe contacts the tissue, and advancing the probe toward the tissue until the displayed temperature reading reaches a value corresponding to a selected tissue contact force. After the probe position in the tissue has stabilized, the applied power to the probe may be increased to heat the tissue to a selected second temperature that is lethal to tissue for a sufficient time to ablate the tissue followed by lowering the tissue heating to a sub-lethal temperature. Apparatus for practicing the method is also disclosed. | 12-17-2009 |
20120035603 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINIMIZING THERMAL TRAUMA TO AN ORGAN DURING TISSUE ABLATION OF A DIFFERENT ORGAN - A method of minimizing thermal trauma during tissue ablation includes the steps of placing an ablation catheter at an ablation site on a first organ in a patient's body, providing energy to the ablation catheter to heat first organ tissue at the ablation site, providing microwave radiometry apparatus including a probe containing a microwave antenna and a radiometer responsive to the antenna output for producing a temperature signal corresponding to the thermal radiation picked up by the antenna and positioning the probe in a body passage of a second organ in the patient's body having a wall portion adjacent to the ablation site so that the microwave antenna is located at a measurement site opposite the ablation site. Using the radiometry apparatus, the temperature at depth in the second organ tissue at the measurement site is measured to provide a corresponding temperature signal, and the ablation catheter is controlled in response to the temperature signal to maintain the temperature of the second organ tissue below a predetermined value that does not result in thermal trauma to the second organ tissue. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed. | 02-09-2012 |
20130204240 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RADIOMETRICALLY MEASURING TEMPERATURE DURING TISSUE ABLATION - The present invention provides systems and methods for radiometrically measuring temperature during ablation. An interface module includes a processor; a first input/output (I/O) port configured to receive digital radiometer and thermocouple signals from an integrated catheter tip (ICT) that includes a radiometer; a second I/O port configured to receive ablative energy from an electrosurgical generator; a temperature display; a patient relay in communication with the first and second I/O ports and the processor; and a computer-readable medium storing radiometer and thermocouple operation parameters and instructions for causing the processor to: calculate a temperature adjacent to the ICT based on the radiometer and thermocouple signals and the operation parameters, causing the temperature display to display the calculated temperature, and closing the patient relay so as to pass ablative energy received on the second I/O port to the first I/O port. | 08-08-2013 |
20130324993 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RADIOMETRICALLY MEASURING TEMPERATURE AND DETECTING TISSUE CONTACT PRIOR TO AND DURING TISSUE ABLATION - The present invention provides systems and methods for radiometrically measuring temperature and detecting tissue contact during ablation. An interface module includes a first input/output (I/O) port for receiving radiometer and thermocouple signals from an integrated catheter tip (ICT) that includes a radiometer; a second I/O port for receiving ablative energy from an electrosurgical generator; a temperature display; a patient relay; a computer-readable medium storing radiometer and thermocouple parameters and instructions for causing the processor to: calculate a temperature adjacent to the ICT based on the radiometer and thermocouple signals and the parameters; causing the temperature display to display the calculated temperature; closing the patient relay to pass ablative energy from the second to the first I/O port; determining whether the ICT is in contact with tissue based on the radiometer signal. An output device indicates whether the ICT is determined to be in contact with the tissue. | 12-05-2013 |
20140249521 | METHODS OF DETERMINING TISSUE CONTACT BASED ON RADIOMETRIC SIGNALS - Methods and systems are provided for detecting tissue contact prior to and/or during energy delivery to tissue. For example, the methods may include calculating temperature and detecting tissue contact based on signal(s) received from a radiometer. The radiometer may provide information about whether a treatment device is in contact with the tissue, and thus provide feedback to assist a clinician in properly contacting and treating the tissue. | 09-04-2014 |
20140303610 | METHODS OF AUTOMATICALLY REGULATING OPERATION OF ABLATION MEMBERS BASED ON DETERMINED TEMPERATURES - Methods and systems for treating tissue that employ a radiometer for temperature measurements and use feedback from the radiometer to regulate energy being applied to the tissue are provided. For example, methods and systems are provided for calculating temperature based on signal(s) from a radiometer, which may provide useful information about tissue temperature at depth, and automatically regulating energy applied to the tissue based on the tissue temperature. | 10-09-2014 |
20140303614 | METHODS OF DETERMINING TISSUE TEMPERATURES IN ENERGY DELIVERY PROCEDURES - Methods and systems for treating tissue that employ a radiometer for measurement and/or control are provided. For example, methods and systems are provided for radiometrically measuring temperature, such as by calculating temperature based on signal(s) from a radiometer, thereby providing useful information about tissue temperature at depth, even during an optional irrigated procedure. | 10-09-2014 |
20150342676 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MEASURING TEMPERATURE OF TISSUE DURING AN ABLATION PROCEDURE - The present invention provides systems and methods for radiometrically measuring temperature during ablation. An interface module includes a processor; a first input/output (I/O) port configured to receive digital radiometer and thermocouple signals from an integrated catheter tip (ICT) that includes a radiometer; a second I/O port configured to receive ablative energy from an electrosurgical generator; a temperature display; a patient relay in communication with the first and second I/O ports and the processor; and a computer-readable medium storing radiometer and thermocouple operation parameters and instructions for causing the processor to: calculate a temperature adjacent to the ICT based on the radiometer and thermocouple signals and the operation parameters, causing the temperature display to display the calculated temperature, and closing the patient relay so as to pass ablative energy received on the second I/O port to the first I/O port. | 12-03-2015 |