Detecting coagulum formation
AssigneeMedtronics, Inc.
InventorOlaf Eick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques for detecting coagulum formation on an ablation electrode make use of an ablation electrode that is connected to a radio-frequency (RF) generator capable of applying a small amount of RF energy that is not cell destructive. The temperature at the ablation electrode can be precisely measured using a thermosensor incorporated within the ablation electrode. Before and after actual ablation, a low, non-cell destructing (non-ablating) amount of RF energy is generated at the ablation electrode. If no coagulum has formed during actual ablation, the temperature increase during this test application will be similar before and after the ablation attempt. If coagulum has formed during the actual ablation, however, the temperature increase during the test application after ablation will be significantly higher.
Claims58
A system comprising:
- a temperature sensor to measure temperature at a surgical electrode;
- and
- a circuit to compare first and second temperatures measured at the electrode and to indicate the presence or absence of coagulum at the electrode based on the comparison.
A system comprising:
- a temperature sensor to measure temperatures at a surgical electrode;
- a power source coupled to the electrode;
- control circuitry that controls the power source to deliver energy to the electrode a first and second time;
- and
- measurement circuitry that compare first and second temperatures measured at the electrode, and indicates the presence or absence of coagulum at the electrode based on the comparison.
A system comprising:
- a temperature sensor to measure temperatures at a surgical electrode and generate a temperature signal as a function of the temperatures;
- and
- a circuit to measure a first and second slope of the temperature signal, to compare the first and second slope, and to indicate the presence or absence of coagulum at the electrode based on the comparison.
A system comprising:
- a temperature sensor to measure temperatures at a surgical electrode and generate a temperature signal as a function of the temperatures;
- and
- a circuit to integrate the temperature signal and to indicate the presence or absence of coagulum at the electrode as a function of a result of the integration.
A method comprising:
- measuring temperatures at a surgical electrode;
- comparing first and second temperature measured at the electrode;
- and
- indicating the presence or absence of coagulum at the electrode based on the comparison.
A method comprising:
- delivering energy to a surgical electrode a first and second time;
- measuring temperatures at the electrode;
- measuring a first time interval from a time when the first delivery of energy begins to a time when a first temperature is measured at the electrode;
- measuring a second time interval from a time when the second delivery of energy begins to a time when a second temperature is measured at the electrode;
- comparing the first and second time interval;
- and
- indicating the presence or absence of coagulum at the electrode based on the comparison.
A method comprising:
- delivering energy to an electrode at a first and second time;
- measuring temperatures at the electrode;
- measuring a first time interval from a time when the first delivery of energy ends to a time when a first temperature is measured at the electrode;
- measuring a second time interval from a time when the second delivery of energy ends to a time when a second temperature is measured at the electrode;
- comparing the first and second time interval;
- and indicating the presence or absence of coagulum at the electrode based on the comparison.
A method comprising:
- receiving a temperature signal that is a function of temperatures measured at a surgical electrode;
- measuring first and second slope of the temperature signal;
- comparing first and second slope;
- and
- indicating the presence or absence of coagulum at the electrode based on the comparison.
A method comprising:
- receiving a temperature signal that is a function of temperatures measured at a surgical electrode;
- integrating the temperature signal;
- and
- indicating the presence or absence of coagulum at the electrode based on a result of the integration.
A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to:
- receive temperatures measured by a temperature sensor at a surgical electrode;
- compare first and second temperature measured at the electrode;
- and
- indicate the presence or absence of coagulum at the electrode based on the comparison.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.