Radio frequency guide wire assembly with optical coherence reflectometry guidance

A bi-polar guide wire assembly comprising:

• an inner guide wire comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a bore extending therethrough between said distal end and said proximal end;
• an optical fiber comprising a distal end and a proximal end and located within said bore of said inner guide wire, said optical fiber extending at least from said distal end of said inner guide wire to said proximal end of said inner guide wire;
• an insulating layer comprising a distal end and a proximal end, said insulating layer surrounding said inner guide wire;
• and
• an outer guide wire having a distal end, a proximal end, and a bore extending therethrough between said distal end and said proximal end, said inner guide wire, said optical fiber, and said insulating layer positioned within said bore of said outer guide wire.

A radio frequency (RF) ablation apparatus comprising:

• a guide wire assembly;
• an optical coherence reflectometer optically connected to an proximal end of said guide wire assembly;
• and
• an RF power source electrically connected between said guide wire assembly and a return path for RF power.

A method for controlling an ablation process, using a radio frequency (RF) ablation system, the system including a radio frequency power section, an optical coherence reflectometer, a guide wire assembly optically connected to the reflectometer and electrically connected to the RF power source, the electrical connection being controlled through a control switch, said method comprising:

• threading a distal tip of the guide wire assembly through diseased artery segments to lesions by percutaneous induction through a body extremity;
• using OCR imaging to assure an operator that the distal tip is against a lesion;
• ablating the lesion by applying RF power at the distal tip of the guide wire assembly;
• and
• removing RF power upon an OCR detection of healthy tissue near the distal tip of the guide wire assembly.

A method for performing a transmyocardial revascularization procedure using a radio frequency (RF) ablation system, the system including a radio frequency power section, an optical coherence reflectometer (OCR), a guide wire assembly optically connected to the reflectometer and electrically connected to the RF power source, the electrical connection being controlled through a control switch, said method comprising:

• threading a distal tip of the guide wire assembly to an inner wall surface of a left ventricle of a heart;
• applying RF power to the distal tip;
• ablating a hole within the inner wall surface;
• and
• using a signal from the OCR to stop ablation when an interface between a myocardium and epicardium is approached.