Ablation probe with ultrasonic imaging capability

An ablation probe for treating and imaging body tissue, the ablation probe comprising:

• an elongate probe body having a proximal section and a distal section;
• an ablation electrode tip coupled to the distal section of the elongate probe body, the ablation electrode tip including an ablation electrode configured for delivering ablation energy to body tissue;
• a plurality of acoustic openings disposed through the ablation electrode tip;
• a distal tip insert disposed within an interior lumen of the ablation electrode tip, the distal tip insert separating the interior lumen into a proximal fluid chamber and a distal fluid chamber;
• a plurality of laterally-facing ultrasonic imaging sensors each coupled to a corresponding recess within the distal tip insert, the laterally-facing ultrasonic imaging sensors each configured to transmit ultrasonic waves from a side of the ablation electrode tip;
• a plurality of fluid channels disposed about an outer extent of the distal tip insert and circumferentially offset from the ultrasonic imaging sensors;
• and
• a distally-facing ultrasonic imaging sensor coupled to the distal insert, the distally-facing ultrasonic imaging sensor configured for transmitting ultrasonic waves in a forward direction away from a distal end of the ablation electrode tip.

An ablation and ultrasound imaging system, comprising:

• a probe configured for delivering ablation energy to body tissue, the probe comprising:
• an ablation electrode tip;
• a plurality of acoustic openings disposed through the ablation electrode tip;
• a distal tip insert disposed within an interior lumen of the ablation electrode tip, the distal tip insert including a plurality of fluid channels;
• and
• a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors coupled to the distal tip insert, the ultrasonic imaging sensors configured to transmit ultrasonic waves through the acoustic openings;
• an ablation therapy module configured for generating and supplying an electrical signal to the ablation electrode tip;
• and
• an ultrasound imaging module configured for processing ultrasonic imaging signals received from the ultrasonic imaging sensors.