Prevention of steam pops during ablation
AssigneeBiosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
InventorsAssaf Govari, Christopher Thomas Beeckler, Joseph Thomas Keyes, Athanassios Papaioannou
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Tissue ablation is carried out using a probe having a distal conductive cap. At least one optical fiber is contained within the probe and terminates in proximity to an outer surface of the conductive cap. The optical fiber conveys optical radiation to the tissue while the power generator is activated and receives reflected optical radiation. An optical module measures the received reflected optical radiation, and a processor linked to the optical module analyzes the reflected optical radiation to determine impending steam pop events.
Claims11
An apparatus, comprising:
- an ablation power generator of ablative electrical energy;
- an insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into proximity with tissue in a body of a patient and containing a lumen comprising an electrical conductor for conveying the ablative electrical energy to the tissue;
- a conductive cap attached to the distal end of the insertion tube and coupled electrically to the electrical conductor;
- at least one optical fiber contained within the insertion tube and terminating in proximity to an outer surface of the conductive cap and being configured to convey optical radiation to the tissue while the ablation power generator is activated and electrical energy is conveyed to the tissue and to receive reflected optical radiation via the at least one optical fiber;
- an optical module for measuring the received reflected optical radiation;
- and
- a processor linked to the optical module for analyzing the reflected optical radiation.
A method, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting ablative electrical energy to tissue in a body of a living subject through an insertion tube having a distal end configured for insertion into proximity with the tissue and containing a lumen comprising an electrical conductor for conveying the ablative electrical energy to the tissue, the insertion tube having a conductive cap attached to the distal end of the insertion tube and coupled electrically to the electrical conductor;
- conveying optical radiation to the tissue through at least one optical fiber terminating in proximity to an outer surface of the conductive cap while conveying the ablative electrical energy to the tissue;
- receiving reflected optical radiation via the at least one optical fiber;
- and
- recognizing a characteristic signature in the reflected optical radiation indicative of an impending steam pop event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.