Devices and methods for treating peripheral lung tumors
AssigneesTau Medical Inc., Institute for Research & Industry Cooperation Pusan National University
InventorJune Hong Kim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention concerns a radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheter (100) comprising: a flexible shaft (110) extending between a distal end and a proximal end: an inflatable balloon (120) mounted on the shaft (110); and an RF conductor element (115), wherein a portion of the flexible shaft (110) is distal to the inflatable balloon (120) and is defined as a distal segment (119) of the shaft (110), and wherein the RF conductor element (115) is located on the distal segment (119) and is adapted to electrically contact and to deliver RF energy to a liquid metal (150).
Claims45
A radiofrequency [RF] ablation catheter (100) comprising:
- a flexible shaft (110) extending between a distal end and a proximal end;
- an inflatable balloon (120) mounted on the shaft (110);
- and
- an RF conductor element (115),
- wherein a portion of the flexible shaft (110) is distal to the inflatable balloon (120) and is defined as a distal segment (119) of the shaft (110), and
- wherein the RF conductor element (115) is located on the distal segment (119) and is adapted to electrically contact and to deliver RF energy to a liquid metal.
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the RF conductor element (115) is formed by at least one electrically conductive metal element on the distal segment (119) of the shaft (110).
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one electrically conductive element (115) is formed as a ring-segment to cover a proportion of the circumference of the surface area of the distal segment (119) or is formed as ring to cover the circumference of a partial surface area of the distal segment (119).
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one electrically conductive element is formed pad shaped or formed by at least one conductive wire.
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the RF conductor element (115) is arranged at a proximal end of the distal segment (119) directly neighbouring the inflatable balloon (120).
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible shaft (110) further comprises a fluid channel (112) adapted to instill a liquid metal into at least one passageway, preferably at a target site in a body organ.
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible shaft (110) further comprises an inflation lumen (113) in communication with the inflatable balloon (120) adapted to supply or discharge a fluid to/from the inflatable balloon (120).
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the catheter further comprises a temperature sensor (114) mounted on the distal segment (119) of the shaft (110).
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible shaft (110) comprises a guidewire lumen (111) adapted to receive a guidewire (135).
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the RF conductor element (115) is adapted to be electrically connected to an RF generator (160) and to pass the flow of the RF current from the RF generator (160) to the liquid metal (150).
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the catheter further comprises:
- an RF generator (160) electrically coupled to the RF conductor element (115).
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the RF power of the RF energy delivered to the liquid metal (150) lies in the range of 40 to 180 watts.
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a handle portion (130) arranged in the area of the proximal end of the flexible shaft (110).
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the liquid metal (150) comprises gallium.
The RF ablation catheter (100) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the liquid metal (150) is liquid at 37° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.