Back to results
US 5,755,715 AGranted
Tissue heating and ablation systems and methods using time-variable set point temperature curves for monitoring and control
AssigneeEP Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRoger A. Stern, Dorin Panescu, David K. Swanson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods employ an energy emitting electrode to heat tissue. The systems and methods follow a prescribed temperature set curve, in which a setpoint temperature changes over time, to control the application of energy to the electrode.
Claims21
An apparatus for ablating heart tissue with energy from an energy source, the apparatus comprising
- an electrode for emitting energy from the energy source to ablate body tissue;
- a sensing element for measuring temperature at the electrode;
- and
- a controller coupled to the electrode and the sensing element, the controller including
- memory means for storing a temperature set curve including a first region of temperature values established over a first time period of at least one second that are below tissue ablating temperatures and a second region of temperature values at tissue ablation temperatures established over a second time period of at least one second and after the first time period,
- data acquisition means, coupled to the sensing element, for deriving temperature information at the energy emitting electrode during the first and second time periods based upon temperature measured by the sensing element, and
- processing means, coupled to the memory element and the data acquisition means, for generating (i) a first output signal based upon comparing temperature information derived during the first time period to the first region of temperature values stored in the memory means and (ii) a second output signal based upon comparing temperature information derived during the second time period to the second region of temperature values stored in the memory means, and
- output means, coupled to the processing means and to the energy source, for varying energy supplied by the energy source to the electrode in response to the first and second output signals to establish and maintain temperature at the electrode over time approximately along the temperature set curve.
5 more elements
An apparatus for ablating heart tissue with energy from an energy source, the apparatus comprising
- an electrode for emitting energy from the energy source to ablate body tissue,
- a sensing element for measuring temperature at the electrode,
- a controller coupled to the electrode and the sensing element and operable to provide both a diagnostic function and a therapeutic function comprising
- a memory element to store a temperature set curve including a first region of temperature values established over a first time period of at least one second that are below tissue ablating temperatures to allow diagnostic thermal mapping of heart tissue during the first time period and a second region of temperature values at tissue ablation temperatures established over a second time period of at least one second and after the first time period to allow therapeutic tissue ablation during the second time period,
- a data acquisition element coupled to the sensing element to derive temperature information at the energy emitting electrode during the first and second time periods based upon temperature measured by the sensing element, and
- a processing element coupled to the memory element and the data acquisition element receiving derived temperature information from the data acquisition element to generate (i) a first output signal based upon comparing temperature information derived during the first time period to the first region of temperature values stored in the memory element and (ii) a second output signal based upon comparing temperature information derived during the second time period to the second region of temperature values stored in the memory element, and
- an output element coupled to the processing element and to the energy source to vary energy supplied by the energy source to the electrode in response to the first and second output signals to establish and maintain temperature at the electrode over time approximately along the temperature set curve.
4 more elements
A method for ablating heart tissue comprising the steps of
- establishing a temperature set curve for ablating tissue including a first region of temperature values established over a first time period of at least one second that are below tissue ablating temperatures to allow thermal mapping and a second region of temperature values at tissue ablation temperatures established over a second time period of at lest one second and after the first time period,
- supply ablating energy to an electrode,
- deriving diagnostic temperature information by sensing temperature at the electrode during the first time period,
- deriving therapeutic temperature information by sensing temperature at the electrode during the second time period, and
- controlling the supply of ablating energy to the electrode based, at least in part, upon comparing the diagnostic and therapeutic temperature information derived during the first and second time periods to the respective first and second regions of temperature values to establish and maintain temperature at the electrode over time approximately along the temperature set curve.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.