Radio-frequency based catheter system and method for ablating biological tissues
AssigneeMedwaves, Inc.
InventorsTheodore C. Ormsby, Ming-Fan Law, George L. Leung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for biological tissue ablation includes shaping a shapeable RF antenna to accommodate the contour of a body vessel adjacent a biological tissue load; generating a train of radio frequency (RF) energy pulses at an output frequency for transmission in a transmission line to the shapeable RF antenna adjacent the biological tissue load; sensing a reflected signal and a forward signal of the RF energy pulses; and adjusting output frequency of the RF energy pulses to effect a substantial match of transmission line impedance with shapeable RF antenna and biological tissue load impedance.
Claims28
A method for biological tissue ablation, comprising:
- shaping a shapeable RF antenna to accommodate the contour of a body vessel adjacent a biological tissue load;
- generating a train of radio frequency (RF) energy pulses at an output frequency for transmission in a transmission line to the shapeable RF antenna deployable adjacent to the biological tissue load;
- sensing a reflected signal and a forward signal of the RF energy pulses;
- determining a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) based on the reflected signal and the forward signal;
- and
- adjusting the output frequency of the RF energy pulses based on the VSWR to effect a substantial match of transmission line impedance with shapeable RF antenna and biological tissue load impedance.
A system for biological tissue ablation comprising:
- shapeable RF antenna means for accommodating the contour of a body vessel adjacent a biological tissue load;
- means for generating a train of radio frequency (RF) energy pulses at an output frequency for transmission in a transmission line to the shapeable RF antenna means deployable adjacent to the biological tissue load;
- means for sensing a reflected signal and a forward signal of the RF energy pulses when the shapeable RF antenna means is adjacent to the biological tissue to be ablated;
- means for determining a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) based on the reflected signal and the forward signal;
- and
- means for adjusting the output frequency of the RF energy pulses based on the VSWR to effect a substantial match of a transmission line impedance with shapeable RF antenna and biological tissue load impedance.
A system for biological tissue ablation comprising:
- a shapeable RF antenna to accommodate the contour of a body vessel adjacent a biological tissue load;
- an oscillator for generating a train of radio frequency (RF) energy pulses at an output frequency for transmission in a transmission line to the shapeable RF antenna deployable adjacent to the biological tissue load;
- a bi-directional coupler for sensing a reflected signal and a forward signal of the RF energy pulses when the shapeable RF antenna is adjacent to the biological tissue to be ablated;
- and
- a microcontroller for determining a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) based on the reflected signal and the forward signal, and for adjusting the output frequency of the RF energy pulses based on the VSWR to effect a substantial match of a transmission line impedance with shapeable RF antenna and biological tissue load impedance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.