Heat-sensitive optical probes

摘要

A method of directing energy to tissue includes the initial steps of determining target tissue location and/or target tissue margins, positioning an ablation device for delivery of energy to target tissue, and positioning one or more heat-sensitive optical probes into a tissue region to be monitored. Each heat-sensitive optical probe is adapted to utilize spectral properties of light to access one or more optical fiber portions of the heat-sensitive optical probe in response to heat. The method also includes the steps of applying energy to the ablation device, continuing ablation while size and/or position of ablated zone which received heat above a threshold value is displayed on a monitor using one or more electrical signals generated by the one or more heat-sensitive optical probes, determining whether the ablated zone displayed on the monitor is larger than the target tissue margins, and terminating ablation if it is determined that the ablated zone displayed on the monitor is larger than the target tissue margins.

主权项

1. A method of directing energy to tissue, comprising:
determining a target tissue location and target tissue margins; positioning an ablation device for delivery of energy to a target tissue in the target tissue location; positioning a heat-sensitive optical probe proximate the target tissue; applying energy to the ablation device to treat the target tissue; transmitting light to each of a plurality of portions longitudinally spaced along a longitudinal length of the heat-sensitive optical probe; determining a degree of heat to which the plurality of portions are exposed based on a change in an optical property of each of the plurality of portions; displaying an ablated zone based on the determination of the degree of heat to which each of the plurality of portions is exposed; continuing to apply energy to the ablation device while the ablated zone is displayed; determining whether the ablated zone displayed is outside the target tissue margins; and terminating ablation if it is determined that the ablated zone displayed is outside the target tissue margins.