Irrigated ablation catheter system with pulsatile flow to prevent thrombus

摘要

The invention relates to an ablation catheter which controls the temperature and reduces the coagulation of biological fluids on an electrode of a catheter, prevents the impedance rise of tissue in contact with the electrode, and maximizes the potential energy transfer to the tissue, thereby allowing an increase in the lesion size produced by the ablation. The electrode includes passages positioned to allow saline flow out of an inner cavity of the electrode. This fluid flow is pulsatile to increase turbulence, reducing areas of stagnant flow, and produces a desired cooling effect.

主权项

1. An irrigated ablation catheter system comprising:
an irrigated ablation catheter; and a pump system configured to generate a pulsatile flow, wherein
the irrigated ablation catheter comprises a distal electrode assembly, a shaft connected to the distal electrode assembly, and an interior portion leading to one or more openings through which the pulsatile flow of a fluid is directed from within the irrigated ablation catheter to an area outside the irrigated ablation catheter, wherein the pulsatile flow is characterized by a flow rate that recurs at regular intervals over time, and wherein the flow rate is between 2 ml/minute and 20 ml/minute with a frequency of between 30 cycles per minute to 120 cycles per minute.