Radio frequency ablation system with tracking sensor

摘要

An RF ablation system has a hollow conductive coaxial cable comprising inner and outer coaxial tubular conductors, and an ablating member mounted at the distal end portion of the cable for delivery of radio frequency energy including microwaves to the target body tissue. The inner conductor has a central lumen and extends at least up to the ablating member. At least one electromagnetic tracking sensor coil with a magnetic core is located in the central lumen at the distal end portion of the cable, close to the distal tip of the cable, and connected to a signal processing unit. An electromagnetic field generator positioned in the vicinity of a patient undergoing treatment generates an electromagnetic field which induces a voltage in the sensor coil. The signal processing unit uses the induced voltage to calculate the position and orientation of the distal end portion or tip of the catheter in a patient's body.

主权项

1. A radio frequency ablation system, comprising:
an ablation catheter comprising a hollow conductive coaxial cable having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a connector at the proximal end portion of the cable, and an ablation member at the distal end portion of the cable configured to apply radio frequency (RF) energy to a target tissue site; the coaxial cable having a first inner elongated electrically conductive tubular member having an axially extending lumen or passageway, a second elongated outer electrically conductive member disposed in a substantially coaxial relationship over at least a portion of the first electrically conductive tubular member, a dielectric medium between the inner and outer conductive tubular members, and at least one electromagnetic tracking sensor located in the lumen at the distal end portion of the cable, the at least one electromagnetic tracking sensor including a sensor coil having a magnetic core; an electromagnetic field generator configured for positioning in the vicinity of the patient and generating an electromagnetic field which induces a voltage in the sensor coil when the sensor coil is within the generated electromagnetic field; anda signal processing unit comprising at least a signal processor connected to the proximal end portion connector of the coaxial cable, the sensor coil communicating with the signal processor, and the signal processor being configured to detect an induced voltage in the sensor coil and to determine the position and orientation of the distal end portion of the catheter in the patient's body using the induced voltage,wherein the ablation member is a helical coil antenna configured to deliver RF energy to a target tissue site of a patient, and a magnetic core is located within the helical coil antenna, whereby the helical coil antenna and magnetic core together comprise the electromagnetic tracking sensor in a tracking mode of the system.