Ablation electrode assemblies and methods for using same

Inventors: Steven C. Christian (New Brighton, MN); Reed R. Heimbecher (Hamel, MN)

Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc.

A61B18/1492 A61B2018/00101 A61B2018/00642 A61B2018/00702 A61B2018/00714 A61B2018/00744 A61B2018/00791 A61B2018/00797 A61B2018/00875 A61B2218/002

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12661178
App. No.: 17/842,777
Granted: Jun 23, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

Ablation electrode assemblies include an inner core member and an outer shell surrounding the inner core member. The inner core member and the outer shell define a space or separation region therebetween. The inner core member is constructed from a thermally insulative material having a reduced thermal conductivity. In an embodiment, the space is a sealed or evacuated region. In other embodiments, irrigation fluid flows within the space. The ablation electrode assembly further includes at least one thermal sensor in some embodiments. Methods for providing irrigation fluid during cardiac ablation of targeted tissue are disclosed that include calculating the energy delivered to irrigation fluid as it flows within the ablation electrode assembly through temperature measurement of the irrigation fluid. Pulsatile flow of irrigation fluid can be utilized in some embodiments of the disclosure.

Claims (35)

1 . An ablation electrode assembly, comprising:

an inner core member having a distal end and a proximal end, the inner core member comprising a thermal insulator having a reduced thermal conductivity;

an outer shell surrounding the inner core member, the outer shell having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the outer shell comprises an electrically conductive material;

a plurality of thermal sensors disposed in an annular space defined between the inner core member and the outer shell, wherein the annular space surrounds the inner core member and includes i) a first empty space between each thermal sensor and the inner core member and ii) a second empty space between each thermal sensor and the outer shell, wherein the annular space comprises a sealed evacuated space; and

an irrigation port disposed in at least one of the inner core member or the outer shell, the irrigation port configured to deliver a flow of irrigation fluid at a flow rate determined based on temperature measurements taken by the plurality of thermal sensors.

2 . The ablation electrode assembly of claim 1 further comprising an irrigant distribution element having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the irrigant distribution element defining a circumferential irrigation port between the irrigant distribution element and the inner core member.

3 . The ablation electrode assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner core member further comprises:

an outer surface;

an inner surface defining an inner cavity; and

wherein the irrigation port comprises a radially extending passageway extending from the inner cavity to the outer surface of the inner core member.

4 . The ablation electrode assembly of claim 1 further comprising an electrode configured to measure an impedance at a position of the distal end of the outer shell.

5 . A system for providing irrigation fluid during cardiac ablation of target tissue, the system comprising:

a catheter including an ablation electrode assembly, comprising:

an inner core member having a distal end and a proximal end, the inner core member comprising a thermal insulator having a reduced thermal conductivity;

an outer shell surrounding the inner core member, the outer shell having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the outer shell comprises an electrically conductive material;

an irrigation port disposed in at least one of the inner core member or the outer shell;

an ablation generator configured to be electrically connected to the ablation electrode assembly, the ablation generator configured to deliver energy to the ablation electrode assembly;

a source of the irrigation fluid configured to deliver a flow of the irrigation fluid at a flow rate to the irrigation port; and

a control system coupled to the ablation generator configured to:

control the ablation generator; and

control the flow rate of the irrigation fluid based on temperature measurements taken by the plurality of thermal sensors.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the control system is further configured to control the flow rate of the irrigation fluid at a first flow rate in a first time period and a second flow rate in a second time period, and wherein the first flow rate and the second flow rate are different.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first flow rate and the second flow rate alternate and recur at intervals over time.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first flow rate is higher than the second flow rate.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the second flow rate is at least about half of the first flow rate.

10 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first time period is between 10 and 15 seconds, inclusively, and the second time period is between 75 and 80 seconds, inclusively.

11 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the ablation electrode assembly further comprises an electrode configured to measure an impedance at a position of the distal end of the outer shell.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the control system is further configured to control the flow rate of the irrigation fluid based on the impedance measured at the position of the distal end of the outer shell.

13 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the control system is further configured to control the ablation generator to control the energy delivery based on the temperature measurements taken by the plurality of thermal sensors.

14 . An ablation electrode assembly, comprising:

an inner core member having a distal end and a proximal end, the inner core member comprising a thermal insulator having a reduced thermal conductivity;

an outer shell surrounding the inner core member, the outer shell having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the outer shell comprises an electrically conductive material;