Energy delivery systems and uses thereof
The present invention relates to comprehensive systems, devices and methods for delivering energy to tissue for a wide variety of applications, including medical procedures (e.g., tissue ablation, resection, cautery, vascular thrombosis, treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and dysrhythmias, electrosurgery, tissue harvest, etc.). In certain embodiments, systems, devices, and methods are provided for treating a tissue region (e.g., a tumor) through application of energy.
1 . A system comprising:
a) a first component comprising a microwave energy source and a coolant source comprising a coolant;
b) a second component for delivery of microwave energy from the microwave energy source and the coolant from the first component, wherein said second component is separate from said first component;
c) one or more procedure device hub-energy delivery device cables;
d) a procedure device hub configured to receive the microwave energy and the coolant from the second component,
said procedure device hub comprising
a plurality of connection ports for attachment of the one or more procedure device hub-energy delivery device cables, wherein the one or more procedure device hub-energy delivery device cables connect said procedure device hub with one or more energy delivery devices, wherein each of the one or more energy delivery devices have an exterior and an interior, wherein the one or more procedure device hub-energy delivery device cables are configured to deliver the microwave energy and the coolant from the procedure device hub to the interior of each of the one or more energy delivery devices,
wherein said procedure device hub is configured to perform adjustments of said delivery of said microwave energy and said coolant, wherein said adjustments comprise turning on the one or more energy delivery devices, turning off the one or more energy delivery devices, calibrating a timing of the delivery of said microwave energy and said coolant to the one or more energy delivery devices for purposes of avoiding undesired tissue heating during use of the one or more energy delivery devices, and calibrating a delivery amount of said microwave energy and a delivery amount of said coolant to the one or more energy delivery devices for purposes of avoiding the undesired tissue heating during use of the one or more energy delivery devices,
wherein said procedure device hub is separate from the one or more energy delivery devices,
wherein said procedure device hub is separate from said second component, wherein the second component comprises one or more cables connecting the first component with the procedure device hub,
wherein said procedure device hub is separate from said first component,
e) an imaging component configured to image a tissue region to be ablated by said one or more energy delivery devices; and
f) a computer comprising software that, when executed, causes the computer to perform the following:
process and display information derived from said imaging component and receive intraprocedure feedback obtained during the delivery of the microwave energy, wherein said intraprocedure feedback comprises at least imaging information and temperature information,
generate a predicted map of the tissue region to be ablated and readjust the predicted map of the tissue region to be ablated during the delivery of the microwave energy directly based upon the received intraprocedure feedback including at least the imaging information and the temperature information obtained during the delivery of the microwave energy,
directing placement of the one or more energy delivery devices during the delivery of the microwave energy based on the adjusted and readjusted predicted maps of the tissue region to be ablated to achieve a desired ablation result,
direct the procedure device hub to perform the adjustments of the delivery of the microwave energy and the coolant.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said procedure device hub is mounted to a table, a cart, or a bed.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said second component comprises a transport sheath encompassing said one or more procedure device hub-energy delivery device cables connecting the first component with the procedure device hub.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said procedure device hub has therein a power splitter for adjusting the delivery amount of the microwave energy delivered to said one or more energy delivery devices.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of said one or more procedure device hub-energy delivery device cables is less than four feet in length.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said coolant is carbon dioxide gas.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein said carbon dioxide gas is at its vapor-liquid critical point.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said procedure device hub or said first component has a sensor configured to automatically inhibit the delivery of the microwave energy.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said imaging component is selected from the group consisting of CT, MRI, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, thermoacoustic, and nuclear medicine.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said imaging component is further configured to determine a location of said one or more energy delivery devices.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said software that, when executed, further causes the computer to record one or more of the following:
information related to the tissue region to be ablated;
information related to a size of the tissue region to be ablated;
information related to a shape of the tissue region to be ablated;
information related to a location of the tissue region to be ablated.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said intraprocedure feedback comprises a recommendation of at least adjustment of power output.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said software that, when executed, further causes the computer to query a user to submit an input parameter.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein said input parameter is one or more of the following:
a type of tumor to be ablated within the tissue region to be ablated;
a type of tissue to be ablated within the tissue region to be ablated;
a location of an ablation target within the tissue region to be ablated;
a size of the ablation target within the tissue region to be ablated;
a location of vessels within the tissue region to be ablated or other vulnerable structures to avoid ablating within the tissue region to be ablated; and
blood flow within the tissue region to be ablated.
15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said software that, when executed, further causes the computer to draw and display the predicted map of the tissue region to be ablated.
16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said software that, when executed, further causes the computer to display the received intraprocedure feedback.
17 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said intraprocedure feedback further comprises one of more of the following:
properties of treated tissue;
continuous feedback; or
feedback at defined time points.
18 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the predicted map of the tissue region to be ablated is a three dimensional map of the tissue region to be ablated.
19 . A method of ablating and imaging a tissue, comprising
providing the system of claim 1 ,
imaging the tissue region to be ablated,
ablating the tissue region to be ablated,
directing placement of the one or more energy delivery devices during the delivery of the microwave energy based on the adjusted and readjusted predicted maps of the tissue region to be ablated to achieve the desired ablation result, and
imaging the ablated tissue region.