Monitoring and controlling energy delivery of an electrosurgical device

1. A method is disclosed for delivering energy to a region of tissue within a patient's body using a medical treatment system, the medical treatment system comprising a medical device coupled to an energy delivery source, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) delivering energy from the medical device;

(2) advancing the medical device while delivering the energy;

(3) measuring an energy delivery parameter while advancing the medical device;

(4) detecting whether or not a value of the energy delivery parameter crosses a threshold;

(5) if the threshold is crossed, thereby indicating proximity of the medical device to a conductive object, determining a relative distance between the medical device and the conductive object based on one or more detected values of the energy delivery parameter;

(6) comparing the relative distance determined as the device is being advanced to determine if the distance between the medical device and the conductive object is decreasing; and

(7) upon determining that the distance between the medical device and the conductive object is decreasing, adjusting a position of the medical device and repeating steps (3)-(7) until the medical device is positioned at a desired distance from the conductive object.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of adjusting the position of the medical device comprises moving the medical device away from the conductive object until the value of the energy delivery parameter no longer exceeds the threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conductive object comprises a secondary medical device and wherein the step of adjusting a position of the medical device comprises moving the medical device towards the secondary medical device until the medical device is positioned adjacent the secondary medical device.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the secondary medical device is selected from the group consisting of a medical guidewire and a snare.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold is equal to a pre-determined value of the energy delivery parameter.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy delivery parameter is current.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the threshold is between about 0.3 Amps to about 1.0 Amps.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold is equal to a base value, and wherein the method further comprises a step of determining the base value by measuring the energy delivery parameter upon advancing the medical device to a target site within the patient's body.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising a step of imaging the medical device, wherein the steps of advancing the medical device and measuring the base value are performed concurrently with the step of imaging the medical device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of imaging the medical device is performed using an imaging modality selected from the group consisting of:

fluoroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography scan, electro-anatomical mapping and magnetic positioning system.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of imaging the medical device, wherein the step of adjusting a position of the medical device is performed concurrently with the step of imaging the medical device.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of imaging the medical device is performed using an imaging modality selected from the group consisting of: fluoroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography scan, electro-anatomical mapping and magnetic positioning system.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of providing feedback to a user if the distance between the medical device and the conductive object is determined to be decreasing.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the feedback is selected from the group consisting of a visual indication, an electrical control signal and an acoustic indication.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the acoustic indication is selected from the group consisting of a volume based acoustic indication and a frequency based acoustic indication.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of adjusting a position of the medical device is performed automatically using an automated navigation system, and wherein the step of providing feedback to the user comprises providing an electrical control signal that is receivable by the automated navigation system.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of adjusting a position of the medical device is performed automatically.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of adjusting a position of the medical device is performed using an automated navigation system.