ENDOVENOUS DEVICE FOR LOCALIZED ABLATION
This disclosure relates to endovenous devices and methods for treating varicose veins. The endovenous devices can include a heating element that is heated with resistive heating from direct current flowing therethrough. The direct current can be provided by a battery disposed in a handheld controller that can modulate the direct current based on sensed temperatures proximate the heating element and clinician commands. The heating element can include self-expanding features to bring the heating element in contact with an inner wall of a vein to facilitate heat transfer and mechanically agitate the inner wall of the vein to occlude the vein.
1 . An endovenous device for treating a blood vessel, the endovenous device comprising:
an elongate element comprising a first conductor, a second conductor, and a heating element, the first conductor configured to deliver energy to the heating element to raise a temperature of the heating element to damage a wall of the blood vessel, and the second conductor configured to conduct energy away from the heating element.
2 . The endovenous device of claim 1 , wherein the first conductor is configured to deliver energy from a battery to the heating element.
3 . The endovenous device of claim 1 , further comprising a handle with a battery, wherein the elongate element is configured to be coupled to the handle.
4 . The endovenous device of claim 1 , wherein the energy comprises direct current to resistively heat the heating element.
5 . The endovenous device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate element further comprises a temperature sensor disposed proximate the heating element.
6 . The endovenous device of claim 5 , further comprising a controller to control energy delivered to the heating element based on temperatures sensed by the temperature sensor.
7 . The endovenous device of claim 6 , wherein the controller utilizes pulse-width modulation to control energy delivered to the heating element.
8 . The endovenous device of claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a material that is more electrically resistive than that of the first conductor.
9 . The endovenous device of claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a geometry that is more electrically resistive than that of the first conductor.
10 . The endovenous device of claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a conductor having a cross-sectional size that is small than that of the first conductor.
11 . The endovenous device of claim 1 , further comprising an outer tube configured to be advanced to cover the heating element and retracted to uncover the heating element.
12 . The endovenous device of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is configured to expand to contact a wall of the blood vessel.
13 . The endovenous device of claim 12 , wherein the heating element is configured to self-expand.
14 . An endovenous device for treating a blood vessel, the endovenous device comprising:
an elongate element comprising an expandable member, a conductor, and a temperature sensor, the expandable member configured to expand to contact a wall of the blood vessel, and the conductor configured to deliver energy to the expandable member to damage the wall of the blood vessel.
15 . The endovenous device of claim 14 , wherein the energy comprises direct current that resistively heats the expandable member to damage the wall of the blood vessel with thermal energy.
16 . The endovenous device of claim 14 , further comprising a controller to control energy delivered to the expandable member based on temperatures sensed by the temperature sensor.
17 . The endovenous device of claim 16 , wherein the controller utilizes pulse-width modulation to control energy delivered to the expandable member.
18 . The endovenous device of claim 14 , wherein the expandable member is configured to self-expand.
19 . A method of treating a blood vessel, the method comprising:
percutaneously accessing vasculature;
distally advancing an elongate element of an endovenous device through the vasculature to place a heating element within the blood vessel;
expanding the heating element to contact an inner wall of the blood vessel;
delivering energy to the heating element to damage the inner wall of the blood vessel with thermal energy;
proximally retracting the elongate element along a length of the blood vessel to damage the length of the inner wall of the blood vessel; and
removing the elongate element from the vasculature.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein delivering energy comprises delivering direct current from a battery to resistively heat the heating element.