Tissue ablation device with photoacoustic lesion formation feedback

1. A tissue ablation device, comprising:

at least one energy emitter ( 21 ) and at least one photoacoustic sensor ( 22 ) in a cooperative arrangement for applying a tissue ablation therapy to a tissue ( 60 );

wherein the at least one energy emitter ( 21 ) is operable to emit a tissue ablation beam (TA) into a target portion of the tissue ( 60 ) to form a lesion ( 61 ) therein;

wherein the at least one energy emitter ( 21 ) is further operable to emit a photoexcitation beam (PE) into the target portion of the tissue ( 60 ) to excite a photoacoustic response from the tissue ( 60 ); and

wherein the at least one photoacoustic sensor ( 22 ) is operable to sense the photoacoustic response of the tissue ( 60 ) to facilitate a generation of a photoacoustic image of the lesion ( 61 ) as formed in the tissue ( 60 ).

2. The tissue ablation device ( 20 ) of claim 1 , further comprising:

an endoscope ( 123 , 223 ) for illuminating the target portion of the tissue ( 60 ).

3. The tissue ablation device ( 20 ) of claim 1 , further comprising:

a catheter ( 121 , 221 ) housing the at least one energy emitter ( 21 ) and the at least one photoacoustic sensor ( 22 ); and

an inflatable balloon ( 122 , 222 ) affixed to the catheter ( 121 , 221 ) and encircling the at least one energy emitter ( 21 ) and the at least one photoacoustic sensor ( 22 ),

wherein the balloon ( 122 , 222 ) is operable to be inflated via the catheter ( 121 , 221 ) with an optoacoustic transfer medium ( 126 , 226 ).

4. The tissue ablation device ( 20 ) of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one energy emitter ( 21 ) and the at least photoacoustic sensor ( 22 ) is rotated during the application of the tissue ablation therapy.

5. The tissue ablation device ( 20 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the tissue ( 60 ) is a pulmonary vein vessel tissue; and

the lesion ( 61 ) is a circumferential lesion formed within the pulmonary vein vessel tissue.

6. A tissue ablation system, comprising:

a tissue ablation therapy control system; and

a tissue ablation device ( 20 ) including:

at least one energy emitter ( 21 ) and at least one photoacoustic sensor ( 22 ) in a cooperative arrangement for applying a tissue ablation therapy to a tissue ( 60 );

wherein the at least one energy emitter ( 21 ) is controllable by the tissue ablation therapy control system to emit a tissue ablation beam (TA) into a target portion of the tissue ( 60 ) to form a lesion ( 61 ) therein;

wherein the at least one energy emitter ( 21 ) is further is controllable by the tissue ablation therapy control system to emit a photoexcitation beam into the target portion of the tissue ( 60 ) to excite a photoacoustic response from the tissue ( 60 ); and

wherein the at least one photoacoustic sensor ( 22 ) is operable to sense the photoacoustic response of the tissue ( 60 ) to facilitate a generation of a photoacoustic image of the lesion ( 61 ) as formed in the tissue ( 60 ) by the tissue ablation therapy control system.

7. The tissue ablation system of claim 6 , further comprising:

an endoscope ( 123 , 223 ) for illuminating the target portion of the tissue ( 60 ).

8. The tissue ablation system of claim 6 , further comprising:

a catheter ( 121 , 221 ) housing the at least one energy emitter ( 21 ) and the at least one photoacoustic sensor ( 22 ); and

an inflatable balloon ( 122 , 222 ) affixed to the catheter ( 121 , 221 ) and encircling the at least one energy emitter ( 21 ) and the at least one photoacoustic sensor ( 22 ),

wherein the balloon ( 122 , 222 ) is operable to be inflated via the catheter ( 121 , 221 ) with an optoacoustic transfer medium ( 126 , 226 ).

9. The tissue ablation system of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the at least one energy emitter ( 21 ) and the at least photoacoustic sensor ( 22 ) are rotated during the application of the tissue ablation therapy.

10. The tissue ablation system of claim 6 , wherein:

the tissue ( 60 ) is a pulmonary vein vessel tissue; and

the lesion ( 61 ) is a circumferential lesion formed within the pulmonary vein vessel tissue.

11. The tissue ablation system of claim 6 , wherein the tissue ablation control system includes:

a tissue ablation controller ( 30 ) operable to control an emission of the tissue ablation beam (TA) by the at least one emitter ( 21 );

a photoexcitation controller ( 40 ) operable to control an emission of the photoexcitation beam (PE) PE by the at least one emitter ( 21 ); and

a photoacoustic image monitor ( 50 ) operable to monitor a formation of the lesion ( 61 ) within the tissue ( 60 ) based on the photoacoustic response of the tissue ( 60 ) as sensed by the at least one photoacoustic sensor.

12. A method of performing a tissue ablation therapy of a tissue ( 60 ), the method comprising:

emitting a tissue ablation beam (TA) into the tissue ( 60 ), wherein a lesion ( 61 ) is formed in the tissue ( 60 );

emitting a photoexcitation beam (PE) into the tissue ( 60 ), wherein a photoacoustic response is generated within the tissue ( 60 );

sensing the photoacoustic response of the tissue ( 60 ); and

generating and monitoring a photoacoustic image of the lesion ( 61 ) as formed in the tissue ( 60 ) in response to the sensing of the photoacoustic response of the tissue ( 60 ).

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the emissions of the tissue ablation beam (TA) and the photoexcitation beam (PE) are concurrent.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the emissions of the tissue ablation beam (TA) and the photoexcitation beam (PE) are interleaved.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the emissions of the tissue ablation beam (TA) and the photoexcitation beam (PE) are sequential.