Ablation catheters and related systems and methods
An ablation catheter having a deformable tip is disclosed herein. In some implementations, the ablation catheter includes a catheter body and a deformable tip secured to the catheter body. In these and other implementations, the catheter body can include a fluid delivery lumen. In these and other implementations, the deformable tip includes one or more valves that are configured to open in response to deformation of the deformable tip. In these and still other implementations, the ablation catheter is configured to permit liquid communication between an interior of the deformable tip and an exterior of the deformable tip. In some implementations, RF energy is transmitted from the interior of the deformable tip to the exterior of the deformable tip via liquid exiting the deformable tip.
1 . An ablation catheter comprising:
a catheter body;
a deformable tip secured to the catheter body, the deformable tip having one of a generally spherical shape, a tear drop shape, a garlic clove shape, and a hammerhead shark shape,
wherein an inner surface of the deformable tip is coated with a conductive layer, the conductive layer including a continuous layer of a conductive material that covers substantially the entire inner surface of the deformable tip,
wherein the deformable tip comprises one or more valves configured to permit liquid communication from an interior of the deformable tip to an exterior of the deformable tip, and
wherein the conductive layer defines an ablation electrode that is configured to deliver current to liquid within the deformable tip such that liquid passing from the interior of the deformable tip to the exterior of the deformable tip is operative to convey ablation energy away from the deformable tip.
2 . The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein the deformable tip is formed of an elastomeric material.
3 . The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein the ablation catheter is configured to emit ablation energy away from the deformable tip.
4 . The ablation catheter of claim 3 , wherein the ablation energy is transmitted from the interior of the deformable tip to the exterior of the deformable tip via liquid exiting the deformable tip.
5 . The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein the one or more valves are configured to open in response to deformation of the deformable tip.
6 . The ablation catheter of claim 5 , wherein the one or more valves comprise one or more slits extending through a wall of the deformable tip.
7 . The ablation catheter of claim 6 , wherein the one or more slits extend through a recessed region of the wall of the deformable tip.
8 . The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein the deformable tip comprises support regions between adjacent valves.
9 . The ablation catheter of claim 8 , wherein the support regions comprise ribs.
10 . The ablation catheter of claim 9 , wherein the ribs are attached at opposite ends to walls of adjacent valves.
11 . The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein a support structure is configured to support a proximal end region of the deformable tip.
12 . The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein the deformable tip has a thickness of 0.20 mm or less.
13 . The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein the conductive layer is conductive to ablation energy.
14 . The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein the conductive layer comprises conductive ink.
15 . The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein the deformable tip has the generally spherical shape and includes a spherical body and a neck, and wherein the inner surface of the spherical body and the neck are coated with the continuous layer of the conductive material.
16 . The ablation catheter of claim 1 , wherein a wall thickness of a proximal end of the deformable tip is greater than a wall thickness of a distal end of the deformable tip.
17 . An ablation catheter comprising:
a catheter body;
a deformable tip having a generally spherical shape secured to the catheter body;
wherein an inner surface of the deformable tip is coated with a conductive layer, the conductive layer including a continuous layer of a conductive material that covers substantially the entire inner surface of the deformable tip,
wherein the deformable tip comprises one or more holes or slits configured to permit liquid communication from an interior of the deformable tip to an exterior of the deformable tip, and
wherein the conductive layer defines an ablation electrode, configured to deliver current to liquid within the deformable tip such that liquid passing from the interior of the deformable tip to the exterior of the deformable tip is operative to convey ablation energy away from the deformable tip.
18 . The ablation catheter of claim 17 , wherein the one or more holes or slits form respective valves configured to permit liquid communication from an interior of the deformable tip to an exterior of the deformable tip.