Multi-functional medical catheter and methods of use
The present invention provides multi-functional medical catheters, systems and methods for their use. In one particular embodiment, a medical catheter ( 100 ) includes a flexible elongate body ( 105 ) having a proximal end ( 110 ) and a distal end ( 120 ). A plurality of spaced apart electrodes ( 130–136 ) are operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end. At least some of the electrodes are adapted for mapping a tissue and, in some embodiments, at least one of the electrodes is adapted for ablating a desired portion of the tissue. The catheter includes a plurality of tissue orientation detectors ( 140–146 ) disposed between at least some of the electrodes. In this manner, the medical catheter is capable of tissue mapping, tissue imaging, tissue orientation, and/or tissue treatment functions.
1. A method of precisely positioning a medical catheter with respect to a tissue, the method comprising:
providing a medical catheter system comprising:
a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a plurality of spaced apart electrodes operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is adapted only for mapping a tissue such that said at least one electrode adapted only for mapping a tissue has an exposed outer surface area smaller than a similarly configured ablation electrode;
a plurality of tissue orientation detectors disposed on the flexible body between at least some of the electrodes; and
a controller electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes and the plurality of tissue orientation detectors;
inserting the flexible elongate body into a patient;
mapping an electrical profile of the tissue using at least some of the plurality of electrodes;
positioning the elongate body to be proximate a tissue using the plurality of tissue orientation detectors and based in part on the electrical profile of the tissue; and
activating at least one of the electrodes to ablate a desired region of the tissue if the controller determines that at least one of the tissue orientation detectors is in contact with the desired region.
2. The method as in claim 1 further comprising activating at least one of the electrodes to ablate a desired region of the tissue if the controller determines that one of the tissue orientation detectors located adjacent the electrode is in contact with the desired region.
3. The method as in claim 1 further comprising activating at least one of the electrodes to ablate a desired region of the tissue if the controller determines that the tissue orientation detector located directly proximal of the electrode is in contact with the tissue.
4. The method as in claim 1 further comprising activating at least one of the electrodes to ablate a desired region of the tissue if the controller determines that the tissue orientation detectors closest to the electrode in both the proximal and distal directions are in contact with the tissue.
5. The method as in claim 1 further comprising identifying a desired region of the tissue to be treated based on the electrical profile of the tissue.
6. The method as in claim 1 wherein the mapping comprises a non-contact mapping.
7. The method as in claim 1 wherein the tissue orientation detectors comprise a plurality of transducers.
8. The method as in claim 7 wherein at least some of the plurality of transducers comprise ultrasound transducers.
9. The method as in claim 7 wherein at least some of the plurality of transducers comprise electric, magnetic or electromagnetic transducers.
10. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising determining whether at least one of the tissue orientation detectors is in contact with the desired region by calculating a time delay of a signal transmitted by, and subsequently received by the at least one of the tissue orientation detectors.
11. A method of precisely positioning a catheter within a patient, the method comprising:
inserting a catheter into a patient, the catheter comprising:
a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a plurality of spaced apart electrodes operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is adapted only for mapping a tissue such that said at least one electrode adapted only for mapping a tissue has an exposed outer surface area smaller than a similarly configured ablation electrode; and
a plurality of transducers disposed between at least some of the electrodes;
mapping a tissue of the patient, using at least some of the plurality of spaced apart electrodes, to produce a tissue profile;
identifying a tissue region to be treated using the tissue profile;
positioning the elongate body using the transducers so that at least one of the plurality of electrodes is proximate the tissue region; and
ablating the tissue region using at least one of the plurality of electrodes when at least one of the transducers is ing contact with the tissue region.
12. The method as in claim 11 wherein the tissue profile comprises a plurality of electrical pathways of the tissue.
13. The method as in claim 11 wherein the positioning comprises a three-dimensional localization positioning.
14. The method as in claim 11 wherein at least some of the plurality of transducers comprise ultrasound transducers.
15. The method as in claim 11 , further comprising determining whether at least one of the transducers is in contact with the tissue by calculating a time delay of a signal transmitted by, and subsequently received by the at least one of the transducers.
16. A method of diagnosing and treating cardiac rhythm disturbances, the method comprising:
inserting a catheter into a patient, the catheter comprising:
a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a plurality of spaced apart electrodes operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is adapted only for mapping a tissue such that said at least one electrode adapted only for mapping a tissue has an exposed outer surface area smaller than a similarly configured ablation electrode; and
a plurality of spaced apart tissue orientation detectors attached to the flexible body near the distal end;
mapping a tissue of the patient, using at least some of the plurality of spaced apart electrodes, to produce a tissue profile;
identifying a tissue to be treated using the tissue profile;
positioning the elongate body using the tissue orientation detectors so that at least one of the plurality of electrodes is proximate the tissue to be treated; and
ablating the tissue using at least one of the electrodes when at least one of the tissue orientation detectors is in contact with the tissue.
17. The method as in claim 16 , further comprising determining whether at least one of the tissue orientation detectors is in contact with the tissue by calculating a time delay of a signal transmitted by, and subsequently received by the at least one of the tissue orientation detectors.
18. A method of precisely positioning a medical catheter with respect to a tissue, the method comprising:
providing a medical catheter system comprising:
a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a plurality of spaced apart electrodes operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end;
a plurality of tissue orientation detectors disposed on the flexible body between at least some of the electrodes; and
a controller electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes and the plurality of tissue orientation detectors;
inserting the flexible elongate body into a patient;
mapping an electrical profile of the tissue using at least some of the plurality of electrodes;
positioning the elongate body to be proximate a tissue using the plurality of tissue orientation detectors and based in part on the electrical profile of the tissue; and
activating at least one of the electrodes to ablate a desired region of the tissue if the controller detennines that the tissue orientation detectors closest to the electrode in both the proximal and distal directions are in contact with the tissue.
19. A method of precisely positioning a medical catheter with respect to a tissue, the method comprising:
providing a medical catheter system comprising:
a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
at least one electrode operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end and adapted for mapping a tissue;
at least one tissue orientation detector disposed on the flexible body adjacent the electrode; and
a controller electrically coupled to the at least one electrode adapted for tissue mapping;
inserting the flexible elongate body into a patient;
mapping an electrical profile of the tissue using the at least one electrode adapted for tissue mapping;
positioning the elongate body to be proximate a tissue using the tissue orientation detector and based in part on the electrical profile of the tissue; and
activating at least one electrode to ablate a desired region of the tissue if the controller determines that the tissue orientation detector is in contact with the desired region.
20. The method as in claim 19 further comprising activating at least one electrode to ablate a desired region of the tissue if the controller determines that the tissue orientation detector located directly proximal of the electrode is in contact with the tissue.
21. The method as in claim 19 further comprising activating at least one electrode to ablate a desired region of the tissue if the controller determines that the tissue orientation detector closest to the electrode in both the proximal and distal directions are in contact with the tissue.
22. The method as in claim 19 further comprising identifying a desired region of the tissue to be treated based on the electrical profile of the tissue.
23. The method as in claim 19 wherein the mapping comprises a non-contact mapping.
24. The method as in claim 19 wherein the tissue orientation detector comprises a plurality of transducers.
25. The method as in claim 24 wherein at least some of the plurality of transducers comprise ultrasound transducers.
26. The method as in claim 24 wherein at least some of the plurality of transducers comprise electric, magnetic or electromagnetic transducers.
27. A medical catheter system comprising:
a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a plurality of spaced apart electrodes operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end and adapted for mapping a tissue;
a plurality of tissue orientation detectors disposed on the flexible body, wherein at least one of the tissue orientation detectors is disposed between two of the electrodes adapted for tissue mapping;
at least one electrode adapted for ablating tissue disposed on the flexible body and adjacent one of the tissue orientation detectors;
a controller coupled to the electrodes adapted for mapping a tissue and coupled to the tissue orientation detectors wherein the controller is adapted for tissue mapping; and
an indicator light adapted to indicate when the tissue orientation detector is in contact with tissue.