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 medical catheter, comprising:
a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a plurality of transducers operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end;
a multiplexer disposed within the flexible elongate body near the distal end and coupled to the plurality of transducers; and
a transmission line coupled to the multiplexer, the transmission line extending from the multiplexer to the proximal end of the flexible elongate body;
wherein the multiplexer is adapted to receive a series of excitation pulses and a clock signal from the transmission line and to direct each one of the excitation pulses to one of the transducers based on the received clock signal.
2. The medical catheter of claim 1 , wherein the multiplexer is adapted to direct the series of excitation pulses to the transducers such that the transducers are excited in a sequence.
3. The medical catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrodes operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end.
4. The medical catheter of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the transducers comprise ultrasound transducers.
5. The medical catheter of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the transducers comprise electric, magnetic or electromagnetic transducers.
6. The medical catheter of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the transducers is adapted to both image and ablate tissue.
7. The medical catheter system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one of the transducers adapted to both image and ablate tissues is adapted to ablate tissues when receiving a continuous wave or gated continuous wave electrical signal having a frequency of about 10-15 MHz.
8. A medical catheter, comprising:
a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a plurality of transducers operably attached to the flexible body near the distal end;
a multiplexer disposed within the flexible elongate body near the distal end and coupled to the plurality of transducers; and
a transmission line coupled to the multiplexer, the transmission line extending from the multiplexer to the proximal end of the flexible elongate body;
wherein the multiplexer includes a counter adapted to count a number of excitation pulses on the transmission line, and the multiplexer is adapted to coordinate a transfer of excitation pulses from the transmission line to the transducers based on the count of the counter.
9. A medical catheter system, comprising:
a medical catheter comprising:
a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a plurality of transducers operably attached to the flexible elongate body near the distal end;
a multiplexer disposed within the flexible elongate body near the distal end and coupled to the plurality of transducers; and
a transmission line coupled to the multiplexer, the transmission line extending from the multiplexer to the proximal end of the flexible elongate body;
a controller coupled to the transmission line;
wherein the multiplexer is adapted to receive a series of excitation pulses and a clock signal from the controller via the transmission line and to direct each one of the excitation pulses to one of the transducers based on the received clock signal.
10. The medical catheter system of claim 9 , further comprising a data line coupled between the multiplexer and the controller, and the controller is adapted to control operation of the multiplexer through the data line.
11. The medical catheter system of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrodes operably attached to the flexible elongate body near the distal end.
12. The medical catheter system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is adapted to determine whether one of the transducers is in contact with a tissue and to activate one of the electrodes to ablate the tissue when the controller determines that the transducer is in contact with the tissue.
13. The medical catheter system of claim 9 , wherein at least some of the transducers comprise ultrasound transducers.
14. The medical catheter system of claim 9 , wherein at least some of the transducers comprise electric, magnetic or electromagnetic transducers.
15. The medical catheter system of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the transducers is adapted to both image and ablate tissue.
16. The medical catheter system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is adapted to determine whether the at least one of the transducers adapted to both image and ablate tissue is in contact with a tissue and to activate the at least one transducer to ablate the tissue when the controller determines that the at least one transducer is in contact with the tissue.
17. A medical catheter system, comprising:
a medical catheter comprising:
a flexible elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a plurality of transducers operably attached to the flexible elongate body near the distal end;
a multiplexer disposed within the flexible elongate body near the distal end and coupled to the plurality of transducers; and
a transmission line coupled to the multiplexer, the transmission line extending from the multiplexer to the proximal end of the flexible elongate body;
a controller coupled to the transmission line;
wherein the multiplexer includes a counter adapted to count a number of excitation pulses on the transmission line, and the multiplexer is adapted to coordinate a transfer of excitation pulses from the transmission line to the transducers based on the count of the counter.