Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.V.

Darrell L Rankin

Josef Vincent Koblish

Isaac J Kim

Szabolcs Deladi

David L McGee

Robert F Bencini

David M Flynn

Godefridus Antonius Harks

Alexander Franciscus Kolen

Steven Antonie Willem Fokkenrood

Ismail Guler

Robbie L Halvorson

John C Potosky

Mark D Mirigian

Mark Forrest

Siew-Hung Tee

Patricia Chen

A catheter adapted to measure a contact force includes a proximal segment, a distal segment, a spring segment extending from the proximal segment to the distal segment, and at least one inductive sensor. The at least one inductive sensor includes a first plate of high magnetic permeability material disposed on the proximal segment, a second plate of high magnetic permeability material disposed on the distal segment opposite the first plate, at least one first coil disposed adjacent to the first plate between the first plate and the second plate, and at least one second coil disposed adjacent to the second plate opposite the first coil between the first plate and the second plate. The second coil is electrically connected in series with the first coil. The first coil and the second coil are configured to output a signal indicative of displacement between the first coil and the second coil.

Inductive double flat coil displacement sensor

An open-irrigated ablation catheter system includes a catheter body, and an electrode tip body mounted on a distal portion of the catheter body. The electrode tip body includes a proximal end configured for connection to the catheter body and a wall defining an open interior region and including one or more irrigation ports. The wall is conductive for delivering radio frequency (RF) energy. The catheter system further includes a proximal insert positioned partially within the catheter body and at least partially within the proximal end of the electrode tip body. The proximal insert includes a fluid inlet for receiving a cooling fluid delivered via the catheter body. The proximal insert forms a flow path configured to direct the cooling fluid from the fluid inlet to cool the distal portion of the catheter body and to cool a junction of the catheter body and the electrode tip body.

Open-irrigated ablation catheter with proximal insert cooling

Devices and systems for ultrasonically imaging tissue and performing ablation therapy are disclosed. An ablation probe for treating and imaging body tissue includes an ablation electrode tip with a number of acoustic openings and a plurality of ultrasonic imaging sensors disposed within an interior lumen of the tip. The ultrasonic imaging sensors are supported within the interior lumen via an insert equipped with a number of recesses that receive the ultrasonic imaging sensors. An acoustically transparent shell disposed between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the acoustic openings forms a fluid channel in the acoustic pathway of the sensors. During an ablation procedure, cooling fluid from an external fluid source is delivered through the fluid channel, providing an acoustic coupling effect between the ultrasonic imaging sensors and the surrounding body tissue.

Ablation probe with fluid-based acoustic coupling for ultrasonic tissue imaging

To sum up, the present invention relates to an examination systemfor examining an associated tissue sample, where the examination system comprises an interventional devicewhich comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducers-and wherein the different ultrasound transducers are arranged to obtain images of different regions of an associated tissue sample, and wherein the examination system furthermore comprises a display devicearranged for showing the images so that each of their positions corresponds to the corresponding positions of the different adjacent tissue sample regions in the adjacent associated tissue sample. A possible advantage of the system may be that relevant information regarding the associated tissue sample is conveyed to an observer in a fast an intuitive manner.

Examination system with multiple ultrasound transducers

Devices and systems for ultrasonically imaging anatomical structures and performing ablation therapy within the body are disclosed. A combined ablation and ultrasound imaging probe includes an ablation electrode tip including an ablation electrode configured for delivering ablation energy, and a number of ultrasonic imaging sensors configured for imaging the tissue surrounding the probe. The ultrasonic imaging sensors are supported within the interior of the tip via a tip insert, and deliver ultrasonic waves through acoustic openings formed through the tip. The tip insert separates an interior lumen within the tip into a proximal fluid chamber and a distal fluid chamber. During an ablation procedure, the ultrasonic imaging sensors can be tasked to generate a number of ultrasonic images that can be displayed on a user interface.

Ablation probe with ultrasonic imaging capability

Ablation probe with fluid-based acoustic coupling for ultrasonic tissue imaging and treatment

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Milpitas, CA, United States of America

Darrell L Rankin