Passively self-cooled electrode design for ablation catheters

Abstract

A self-cooling electrode for use with an ablation catheter has greater surface area that allows electrode to dissipate heat to the blood pool more effectively and increased thermal mass, and, therefor greater heating capacity/thermal conductivity for improved heat transfer between the electrode and tissue for more effective tissue heating. The electrode design allows increased power to be delivered with minimized risk of overheating or coagulation at the tissue-electrode interface. The increased thermal mass and thermal conductivity of the electrode design are achieved with a substantially solid electrode body with thick walls. Cooling and increased heat exchange are achieved with an alternating pattern of channels and projections that collectively define a plurality of edges either parallel or perpendicular to the electrode axis. Blood or other biological fluids can flow through the channels along the exterior surface of the electrode to help cool the electrode while heat is simultaneously transferred from the electrode body, edges and projections to the surrounding tissue. A catheter having a self cooled tip electrode, in conjunction with one or more ring electrodes, may be used to form a large virtual electrode capable of creating longer, deeper tissue lesions.