Patent Description:
It is known to use ablation catheters for PVI procedures in the therapy of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. In such procedures, the pulmonary vein (PV) is electrically isolated from the left atrium by creating contiguous circumferential ablation lesions around the pulmonary vein ostium (PVO). Thus, irregular atrial contractions can be avoided by hindering undesired perturbing electrical signals generated within the PV from propagating into the left atrium.

Several types of AF ablation catheters are available including single point tip electrode catheters, circular multi-electrode loop catheters, and balloon-based ablation catheters using different energy sources. Examples include, a cryo-balloon catheter as described in documents <CIT> and <CIT>; a laser balloon catheter as described in documents <CIT> and <CIT>; an RF balloon catheter as described in <CIT>, anelectrode array catheter as described in document <CIT>; and an irrigated multi-electrodecatheter as described in <CIT>.

<CIT> relates to a multi-electrode, irrigated luminal catheter with a soft distal tip for mapping and ablating a tubular region. Particularly disclosed is a catheter tip with a soft distal loop and a stiffer proximal loop, the proximal loop having ablation ring electrodes, and the distal loop having ring electrodes for sensing electrical potentials.

<CIT> and <CIT> each describe a catheter with a helical distal portion and an ablation portion formed along the helix.

<CIT> discloses a radio-frequency ablation catheter having a spiral structure.

The known ablation catheters have several drawbacks.

For example, if a single irrigated tip is used to do a point-by-point ablation, this method is slow and tedious, and requires a skilled electrophysiology (EP) physician. Also, with a single irrigated tip, ablation lesion gaps are quite problematic and may require redo procedures.

One-shot balloon catheters can be rather non-compliant and sometimes slip out of the PVO. Moreover, such catheters require a relatively large French size delivery sheath. Multi-electrodes on a single circular loop structure may have tissue contact challenges because the single loop is not able to accommodate various PVO shapes and size due to the inherent variability in the human anatomy between individuals.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ablation catheter for PVI.

This is achieved by a catheter according to claim <NUM>.

The ablation catheter may be primarily configured for ablation in the PVO as well as other atrial regions of the human heart.

The three-dimensional spiral formed by the plurality of loop segments is a graduation of a helix with variable radiuses, wherein the ablation electrodes may be disposed circumferentially on the first loop segment. Hence, for example, the ablation portion may exhibit an essentially cyclone-shaped tip formed of the loop segments, which will also be referred to as helical loop segments in the following.

Due to the cyclone-shaped or helical structure and the flexibility of the loop segments, the ablation portion may better conform to the differing shapes of the PVO as compared to that of a single circular loop type ablation catheter. Thus, a good tissue contact may be achieved, which may result in a more targeted energy delivery and, potentially, shorter ablation times for creating contiguous lesions. In other words, the proposed ablation catheter may be particularly suitable for a High-Power/Short Duration ablation approach, which has become generally very appealing to EP physicians in recent years.

Further, the plurality of loop segments comprise a stabilizer loop segment, which does not exhibit any electrode, wherein the stabilizer loop segment is the most proximal loop segment of the plurality of loop segments. The stabilizer loop segment may also be referred to as a rear loop segment.

The rear loop segment may be configured to add lateral stability and structural support to the distal loop assembly when it is engaged in the pulmonary veins, such that the ablation electrodes may act on the PVO or other atrial region of the heart during the course of the ablation procedure. Since the stabilizer loop segment has no ablation electrodes, its shape and arrangement may be optimized for a stabilizing function, in particular during a PVI procedure when the ablation portion engages with the PV in the vicinity of the PVO.

For example, in an embodiment, a diameter of the stabilizer loop segment is smaller than a diameter of a neighboring loop segment, i. , of a neighboring loop section being arranged distal from the stabilizer loop segment. As a result, the ablation portion as a whole (including the stabilizer loop segment) may exhibit a barrel shaped contour or at least a semi-barrel shaped contour.

In an embodiment, also a second loop segment of the plurality of loop segments comprises a plurality of ablation electrodes. For example, the second loop segment and the first loop segment, each comprising several ablation electrodes, may be neighboring loop segments. In particular, the ablation electrodes of the second loop segment may be arranged in a staggered manner with respect to the ablation electrodes of the first loop segment.

With current PVI procedures being targeted more in the PV antrum and also some non-PV AF trigger sites in the atrium, the two helical ablation loop segments, each of which has ablation electrodes, allow a broader or wider ablation zone, somewhat comparable to the effect of a balloon ablation catheter.

To achieve this without adding too many more ablation electrodes (which might render it more difficult to create contiguous lesions), it may be advantageous to use relatively long ablation electrodes. For example, a length of the ablation electrodes may be equal to or greater than <NUM>.

In a preferred variant, the ablation electrodes may be sleeve-shaped or tubular. For example, a diameter of such a sleeve-shaped or tubular ablation electrode may be equal to or greater than <NUM>. Further, as mentioned above, a length of the sleeve-shaped or tubular ablation electrode may be equal to or greater than <NUM>.

As a suitable material, the ablation electrodes may comprise, for example, at least one of gold and a platinum/iridium alloy.

In accordance with an embodiment, the ablation catheter is configured for delivering an electrical RF signal to vascular tissue via the ablation electrodes. In other words, the ablation catheter may be configured for carrying out RF ablation. Currently, RF is still the preferred energy over other energies due to its long history of use in PVI.

For example, the ablation catheter may be configured for being connected to a multi-channel RF generator which is configured for delivering RF energy and for transmitting electrogram signals for PVI procedures in AF patients.

In other embodiments, the proposed spiral-shaped architecture of the ablation portion may be applied to an ablation catheter utilizing energy sources other than RF, such as electro-poration, pulsed field ablation, or cryoablation.

Preferably, the ablation electrodes are irrigated ablation electrodes, such as saline irrigated ablation electrodes. To this end, the ablation electrodes can have vents and/or plurality of micro-holes or pores and to facilitate delivery of irrigation fluid.

Thus, the ablation electrodes may be cooled by an irrigation fluid during operation. Further, a conductive irrigation liquid may support the delivery of electrical energy (such as RF signals) to the vascular tissue, thereby allowing for the targeted creation of contiguous lesions.

For example, when the ablation electrodes are sleeve-shaped or tubular, a tubular wall of each ablation electrode may comprise helical irrigation vents or cuts. Thus, a throughput of the irrigation may be spread uniformly along the length of the ablation electrode, particularly for improved cooling. An additional advantage of the helical vents or cuts particularly for electrode with longer length (<NUM> or greater) is that the electrode becomes more flexible and therefore be more conforming to tissue contact at the PVOs in contrast to a solid ring electrode.

For example, a lumen for saline irrigation delivery provided in the loop segments can have various stiffness and cross-sectional shapes to deliver saline irrigation to all ablation electrodes homogeneously.

Furthermore, some or all of the ablation electrodes may comprise one or more temperature sensors to monitor an electrode temperature, and provide feedback to, e. , a multi-channel RF generator for controlling ablation parameters, such as power and irrigation flow.

It is also within the scope of the present invention that the ablation portion may comprise a plurality of mapping electrodes, the mapping electrodes being configured for receiving electrical signals from vascular tissue. This may enable mapping and ablation with a single ablation catheter for PVI as well as ablating some non-PV triggers for AF patients.

For example, in an embodiment, a third loop segment of the plurality of loop segments may exhibit a plurality of mapping electrodes. Additionally or alternatively, mapping electrodes may also be arranged - in addition to the ablation electrodes - on the first loop segment and/or, where applicable, on the second loop segment as mentioned above. A plurality of mapping electrodes can also be incorporated distal to the plurality of ablation electrodes, or medially within two ablation electrodes. Furthermore, the third loop segment may comprise ablation electrodes in addition to or instead of the mapping electrodes.

In an advantageous embodiment, the ablation portion, and in particular the loop segments, comprise a shape memory material. Preferably, the shape memory material is a super-elastic material (such as a super-elastic alloy), which is to say that the material is elastic and has a shape memory property. For example, nitinol is a biocompatible super-elastic alloy that is suitable for the present purpose.

In one variant, the ablation portion, and in particular the loop segments, may comprise an inner support element, such as an inner support wire, having such a shape memory or super-elastic property. The inner support wire may be a nitinol wire, for example. The shape memory support wire can have various stiffness and cross-sectional shapes.

In an embodiment, the ablation catheter further comprises a steerable delivery sheath. Thus, in operation, a position of the ablation portion may be easily adjusted at the target visceral tissue until the contact of each ablation electrode is satisfied.

Advantageously, in some embodiments, the proposed spiral-shaped configuration of the ablation portion may require a smaller sized transseptal sheath than those used with existing balloon ablation catheters.

In another embodiment, the catheter, particularly the ablation catheter, further comprises at least one or two pulling wire(s) from the handle in the catheter proximal end and attached to the distal section of the main shaft to enable uni or bi-directional deflection of the distal loop segments. Additional pulling wire can be included to compress or adjust the diameters of the loop segments. These catheter features allow further adjustment capabilities to improve the alignment of the loop segments within the PVO.

The catheter, particularly the ablation catheter, having a multi-ablation electrode configuration disclosed herein addresses the drawbacks of the available approaches mentioned above. Further, the spiral architecture of the ablation portion, preferably in combination with irrigated flexible ablation electrodes, addresses tissue contact challenges.

All aspects and features of the embodiments described above and in the following can be combined with each other unless explicitly stated otherwise.

The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description and the embodiments shown in the drawings.

<FIG> schematically and exemplarily illustrates a distal portion of an ablation catheter <NUM> in accordance with one or more embodiments. The catheter <NUM> has an elongated circular catheter shaft <NUM>, which may comprise a handle at a proximal end (not illustrated) to manipulate the deflections of the depicted distal end <NUM>-<NUM> of the catheter shaft.

Arranged at the illustrated distal end <NUM>-<NUM> of the catheter shaft <NUM> is an ablation portion <NUM>, which comprises a plurality of compressible loop segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Each of a first loop segment <NUM> and a neighboring second loop segment <NUM> exhibits several ablation electrodes <NUM>, which are configured for delivering energy to vascular tissue. In particular, the ablation catheter <NUM> may be configured for delivering an electrical RF signal to vascular tissue via the ablation electrodes <NUM>. For example, the ablation electrodes <NUM> may consist of or comprise gold and/or a platinum/iridium alloy.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the ablation electrodes <NUM> of the second loop segment <NUM> are arranged in a staggered manner with respect to the ablation electrodes <NUM> of the first loop segment <NUM>.

In addition, a third loop segment <NUM> is provided, wherein the third loop segment <NUM> is the most distal loop segment <NUM> of the plurality of loop segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In accordance with the present exemplary embodiment, the third loop segment <NUM> may therefore also be referred to as a front loop segment <NUM>. The third loop segment exhibits a plurality of mapping electrodes <NUM>, which are configured for receiving electrical signals from vascular tissue.

Furthermore, the plurality of loop segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a stabilizer loop segment <NUM>, which does not exhibit any electrodes. The stabilizer loop segment <NUM> is the most proximal loop segment of the plurality of loop segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and may therefore also be referred to as the rear loop segment <NUM>.

Together, the loop segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> form a (compressible) three-dimensional spiral, which features a cyclone-shaped tip portion. It should be noted that respective diameters of the loop segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are such that each loop segment <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> rests on a neighboring loop segment <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> along its entire circumference when the three-dimensional spiral is compressed. This is more clearly depicted in <FIG> and will be further explained in the description of <FIG> below.

As can be seen in both <FIG> and <FIG>, a diameter of the stabilizer loop segment <NUM> is smaller than a diameter of a neighboring first loop segment <NUM>. In combination with the cyclone-shaped arrangement of the first, second and third loops <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> (having decreasing diameters in a direction from proximal to distal) this results in an essentially barrel-shaped contour of the ablation portion.

The loop segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise a shape memory material, for example, in the form of an inner structural support wire (not illustrated) having a shape memory property. For example, a nitinol wire may be provided as an inner structural support wire. In particular, the loop segments <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may have super-elastic properties.

Thus, the ablation portion <NUM> may be brought from a biased configuration (e. as depicted in <FIG>) in a different, constrained configuration, and vice versa. For example, for the purpose of delivery to a target region in the human body by means of a (fixed or steerable) delivery sheath <NUM>, which may also be referred to as an introducer sheath <NUM>, the ablation portion <NUM> may be constrained into an essentially elongate shape. At the target position, upon exiting a distal end of the introducer sheath <NUM>, the ablation portion <NUM> may then recoil to its original (biased) shape.

<FIG> schematically and exemplarily illustrates a delivery path for an ablation catheter <NUM> leading to a pulmonary vein ostium PVO of a human heart. For orientation, the inferior vena cava IVC, the right atrium RA, the right ventricle RV, the left atrium LA, the left ventricle LV, as well as pulmonary veins PV, each with a pulmonary vein ostium PVO, are shown. The large white arrows indicate a delivery path passing through the inferior vena cava IVC, the right atrium RA, transseptally through the septal wall SW, and the left atrium LA, finally leading to the region of a pulmonary vein ostium PVO.

<FIG> schematically and exemplarily illustrates a distal portion of the ablation catheter <NUM> located on a pulmonary vein ostium PVO. As illustrated, the spiral-shaped ablation portion <NUM> may be placed at the antrum of the pulmonary veins PV to achieve pulmonary vein isolation PVI ablation. The distal end <NUM>-<NUM> of the catheter shaft <NUM> and/or the steerable sheath <NUM> can be deflected to ensure the ablation portion <NUM> is properly aligned with the opening angle of the pulmonary vein ostium PVO. For example, the positioning of the ablation portion <NUM> may be adjusted until the contact for each ablation electrode <NUM> and/or mapping electrode <NUM> is satisfied. If needed, the steerable sheath <NUM> can be used to gently push the ablation portion <NUM> to maintain stability.

<FIG> shows a compressed state of the ablation portion <NUM>, wherein each loop segment <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> rests on a neighboring loop segment <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> along its entire circumference. In particular, the rear loop segment <NUM> provides lateral stability and structural support to the distal loop assembly <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Once the ablation portion is in a suitable position, ablation can be performed through the ablation electrodes <NUM> simultaneously, sequentially, or individually in a unipolar fashion, or in a bipolar mode between adjacent ablation electrodes <NUM> within the same loop <NUM>, <NUM> or across the loop <NUM>, <NUM>. During the ablation the physician can observe the reduction of PV potentials with the mapping electrodes <NUM> and/or ablation electrodes <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically and exemplarily illustrates a distal portion of an ablation catheter <NUM> comprising irrigated ablation electrodes <NUM> in accordance with one or more embodiments. In particular, <FIG> shows an irrigation fluid, such as saline irrigation fluid, being irrigated through irrigation vents and/or a plurality of micro-holes or pores provided in the ablation electrodes <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of the distal portion as shown in <FIG>, wherein particularly a <NUM>-<NUM>% overlap of the tube or French diameter from one loop to the adjacent loop is illustrated. As shown in <FIG>, each loop segment <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> rests on an adjacent loop along its entire circumference, the tube or French diameter of loop segment <NUM> (referred to as rear loop segment) overlaps the adjacent tube diameter of loop <NUM> by <NUM>-<NUM>%. The loop diameter of loop segment <NUM> is undersized to the loop diameter of the loop segment <NUM>. The same can be said for loop segment <NUM> which is undersize in loop diameter of adjacent loop segment <NUM>. Likewise, loop segment <NUM> is undersize undersize to loop segment <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically and exemplarily illustrates an ablation electrode <NUM> of an ablation catheter <NUM> in accordance with one or more embodiments. The ablation electrode <NUM> is essentially sleeve-shaped or tubular.

A diameter D of such a sleeve-shaped or tubular ablation electrode <NUM> may be equal to or greater than <NUM>. A length L of the sleeve-shaped or tubular ablation electrode <NUM> may be equal to or greater than <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A catheter (<NUM>), particularly an ablation catheter, comprising an elongated catheter shaft (<NUM>) and an ablation portion (<NUM>) being arranged at a distal end (<NUM>-<NUM>) of the catheter shaft (<NUM>), wherein:
- the ablation portion (<NUM>) comprises a plurality of loop segments (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
- at least one first loop segment (<NUM>) of the plurality of loop segments (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) exhibits one or more ablation electrodes (<NUM>), the one or more ablation electrodes (<NUM>) being configured for delivering energy to vascular tissue;
- the loop segments (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) together form a three-dimensional spiral;
- respective diameters of the loop segments (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) are such that each loop segment (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) rests on a neighboring loop segment (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) when the three-dimensional spiral is compressed,
- the plurality of loop segments (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprises a stabilizer loop segment (<NUM>), which does not exhibit any electrodes, wherein the stabilizer loop segment (<NUM>) is the most proximal loop segment of the plurality of loop segments (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
- characterized in that, the three-dimensional spiral formed by the plurality of loop segments is a graduation of a helix with variable radii.