Ablation catheter apparatus with one or more electrodes

Abstract

A radio frequency (RF) ablation catheter has a flexible distal end portion so that it can be deflected to position an antenna disposed in the distal end portion adjacent a tissue site to be treated. At least one electrical conductor is coupled to the antenna and extends through the catheter to the proximal end of the catheter to a connector at the proximal end of the catheter for connection to a power supply for the RF antenna. At least one electrode is disposed at the distal end portion of the catheter and electrically coupled to the proximal end connector for connection to a monitor. The electrode is of a flexible, electrically conductive material such as conductive polymer material. The electrode may be an electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode.

1 . An RF ablation catheter apparatus, comprising: 
 an elongate catheter adapted for insertion into a body vessel of a patient, the catheter having a proximal end and a distal end portion, at least the distal end portion of the catheter being flexible for allowing the distal end portion of the catheter to be deflected;    a radio-frequency (“RF”) antenna disposed at the distal end portion of the catheter and adapted to receive input RF energy for the ablation of biological tissue;    an electrical connector at the proximal end of the catheter for connection to a power supply for the RF antenna; and    at least one electrode disposed at the distal end portion of the catheter and electrically coupled to the connector at the proximal end of the catheter for connection to a monitor;    the electrode being of a flexible, electrically conductive material.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode is an electrocardiogram (“ECG”) electrode.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode material is an at least substantially non-metallic material.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the electrode material is a flexible conductive polymer material.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises a flexible polymer material loaded with a conductive material.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polyolefin, polypropylene, polycarbonate, nylon and thermoplastic elastomer material.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the conductive material is selected from the group consisting of micro-carbon spheres, carbon particles, carbon nanotubes, and nickel dust.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one electrical conductor extending through the catheter and coupled at a first end to the antenna and to the proximal end connector at a second end.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter comprises a tubular body and the electrode comprises a ring mounted on said tubular body.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least two spaced electrodes are disposed at the distal end portion of the catheter.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the tubular body at the distal end of the catheter is of non-conductive material and said electrodes comprise spaced rings on the non-conductive portion of said tubular body.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode comprises an elongate sleeve at the distal end portion of said catheter.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the antenna comprises a helical coil embedded in said electrode sleeve, and at least one electrical conductor for connecting the antenna to an RF power source to provide an electrical connection from said electrode sleeve to said proximal end connector.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the electrical conductor is coupled to a first end of the helical coil and a second electrical conductor is coupled to a second end of the helical coil and extends through the catheter to the proximal end connector.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising a second electrode of flexible, electrically conductive material spaced from said conductive electrode sleeve.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising an outer layer of non-conductive material extending over at least part of the electrode sleeve, and a second electrode of flexible, electrically conductive material mounted on said outer layer.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the second electrode comprises an end cap extending over the distal end of the catheter and at least part of the said outer layer.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising an electrical conductor extending through said catheter and coupled to said end cap for electrically connecting the end cap to the proximal end connector of the catheter.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor mounted in the distal end portion of the catheter and a pair of thermocouple wires connected to said temperature sensor and extending through the catheter to said proximal end connector.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said temperature sensor is coupled to the electrode and one of said thermocouple wires further comprises the electrical coupling from the second electrode to the proximal end connector.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the electrode comprises an end cap at the distal end of the catheter, and the temperature sensor is embedded in the end cap.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the catheter comprises a tubular body extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter, the tubular body being of non-conductive material, and an outer sleeve of conductive material mounted over the distal end portion of the tubular body and containing the RF antenna, the electrode comprising a ring electrically isolated from the outer sleeve.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the electrode ring is mounted over the tubular body at a location spaced from the outer sleeve.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the outer sleeve comprises a second electrode electrically coupled to the proximal end connector.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising a layer of non-conductive material extending along at least part of the length of the outer sleeve, and a second electrode mounted on said layer of non-conductive material.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a deflection member adapted to control deflection of the distal end portion of the catheter.  
   
   
       27 . An RF ablation catheter apparatus, comprising: 
 an elongate catheter adapted for insertion into a body vessel of a patient, the catheter having a proximal end and a distal end portion, at least the distal end portion of the catheter being flexible for allowing the distal end portion of the catheter to be deflected;    a radio-frequency antenna disposed at the distal end portion of the catheter and adapted to receive input RF energy for ablation of biological tissue;    an electrical connector at the proximal end of the catheter for connection to a power supply for the RF antenna;    a pair of inner and outer coaxial electrical conductors extending through the cathode from said antenna to said electrical connector; and    at least one electrode disposed at the distal end portion of the catheter and electrically coupled to the connector at the proximal end of the catheter for connection to a monitor, the electrode being of a flexible, electrically conductive material.    
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the antenna comprises a helical coil embedded in the distal end portion of the catheter, the coil having first and second ends, and the coaxial electrical conductors being coupled to the first and second ends of the coil, respectively.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the electrode comprises an elongate sleeve at the distal end portion of the catheter.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising a second electrode of flexible, electrically conductive material spaced from the conductive electrode sleeve.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the antenna is embedded in said electrode sleeve.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein at least two spaced electrodes of flexible, electrically conductive material are disposed at the distal end portion of the catheter and coupled to the electrical connector for connection to a monitor.  
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the electrode material is a flexible conductive polymer material.  
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the electrodes comprise spaced electrode rings.