Ablative Cardiac Catheter System

Abstract

The present invention relates to a catheter system that can be used to treat atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias by ablating cardiac tissue comprising a catheter, a guide wire, and an ultrasonically driven mechanical ablation probe. The catheter system may further comprise means of delivering cryogenic energy to the mechanical ablation probe, to a region of the catheter in close proximity to the mechanical ablation probe, and/or to another region of the catheter. The catheter may further comprise means of rotating and steering the mechanical ablation probe.

1 . An ablation catheter system comprising:
 a. a catheter;   b. a guide wire within said catheter and running the length of said catheter;   c. an ultrasonically driven mechanical ablation probe at the distal end of said guide wire;   
     
     
         2 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle at the proximal end of said guide wire. 
     
     
         3 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 1 , further comprising control means allowing a surgeon to steer said ablation probe. 
     
     
         4 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 1 , further comprising control means allowing a surgeon to rotate said ablation probe. 
     
     
         5 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein said catheter is retractable as to allow said ablation probe to be completely and/or partially exposed. 
     
     
         6 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein said catheter has a closed tip enveloping said ablation probe. 
     
     
         7 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 6 , wherein said closed tip has a slit or a plurality of slits completely and/or partially penetrating said closed tip. 
     
     
         8 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 1 , further comprising a driving ultrasonic transducer in communication with said guide wire. 
     
     
         9 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 1 , further comprising an ultrasound control means permitting the user to regulate, control, and/or adjust pulse duration and/or pulse frequency. 
     
     
         10 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein said catheter comprises:
 a. a first lumen extending from or a point near the catheter's distal end to a point at or near the catheter's proximal end;   b. a second lumen extending from or a point near the catheter's distal end to a point at or near the catheter's proximal end;   c. an inlet at or near the proximal end of said first lumen;   d. an outlet at or near the proximal end of said second lumen; and   e. a junction between said first and second lumen permitting the flow of fluid and/or gas from said first lumen to said second lumen.   
     
     
         11 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 10 , wherein said junction between said first lumen and second lumen comprises a chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 10 , wherein said junction between said first lumen and said second lumen comprises a port or plurality of ports connecting said lumens. 
     
     
         13 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 10 , further comprising a source of cryogenic material connected to said first lumen. 
     
     
         14 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 13 , wherein said source of cryogenic material is connected to said first lumen by a hose. 
     
     
         15 . The ablation catheter of  claim 10 , further comprising a collection unit connected to said second lumen. 
     
     
         16 . The ablation catheter of  claim 15 , wherein said collection unit is connected to said second lumen by a hose. 
     
     
         17 . The ablation catheter of  claim 10 , further comprising a flow regulator permitting a surgeon to regulate and/or adjust the flow of a cryogenic material through said catheter. 
     
     
         18 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein said guide wire comprises:
 a. a first lumen extending from or a point near the guide wire's distal end to a point at or near the guide wire's proximal end;   b. a second lumen extending from or a point near the guide wire's distal end to a point at or near the guide wire's proximal end;   c. an inlet at or near the proximal end of said first lumen;   d. an outlet at or near the proximal end of said second lumen; and   e. a junction between said first and second lumen permitting the flow of fluid and/or gas from said first lumen to said second lumen.   
     
     
         19 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 18 , wherein said junction between said first lumen and second lumen comprises a chamber within the guide wire's distal end. 
     
     
         20 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 18 , wherein said junction between said first lumen and second lumen comprises a channel extending into the ablation probe. 
     
     
         21 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 18 , further comprising a source of cryogenic material connected to said first lumen. 
     
     
         22 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 21 , wherein said source of cryogenic material is connected to said first lumen by a hose. 
     
     
         23 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 18 , further comprising a collection unit connected to said second lumen. 
     
     
         24 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 23 , wherein said collection unit is connected to said second lumen by a hose. 
     
     
         25 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 18 , further comprising a flow regulator permitting a surgeon to regulate and/or adjust the flow of a cryogenic material through said guide wire. 
     
     
         26 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein said ablation probe is driven by ultrasound with a frequency ranging from approximately 20 kHz to approximately 20 MHz. 
     
     
         27 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein said ablation probe is driven by ultrasound with a preferred frequency ranging from approximately 20 kHz to approximately 50 kHz. 
     
     
         28 . The ablation catheter system of  claim 1 , wherein said ablation probe is driven by ultrasound with a most preferred frequency of approximately 30 kHz. 
     
     
         29 . An ablation probe comprising an ablative tip possessing a single or plurality of cutting surfaces, wherein said ablation probe is ultrasonically driven. 
     
     
         30 . The ablation probe of  claim 29 , wherein said cutting surface comprises a thin band spiraling around said ablative tip beginning at or near the distal end of the ablation probe and extending to or near the proximal end of said ablative tip. 
     
     
         31 . The ablation probe of  claim 29 , wherein said cutting surface comprises a thin band encircling said ablative tip. 
     
     
         32 . The ablation probe of  claim 29 , wherein said cutting surface comprises a small particle attached to the side or distal end of said ablative tip. 
     
     
         33 . The ablation probe of  claim 29 , wherein said cutting surface comprises a small protrusion extending from the side or distal end of said ablative tip. 
     
     
         34 . The ablation probe of  claim 29 , wherein said cutting surface comprises a thin band extending from or a point near the distal end of the ablation probe to or a point near the proximal end of said ablative tip. 
     
     
         35 . The ablation probe of  claim 29 , further comprising an ultrasound transducer at the proximal end of said ablative tip. 
     
     
         36 . The ablation probe of  claim 35 , further comprising a back drive at the proximal end of said ultrasound transducer. 
     
     
         37 . The ablation probe of  claim 36 , further comprising a chamber wherein said chamber extends from the proximal end of said back drive into or through said back drive. 
     
     
         38 . The ablation probe of  claim 35 , further comprising a chamber wherein said chamber extends from the proximal end of said ultrasonic transducer into or through said ultrasonic transducer. 
     
     
         39 . The ablation probe of  claim 29 , further comprising a chamber wherein said chamber extends from the proximal end of said ablative tip into or through said ablative tip. 
     
     
         40 . The ablation probe of  claim 29 , further comprising a coating of a pharmacological compound or mixture of pharmacological compounds over at least a portion of said ablative tip. 
     
     
         41 . A driving ultrasound transducer comprising a singular or plurality of piezo ceramic discs wherein said transducer drives a mechanical ablation probe. 
     
     
         42 . The driving ultrasound transducer of  claim 41 , wherein said ultrasonic transducer comprises a piezo ceramic disc. 
     
     
         43 . The driving ultrasound transducer of  claim 41 , wherein said ultrasonic transducer comprises a stack of piezo ceramic disc. 
     
     
         44 . The driving ultrasound transducer of  claim 41 , wherein said ultrasonic transducer comprises a pair or plurality of pairs of half cylindrical piezo ceramic discs aligned to form a cylinder. 
     
     
         45 . The driving ultrasound transducer of  claim 41 , wherein said ultrasonic transducer comprises a combination of cylindrical peizo ceramic discs and pairs of half cylindrical piezo ceramic discs aligned to a form a cylinder. 
     
     
         46 . The driving ultrasound transducer of  claim 41 , further comprising a chamber wherein said chamber extends from the proximal end of said ultrasonic transducer into or through said ultrasonic transducer.