Irrigated ablation catheter with multiple segmented ablation electrodes

Abstract

In one embodiment, an irrigated catheter ablation apparatus comprises an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one fluid lumen extending longitudinally therein; and a plurality of segmented ablation electrodes on a distal portion of the elongated body. The electrodes are spaced from the proximal end and from the distal end of the elongated body by electrically nonconductive segments. The electrodes are spaced from each other longitudinally by electrically nonconductive segments. For each electrode that is longitudinally disposed next to one of the nonconductive segments, an edge is formed between an electrode end of the electrode and a nonconductive segment end of the nonconductive segment. A plurality of elution holes are disposed adjacent to the edges. A plurality of ducts establish fluid communication between the elution holes and the fluid lumen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ablation catheter apparatus comprising:
 an elongated body comprising a distal end and a proximal end; and   a plurality of segmented ablation electrodes on a distal portion of the elongated body, the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes being spaced from each other longitudinally by a set of electrically nonconductive segments.   
     
     
         2 . The ablation catheter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes include at least one of a coil ring electrode and/or a ring electrode 
     
     
         3 . The ablation catheter apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a tip electrode disposed at the distal end of the elongated body. 
     
     
         4 . The ablation catheter apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the tip electrode is an ablation tip electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The ablation catheter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the elongated body includes a material which is preformed into a substantially closed loop having the plurality of longitudinally spaced segmented ablation electrodes and the electrically nonconductive segments. 
     
     
         6 . The ablation catheter apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more conducting wires coupled with and supplying energy to the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes. 
     
     
         7 . The ablation catheter apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more conducting wires coupled with the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes;   an energy source supplying energy via the one or more conducting wires to the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes; and   a controller configured to control the energy source to supply energy to the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes in one of an independent manner, a sequential manner, or a simultaneous manner.   
     
     
         8 . The ablation catheter apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of temperature sensors disposed on and in contact with the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes at the electrode ends.   
     
     
         9 . The ablation catheter apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 one or more conducting wires coupled with the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes;   an energy source supplying energy via the one or more conducting wires to the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes; and   a controller configured to control the energy source to supply energy to the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes based on signals received from the plurality of temperature sensors so as to control temperatures of the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes.   
     
     
         10 . The ablation catheter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body further comprises at least one fluid lumen extending longitudinally therein, the ablation catheter apparatus further comprising:
 a plurality of elution holes disposed adjacent to edges of the segmented ablation electrodes; and   a plurality of ducts establishing fluid communication between the elution holes and the at least one fluid lumen.   
     
     
         11 . The ablation catheter apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of elution holes are disposed in the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes. 
     
     
         12 . A method of ablating tissue a catheter that includes an elongated body having a distal end and a proximal end, and a plurality of segmented ablation electrodes on a distal portion of the elongated body, the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes being spaced from each other longitudinally by a set of electrically nonconductive segments, the method comprising:
 supplying energy to the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes to ablate tissue.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 measuring temperatures of the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes at locations each substantially abutting edges of the segmented ablation electrodes; and   controlling the energy supplied to the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes based on the measured temperatures so as to control the temperatures of the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 controlling the energy supplied to the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes in one of an independent manner, a sequential manner, or a simultaneous manner.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the distal portion of the elongated body includes a material which is preformed into a substantially closed loop having the plurality of longitudinally spaced segmented ablation electrodes and the electrically nonconductive segments. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising placing the substantially closed loop around at least one vessel ostium in a chamber of a patient to ablate the tissue on a chamber wall of the chamber around the at least one vessel ostium. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one vessel ostium comprises at least one pulmonary vein. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of segmented ablation electrodes include at least one of a coil ring electrode and/or a ring electrode. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising a tip electrode disposed at the distal end of the elongated body. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the tip electrode is an ablation tip electrode.