Cryoablation Devices And Related Methods

Abstract

Disclosed herein are cryoablation devices and methods of using the same, including to ablate gallbladders. In certain implementations, the device is a catheter that has an expandable cryogen balloon for expansion within a gallbladder and at least one suction opening for applying suction within the gallbladder. According to other implementations, the device has a cryogen probe and a suction catheter slidably positioned on the probe.

1 . A gallbladder ablation device comprising:
 (a) an elongate body;   (b) an ablation component associated with the elongate body, wherein the ablation component is configured to be positionable within an interior of a gallbladder; and   (c) at least one first suction opening associated with the elongate body, wherein the at least one first suction opening is configured to apply suction to the interior of the gallbladder when the ablation component is positioned in the interior of the gallbladder such that the gallbladder contracts around the ablation component.   
     
     
         2 . The ablation device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body is a catheter body, and wherein the ablation component comprises an expandable balloon attached to the elongate body, wherein the expandable balloon is configured to receive an ablation fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The ablation device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one first suction opening is defined in the elongate body distal or proximal to the ablation component. 
     
     
         4 . The ablation device of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one second suction opening defined in the elongate body, wherein the at least one first suction opening is defined in the elongate body distal to the ablation component and the at least one second suction opening is defined in the elongate body proximal to the ablation component. 
     
     
         5 . The ablation device of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate body comprises a suction lumen defined therein, wherein the suction lumen is in fluidic communication with the at least one first suction opening. 
     
     
         6 . The ablation device of  claim 2 , wherein the expandable balloon comprises at least two lobes, wherein the two lobes are disposed radially adjacent to each other along a length of the elongate body, wherein the at least two lobes define gaps disposed therebetween. 
     
     
         7 . The ablation device of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one first suction opening comprises a plurality of at least one first suction openings defined along the length of the elongate body and within the gaps. 
     
     
         8 . The ablation device of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate body comprises a guidewire lumen defined within the elongate body. 
     
     
         9 . The ablation device of  claim 2 , wherein the expandable balloon comprises at least two lobes, wherein the two lobes are disposed axially adjacent to each other along a length of the elongate body. 
     
     
         10 . The ablation device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body is a probe body, and wherein the ablation component comprises an elongate slidable body slidably positioned over the probe body, wherein the at least one first suction opening is defined in the elongate slidable body. 
     
     
         11 . The ablation device of  claim 10 , further comprising a suction lumen defined within the elongate slidable body, wherein the at least one suction opening is in fluidic communication with the suction lumen. 
     
     
         12 . The ablation device of  claim 1 , wherein the ablation fluid is a cryogen. 
     
     
         13 . The ablation device of  claim 12 , wherein the cryogen is liquid cryogen or gas cryogen. 
     
     
         14 . An ablation device comprising:
 (a) a catheter body;   (b) an expandable balloon operably coupled to the catheter body, wherein the expandable balloon is configured to receive an ablation fluid, wherein the expandable balloon is further configured to be positionable within a gallbladder;   (c) an ablation conduit associated with the catheter body, wherein the ablation conduit is in fluidic communication with the expandable balloon such that the ablation fluid is transportable to the expandable balloon via the conduit;   (d) at least one first suction opening defined in the catheter body, wherein the at least one first suction opening is disposed within the gallbladder when the expandable balloon is positioned with the gallbladder; and   (e) a suction lumen defined within the catheter body, wherein the suction lumen is in fluidic communication with the at least one first suction opening,   wherein the device is configured to apply suction to an interior of the gallbladder via the suction lumen and the at least one first suction opening when the expandable balloon is positioned within the gallbladder and receives the ablation fluid, whereby the gallbladder contracts around the expandable balloon.   
     
     
         15 . The ablation device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one first suction opening is defined in the elongate body distal or proximal to the ablation component. 
     
     
         16 . The ablation device of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one second suction opening defined in the elongate body, wherein the at least one first suction opening is defined in the elongate body distal to the ablation component and the at least one second suction opening is defined in the elongate body proximal to the ablation component. 
     
     
         17 . The ablation device of  claim 14 , wherein the catheter body comprises a guidewire lumen defined within the catheter body. 
     
     
         18 . A ablation device comprising:
 (a) a probe comprising an elongate probe body configured to be positionable within an interior of a gallbladder;   (b) an elongate slidable body comprising:
 (i) a probe lumen defined within the elongate slidable body, wherein the elongate slidable body is slidably positioned over the elongate probe body such that the elongate probe body is disposed within the probe lumen; and 
 (ii) a suction lumen defined within the elongate slidable body; 
   (c) at least one suction opening defined in an outer wall of the elongate slidable body, wherein the at least one suction opening is in fluid communication with the suction lumen; and   (d) a fluid tube coupled with the elongate slidable body, the fluid tube comprising a fluid tube lumen in fluid communication with the suction lumen of the elongate slidable body,   wherein the elongate slidable body is configured to be positioned within the interior of the gallbladder and to apply suction to the interior of the gallbladder via the at least one suction opening when the elongate probe body is positioned in the interior of the gallbladder, whereby the gallbladder contracts around the elongate slidable body.   
     
     
         19 . The ablation device of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one suction opening comprises a plurality of suction openings defined in the outer wall of the elongate slidable body. 
     
     
         20 . The ablation device of  claim 18 , further comprising a deployable retention structure disposed along a length of the elongate slidable body.