Systems and methods for treating a hollow anatomical structure

Abstract

A catheter includes multiple primary leads to deliver energy for ligating a hollow anatomical structure. Each of the primary leads includes a resistive element located at the working end of the catheter. Separation is maintained between the leads such that each lead can individually receive power. The catheter can include a lumen to accommodate a guide wire or to allow fluid delivery. Energy is applied until the diameter of the hollow anatomical structure is reduced to the point where occlusion is achieved. In one embodiment, a balloon is inflated to place the resistive elements into apposition with a hollow anatomical structure and to occlude the structure before the application of energy. The inflated balloon impairs blood flow and facilitates the infusion of saline, or medication, to the hollow anatomical structure in order to reduce the occurrence of coagulation and to improve the heating of the structure by the catheter.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for treatment of a hollow anatomical structure (HAS), the apparatus comprising:
 a catheter sized for insertion into the HAS, the catheter including an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a working length adjacent the distal end; and   a plurality of energy application devices positioned sequentially along a longitudinal axis of the catheter along the working length;   wherein the energy application devices are configured to be energized sequentially, such that each energy application device is energized for a preset dwell time, and after the dwell time has elapsed a next one of the energy application devices is energized for the preset dwell time.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the dwell time is approximately 0.2 seconds. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each of the energy application devices is energized for a total of approximately 0.6 seconds during each cycle. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein three of the energy application devices are energized at a time. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein during a first treatment cycle a first one, a second one, and a third one of the energy application devices are energized, and during a second treatment cycle the second one, the third one, and a fourth one of the energy application devices are energized. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein during a third treatment cycle the third one, the fourth one, and a fifth one of the energy application devices are energized. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the energy application devices comprise electrically resistive coils. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one insulative outer sleeve encasing the resistive coils so as to prevent electrical contact and electrical conduction with tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one temperature sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of temperature sensors, each of the temperature sensors corresponding to one of the energy application devices, such that each of the energy application devices is individually temperature controlled. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the sequential energy application devices may be used in a power control mode that relies on manual energy control. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a temperature sensor associated with a distal-most one of the energy application devices, wherein the distal-most one of the energy application devices is used for an initial treatment, and successive ones of the energy application devices use a same energy-time profile as the distal-most one of the energy application devices. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein energizing each of the energy application devices comprises multiplexing through each of the energy application devices. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the dwell time spans a duration from a start of a treatment of an adjacent portion of the HAS until a completion of the treatment of the adjacent portion of the HAS. 
     
     
         16 . A method for treating a hollow anatomical structure (HAS), the method comprising:
 inserting a catheter into the HAS, the catheter including
 an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a working length adjacent the distal end; and 
 a plurality of energy application devices positioned sequentially along a longitudinal axis of the catheter along the working length; 
   advancing the catheter through the HAS until the working length is located at a treatment site; and   applying energy sequentially to the energy application devices, such that each energy application device is energized for a preset dwell time, and after the dwell time has elapsed a next one of the energy application devices is energized for the preset dwell time, thereby heating and constricting a lumen of the HAS at the treatment site.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dwell time is approximately 0.2 seconds. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein each of the energy application devices is energized for a total of approximately 0.6 seconds during each cycle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein three of the energy application devices are energized at a time. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein during a first treatment cycle a first one, a second one, and a third one of the energy application devices are energized, and during a second treatment cycle the second one, the third one, and a fourth one of the energy application devices are energized. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein during a third treatment cycle the third one, the fourth one, and a fifth one of the energy application devices are energized. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the energy application devices comprise electrically resistive coils. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the energy application devices further comprise at least one insulative outer sleeve encasing the resistive coils so as to prevent electrical contact and electrical conduction with tissue. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the energy application devices further comprise at least one temperature sensor. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the energy application devices further comprise a plurality of temperature sensors, each of the temperature sensors corresponding to one of the energy application devices, such that each of the energy application devices is individually temperature controlled. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising using the sequential energy application devices in a power control mode that relies on manual energy control. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a temperature sensor associated with a distal-most one of the energy application devices, wherein the distal-most one of the energy application devices is used for an initial treatment, and successive ones of the energy application devices use a same energy-time profile as the distal-most one of the energy application devices. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein energizing each of the energy application devices comprises multiplexing through each of the energy application devices. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dwell time spans a duration from a start of a treatment of an adjacent portion of the HAS until a completion of the treatment of the adjacent portion of the HAS.