Insulated ablation catheter devices and methods of use

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a catheter device sized and shaped for vascular access that has an elongate body extending between a proximal end and a distal end. Further, the elongate body has at least one inner lumen configured to receive a fluid. The catheter also has an ablation electrode configured to provide ablative energy, wherein the electrode is located distally along the elongate body and includes a passageway fluidly connected to the lumen of the elongate body. Also, the catheter has a sensor configured to provide a signal representative of temperature, and an insulating chamber extending at least partially about the ablation electrode and configured to at least partially insulate the sensor.

1 . A catheter device configured for vascular access, comprising:
 an elongate body extending between a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongate body includes a lumen configured to receive a fluid;   an ablation electrode configured to provide ablative energy, wherein the ablation electrode is located distally along the elongate body and includes an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a passageway fluidly connected to the lumen of the elongate body;   a sensor configured to provide a signal representative of temperature; and   an insulating chamber extending at least partially around the outer surface of the ablation electrode and configured to at least partially insulate the sensor from the ablation electrode, the insulating chamber defining a fixed volume.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the insulating chamber is spaced apart from the outer surface of the ablation electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating chamber includes at least one of a fluid and a solid material. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid includes at least one of air, nitrogen, water, and a saline solution. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the solid material includes at least one of a foam, a polymer, and a ceramic material. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor is located on the inner surface of the insulating chamber, spaced apart from the outer surface of the ablation electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further including at least one ring electrode located proximal to a distal end of the ablation electrode and along the elongate body. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , further including a second insulating chamber located proximal to at least one of the at least one ring electrodes. 
     
     
         9 . A method for ablating tissue, comprising the steps of:
 positioning an ablation electrode adjacent tissue to be ablated, wherein the ablation electrode includes an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a passageway fluidly connected to a lumen of an elongate body of a catheter device, an insulating chamber extending at least partially around the outer surface of the ablation electrode, the insulating chamber defining a fixed volume, and a temperature sensor disposed within the insulating chamber and at least partially insulated from the ablation electrode;   delivering fluid to the lumen to cool the ablation electrode; and   delivering ablative energy to the ablation electrode.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 10 , further including determining a temperature of the region external to the ablation electrode. 
     
     
         11 . An ablation electrode device configured to provide ablative energy to cardiac tissue, comprising:
 a proximal section configured for attachment to an elongate body of a catheter device;   a passageway configured to connect to a lumen of the elongate body, wherein the passageway is configured to receive a fluid;   a sensor configured to provide a signal representative of a temperature of a region external to the ablation electrode; and   an insulating chamber extending only partially around an outer surface of the ablation electrode, wherein proximal and distal ends of the ablation electrode extend beyond the insulating chamber, wherein the sensor is disposed on an inner surface of the insulating chamber, spaced apart from the outer surface of the ablation electrode, the insulating chamber configured to at least partially insulate the sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The electrode device of  claim 11 , wherein the insulating chamber extends circumferentially around the ablation electrode. 
     
     
         13 . The electrode device of  claim 11 , wherein the insulating chamber includes at least one of a fluid and a solid material, wherein the fluid includes at least one of air, nitrogen, water, and a saline solution, and the solid material includes at least one of a foam, a polymer, and a ceramic material. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The electrode device of  claim 11 , further including at least one ring electrode located proximal to a distal end of the ablation electrode and along the ablation electrode. 
     
     
         16 . The electrode device of  claim 15 , further including a second insulating chamber located proximal to at least one of the at least one ring electrodes. 
     
     
         17 . The electrode device of  claim 11 , further including one or more irrigation apertures fluidly connected to the passageway. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing an ablation electrode, comprising the steps of:
 forming a passageway in an ablation electrode, the passageway configured to connect to a lumen of an elongate body of a catheter device, wherein the passageway is configured to receive a fluid;   providing an insulating chamber with a fixed volume extending at least partially around an outer surface of the ablation electrode; and   attaching a sensor to an inner surface of the insulating chamber, wherein the sensor is spaced apart from the outer surface of the ablation electrode and is configured to provide a signal representative of a temperature of a region external to the ablation electrode.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the insulating chamber is filled with at least one of a fluid and a solid material, wherein the fluid includes at least one of air, nitrogen, water, and a saline solution, and the solid material includes at least one of a foam, a polymer, and a ceramic material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the insulating chamber is formed from at least one of an alloy, a polymer, and a ceramic material. 
     
     
         21 . The electrode device of  claim 11 , wherein the insulating chamber includes a sidewall connected to the outer surface of the ablation electrode, wherein the sidewall is insulated from the ablation electrode.