System and method for visualizing tissue with an icg dye composition during ablation procedures

Abstract

A system is provided for identifying the sufficiency of lesions formed during a tissue ablation procedure. The system and method include administering an ICG composition to the patient and forming one or more lesions at a surgical site. The method further includes applying energy of a type and in an amount sufficient to cause ICG in the patient to fluoresce. An image of the tissue and lesion at the surgical site is obtained while the ICG fluoresces. The lesion is distinguished from surrounding de novo tissue based on areas of fluorescence to allow a user to evaluate the quality of the lesion.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A tissue ablation system for identification of a lesion formed by directed energy emission at a surgical site of a patient, the tissue ablation system comprising:
 a source of an indocyanine green (ICG) composition for delivery into a body of the patient including to the surgical site;   a tissue ablation instrument includes an inflatable balloon for contacting tissue and for use at the surgical site and having:
 a movable directed first energy emitter configured to emit a variable amount of directed energy for ablating tissue and forming a lesion at the surgical site; 
 a second energy emitter for applying energy of a type and in an amount sufficient to cause the ICG composition to fluoresce; 
   an imaging device that is configured to obtain an image of the surgical site while the ICG fluoresces with the lesion being visually identifiable relative to de-novo tissue based on a lack of observable fluorescence at locations of the lesion, while the de-novo tissue is characterized by areas of fluorescence; and   a display for displaying the image;   wherein the first and second energy emitter are disposed within the inflatable balloon of the ablation instrument and are movable therein.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device includes an endoscope to permit real-time observation of the surgical site. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device comprises a CCD camera. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the CCD camera includes a filter that blocks light having wavelengths outside of a predefined wavelength range. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the filter filters light at 805 nm. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second energy emitter comprises a light emitter that emits light having a wavelength that is sufficient to cause ICG to fluoresce. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ICG composition comprises an aqueous solution that can be delivered through an IV. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue ablation instrument comprises is sized and configured to provide access to an ostium of a pulmonary vein. 
     
     
         9 . A method for distinguishing lesions from de novo tissue comprising the steps of:
 administering an ICG composition to the patient;   forming one or more lesions at a surgical site;   applying energy of a type and in an amount sufficient to cause ICG in the patient to fluoresce;   obtaining an image of the tissue and lesion at the surgical site while the ICG fluoresces; and   distinguishing the lesion from surrounding de novo tissue based on areas of fluorescence to allow a user to evaluate the quality of the lesion.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein areas of the lesion are characterized by a lack of fluorescence. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein blood and the de novo tissue are characterized by areas of fluorescence. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of applying energy comprises applying light that has a wavelength that is sufficient to cause the ICG to fluoresce. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the image is in real-time. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further including the step of ablating tissue to complete the lesion in one or more areas of fluorescence along the lesion which represent breaks or gaps in the lesion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further including the step of filtering light that is captured by an imaging device to limit the light to a wavelength at which ICG fluoresces. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further including the step of processing the filtered light to produce the image. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the wavelength is about 805 nm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a common ablation instrument includes both an energy emitter for forming the lesion and a light beam for applying energy of the type and in the amount sufficient to cause the ICG composition to fluoresce.