Ablation system with blood leakage minimization and tissue protective capabilities

Abstract

An ablation system is provided that includes an ablating device and a probe. The probe is configured to be positioned in close proximity to a region of non-targeted tissue proximate an ablation site of targeted tissue. The probe includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle disposed at the proximal end thereof and a tissue protecting apparatus disposed at the distal end thereof. The ablating device includes an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends, with a handle mounted at the proximal end thereof and an ablation element mounted at the distal end thereof. The ablation element includes an ultrasound transducer and an inflatable balloon surrounding the ultrasound transducer. The balloon includes a layer of gel disposed on its outer surface.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system for performing an ablation procedure, comprising:
 a tissue protecting apparatus configured to:
 be inserted into an anatomy configured to protect tissue in a region of non-targeted tissue from unintended ablation from an ablating device; and 
 move a portion of tissue away from an ablation site, wherein the tissue protecting apparatus comprises a first shape for positioning the tissue protecting apparatus proximate the portion of tissue and a second shape for moving the portion of tissue, wherein the second shape moves the portion of tissue away from the ablation site; and 
   a control unit configured to change the tissue protecting apparatus from the first shape to the second shape.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the tissue protecting apparatus comprises a balloon. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the tissue protecting apparatus comprises a heat sink configured to reduce heat in a region of the tissue that is not targeted for the ablation procedure. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is an electronic control unit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the first shape is a collapsed configuration and the second shape is an expanded configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second shape is configured to expand in at least one direction. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one direction causes the portion of tissue to move away from the ablation site. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the second shape is an irregular shape to promote movement of the portion of tissue in the at least one direction away from the ablation site. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a fluid source, the fluid source configured to be coupled to a heat sink through a fluid distribution lumen, wherein the fluid source is configured to supply fluid to the heat sink through the fluid distribution lumen. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the heat sink comprises one or more fluid outlets configured to allow fluid to exit the heat sink in a region of non-targeted tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the portion of tissue comprises a portion of an esophagus. 
     
     
         13 . A system for performing an ablation procedure, comprising:
 a tissue protecting apparatus configured to be inserted into an anatomy configured to protect tissue in a region of non-targeted tissue from unintended ablation from an ablating device; and   a sensor located inside the tissue protecting apparatus.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of an ultrasound transducer, a temperature monitoring apparatus and a coupling sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the ultrasound transducer comprises one or more of a piezoelectric transducer and a rotatable transducer. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature monitoring apparatus is a thermal imaging chip. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature monitoring apparatus comprises a thermal imaging chip. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising an electronic control unit in communication with the coupling sensor to determine contact and a degree of coupling between the tissue protecting apparatus and tissue in the region of non-targeted tissue that is proximate an ablation site 
     
     
         19 . A system for performing an ablation procedure, comprising:
 a tissue protecting apparatus configured to move a portion of tissue away from an ablation site, wherein the tissue protecting apparatus comprises a first shape, wherein the first shape is configured to enable maneuvering of the tissue protecting apparatus proximate the portion of tissue, and a second shape configured to move the portion of tissue, wherein the second shape moves the portion of tissue away from the ablation site;   a sensor located inside the tissue protecting apparatus; and   a control unit to control the change of the tissue protecting apparatus from the first shape to the second shape.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more sensors are at least one of an ultrasound transducer, a temperature monitoring apparatus and a coupling sensor, wherein the coupling sensor detects contact and a degree of coupling between the ablating device and tissue at the ablation site. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the ultrasound transducer one or more of a piezoelectric transducer and a rotatable transducer. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the temperature monitoring apparatus is a thermal imaging chip. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising an ablating device configured to be inserted into an anatomy of a patient and to delivery ablating energy to an ablation site having targeted tissue;