Catheter with omni-directional optical lesion evaluation

Abstract

A catheter is adapted to ablate tissue and provide lesion qualitative information on a real time basis, having an ablation tip section with a generally omni-directional light diffusion chamber with one openings to allow light energy in the chamber to radiate the tissue and return to the chamber. The chamber is irrigated at a positive pressure differential to continuously flush the opening with fluid. The light energy returning to the chamber from the tissue conveys a tissue parameter, including without limitation, lesion formation, depth of penetration of lesion, cross-sectional area of lesion, formation of char during ablation, recognition of char during ablation, recognition of char from non-charred tissue, formation of coagulum around the ablation site, differentiation of coagulated from non-coagulated blood, differentiation of ablated from healthy tissue, tissue proximity, and recognition of steam formation in the tissue for prevention of steam pop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical processing system for optically evaluating ablation tissue with a catheter, the system comprising:
 a catheter comprising:
 a catheter body, 
 a tip section distal the catheter body adapted for ablating tissue, the tip section having a light diffusion chamber adapted to diffusively scatter light, 
 wherein the chamber has openings configured for passage of light to and from the tissue at a plurality of angles; 
   a light source configured to supply light to the catheter;   a detection component configured to receive light from the catheter.   
     
     
         2 . The optical processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the catheter further comprises irrigation means for flushing the openings with fluid. 
     
     
         3 . An optical processing system for optically evaluating ablation tissue with a catheter, the system comprising:
 a catheter adapted to ablate tissue, the catheter comprising:
 a catheter body, 
 a tip section distal the catheter body adapted for ablating tissue, the tip section having a light diffusion chamber with at least one opening to allow light in the chamber to radiate the tissue and return to the chamber, and 
 irrigation means for flushing the opening with fluid, 
 wherein the light returning to the chamber from the tissue conveys a tissue parameter; 
   a light source configured to deliver the light to the catheter; and   a detection component configured to receive the light from the chamber.   
     
     
         4 . The optical processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the catheter further comprises a first optical waveguide to deliver light energy to the light diffusion chamber, and a second optical waveguide to receive the light from the chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The optical processing system according to  claim 3 , wherein the tip section of the catheter is configured with openings in portions having different angles relative to a longitudinal axis of the tip section. 
     
     
         6 . The optical processing system according to  claim 5 , wherein the different portions accommodate a different range of angles between the catheter tip section and the tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The optical processing system according to  claim 5 , wherein the sections include a first portion whose angle is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a second portion whose angle ranges between about zero and 90 degrees, and a third portion whose angle is generally parallel to the axis. 
     
     
         8 . The optical processing system according to  claim 5 , wherein each portion has at least one opening. 
     
     
         9 . The optical processing system according to  claim 7 , wherein the first portion has one opening, the second portion has three openings, and the third portion has six openings. 
     
     
         10 . The optical processing system according to  claim 3 , wherein the catheter further comprises a first optical guide to transmit light to the chamber, and a second optical guide to collect light in the chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The optical processing system according to  claim 3 , wherein the catheter further comprises a deflectable intermediate section between the catheter body and the tip section. 
     
     
         12 . The optical processing system according to  claim 3 , wherein the catheter is adapted to provide optical data of the tissue for angles between a longitudinal axis of the tip section and the tissue ranging between generally zero and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The optical processing system according to  claim 3 , wherein the catheter further comprises an optical fiber cable adapted for two-way transmission of the light. 
     
     
         14 . The optical processing system according to  claim 11 , wherein the catheter further comprises means for deflecting the intermediate section. 
     
     
         15 . An optical processing system for optically evaluating ablation tissue with a catheter, the system comprising:
 a catheter comprising:
 a catheter body, 
 a tip section distal the catheter body adapted for ablating tissue, the tip section having a tip electrode with a light diffusion chamber with openings to allow light energy in the chamber to radiate the tissue and return to the chamber, and 
 irrigation means for flushing the openings with fluid, 
 wherein the openings are situated in different portions of the tip electrode to radiate and receive the light energy in various angles relative to a longitudinal axis of the tip electrode; 
   a light source configured to deliver the light to the catheter; and   a detection component configured to receive the light from the chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The optical processing system according to  claim 15 , the catheter further comprising a first optical waveguide to deliver the light energy to the light diffusion chamber, and a second optical waveguide to receive the light energy from the light diffusion chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The optical processing system according to  claim 15 , the catheter further comprising an optical waveguide adapted for two-way transmission of the light energy. 
     
     
         18 . The optical processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection component comprises:
 wavelength selective element configured to disperse the light into constituent wavelengths; and   a quantification apparatus configured to translate measured light intensities into an electrical signal.   
     
     
         19 . The optical processing system according to  claim 3 , wherein the detection component comprises:
 wavelength selective element configured to disperse the light into constituent wavelengths; and   a quantification apparatus configured to translate measured light intensities into an electrical signal.   
     
     
         20 . The optical processing system according to  claim 15 , wherein the detection component comprises:
 wavelength selective element configured to disperse the light into constituent wavelengths; and   a quantification apparatus configured to translate measured light intensities into an electrical signal.