Radio-frequency ablation and direct current electroporation catheters

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to flexible catheters for both electrophysiology mapping and ablation using a high-density array of electrodes. These catheters may be used to detect electrophysiological characteristics of tissue in contact with the electrodes, and conduct monopolar and bipolar ablations of the tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A planar array catheter comprising:
 an elongated catheter shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, and defining a longitudinal axis; and   a flexible, planar array coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft, the planar array configured to conform to tissue, and including two or more struts extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis, each of the struts lying in a common plane and having a plurality of electrodes coupled thereto,   wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured and arranged to detect electrophysiological characteristics of tissue in contact with the planar array and selectively ablate the tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The planar array catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes in the planar array are further configured to conduct radio-frequency tissue ablation, and to operate in both monopolar and bipolar configurations for tissue ablation. 
     
     
         3 . The planar array catheter of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of electrodes are spot electrodes and one or more of the struts include flexible electronic circuit boards that are communicatively and mechanically coupled to the plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         4 . The planar array catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the planar array catheter further includes a plurality of temperature sensors, each of the temperature sensors are mechanically coupled to the struts and placed in thermal communication with at least one of the electrodes, and ablation controller circuitry communicatively coupled to the plurality of temperature sensors and the plurality of electrodes, the ablation controller circuitry configured and arranged to control the power delivery to each electrode based at least in part upon the temperature measured in proximity to each electrode by the temperature sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The planar array catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the planar array further includes ablation controller circuitry communicatively coupled to the electrodes and configured and arranged to receive signals from the electrodes indicative of the electrophysiological characteristics of the tissue in contact with the planar array, generate an electrophysiology map of the tissue, and control an ablation therapy of the tissue based at least in part on the electrophysiology map. 
     
     
         6 . The planar array catheter of  claim 5 , wherein the ablation controller circuitry is further configured and arranged to operate the electrodes in either a monopolar or bipolar configuration, during the ablation therapy, depending upon the desired lesion characteristics at each electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The planar array catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes include bipole electrode pairs that include electrodes on adjacent struts of the planar array. 
     
     
         8 . The planar array catheter of  claim 7 , wherein the bipole electrode pairs are configured to sample electrical characteristics of the contacted tissue, and conduct controlled tissue ablation therapy; and wherein the plurality of electrodes are further configured to operate in a monopole configuration, in conjunction with a ground-pad conductively coupled to a patient's skin, to facilitate transmural lesions of the contacted tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The planar array catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes include bipole electrode pairs that extend diagonally across adjacent struts of the planar array. 
     
     
         10 . A basket catheter comprising:
 an elongated catheter shaft including a proximal end and a distal end;   a flexible basket, including a plurality of splines, coupled to the distal end of the catheter shaft and configured to conform to tissue;   a plurality of electrodes mounted to the splines; and   wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured and arranged to detect electrophysiological characteristics of tissue in contact with the basket and selectively ablate the tissue.   
     
     
         11 . The basket catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of electrodes on the splines are further configured to conduct radio-frequency tissue ablation, and to operate in both monopolar and bipolar configurations for tissue ablation. 
     
     
         12 . The basket catheter of  claim 10 , wherein one or more of the plurality of electrodes are spot electrodes and the splines include flexible electronic circuit boards that are communicatively and mechanically coupled to the plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         13 . The basket catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the basket catheter further includes a plurality of temperature sensors, each of the temperature sensors mechanically coupled to the splines and placed in thermal communication with at least one of the electrodes, and ablation controller circuitry communicatively coupled to the plurality of temperature sensors and the plurality of electrodes, the ablation controller circuitry configured and arranged to control the power delivery to each electrode based at least in part upon the temperature measured in proximity to each electrode by the temperature sensors. 
     
     
         14 . The basket catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the basket catheter further includes ablation controller circuitry communicatively coupled to the electrodes and configured and arranged to receive signals from the electrodes indicative of the electrophysiological characteristics of the tissue in contact with the basket, generate an electrophysiology map of the tissue, and control an ablation therapy of the tissue based at least in part on the electrophysiology map. 
     
     
         15 . The basket catheter of  claim 14 , wherein the ablation controller circuitry is further configured and arranged to operate the electrodes in either a monopolar or bipolar configuration during the ablation therapy, depending upon the desired lesion characteristics at each electrode. 
     
     
         16 . The basket catheter of  claim 14 , wherein the ablation controller circuitry is further configured and arranged to operate the plurality of electrodes in a bi-polar configuration and deliver a high-voltage direct current to the contacted tissue to affect tissue ablation; and
 wherein the ablation controller circuitry is further configured and arranged to minimize the current draw to the electrodes and deliver a desired voltage gradient.   
     
     
         17 . The basket catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of electrodes include bipole electrode pairs that extend diagonally across adjacent splines of the basket. 
     
     
         18 . The basket catheter of  claim 17 , wherein the bipole electrode pairs are configured to sample electrical characteristics of the contacted tissue, and conduct controlled tissue ablation therapy; and wherein the plurality of electrodes are further configured to operate in a monopole configuration in conjunction with a ground pad conductively coupled to a patient's chest, to facilitate transmural lesions of the contacted tissue. 
     
     
         19 . The basket catheter of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of electrodes include bipole electrode pairs that include electrodes on adjacent splines. 
     
     
         20 . The planar array catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes in the planar array are further configured to operate in a bi-polar configuration and to deliver a high-voltage direct current to the contacted tissue to affect tissue ablation.