Method and apparatus for positioning a catheter relative to an anatomical junction

Abstract

An electrode catheter is introduced into a vein or other hollow anatomical structure, and is positioned at a treatment: site within the structure. The end of the catheter is positioned near a junction formed in the structure. This junction can be the sapheno-femoral junction. The position of the catheter near the junction is determined based on a signal from a device associated with the catheter within the structure. A fiber optic filament which emits light is used with the catheter or a guide wire over which the catheter is advanced. The light is visible externally from the patient. The light dims and may no longer externally visible at the sapheno-femoral junction where the catheter moves past the deep fascia and toward the deep venous system. The position of the catheter can be determined based on this external observation. The position of the catheter can also be determined based on measured parameters such as temperature or flow rate within the structure, and the measured changes in one or more of these parameters as the catheter nears the junction. The hollow anatomical structure can be compressed for this procedure. The position of the catheter can also be determined mechanically by including a hook-shaped tip on the catheter or guide wire which would physically engage the junction.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09 / 825,741 filed Apr. 3, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,876, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09 / 638,307, filed Aug. 14, 2000, now abandoned. The entirety of all of the above-mentioned applications is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.BACKGROUND[0002]The invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for positioning a catheter relative to a junction in a hollow anatomical structure, such as a vein, including but not limited to, superficial and perforator veins, hemorrhoids, and esophageal varices. The catheter can include an electrode device having multiple leads for applying energy to the anatomical structure to cause it to durably assume a ligated form.[0003]The human venous system of the lower limbs consists essentially of the superficial venous system and the deep venous system with perforating veins connecting the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]In another aspect of the invention, the feedback from the catheter is based on a characteristic measured at the working end of the catheter to determine the flow rate in the vein. The flow rate should increase going from the saphenous vein to the femoral vein at the sapheno-femoral junction. Where the flow rate is determined while the vein is undergoing compression, the compressed saphenous vein would have zero flow (or near zero flow) while the femoral vein would still exhibit some flow since it is deeper in the leg. The working end of the catheter can be momentarily energized, and the subsequent temperature decay can be used to determine the flow rate.

Problems solved by technology

When an incompetent valve 28 is in the flow path, the valve is unable to close because the cusps do not form a proper seal and retrograde flow of the blood cannot be stopped.

When a venous valve fails, increased strain and pressure occur within the lower venous sections and overlying tissues, sometimes leading to additional valvular failure.

Incompetent valves may result from the stretching of dilated veins.

As the valves fail, increased pressure is imposed on the lower veins and the lower valves of the vein, which in turn exacerbates the failure of these lower valves.

The varicose vein condition includes dilation and tortuosity of the superficial veins of the lower limbs, resulting in unsightly discoloration, pain, swelling, and possibly ulceration.

This can also worsen deep venous reflux and perforator reflux.

As the valves in the veins fail, the hydrostatic pressure increases on the next venous valves down, causing those veins to dilate.

As this continues, more venous valves will eventually fail.

As they fail, the effective height of the column of blood above the feet and ankles grows, and the weight and hydrostatic pressure exerted on the tissues of the ankle and foot increases.

When the weight of that column reaches a critical point as a result of the valve failures, ulcerations of the ankle begin to form, which start deep and eventually come to the surface.

Improper placement of the catheter past the SFJ and into the femoral vein could cause heating of the blood or vein walls in the deep venous system.

Such imaging equipment is bulky, requires an additional person to operate the equipment, and can be time consuming to use.

This can be both inconvenient and costly.

Physiological factors can also interfere with the resolution of the system and prevent the acquisition of a clean image.

Moreover, scheduling difficulties may arise based on the availability of the ultrasound facility or equipment, thereby delaying the minimally invasive treatment which would benefit the patient.

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