Pulmonary artery ablation catheter

Abstract

A multi-pole synchronous pulmonary artery radiofrequency ablation catheter, wherein an adjustment apparatus is arranged on a control handle; a catheter body is hollow, and a cavity is arranged therein; a lead wire, a temperature sensing wire and a pull wire are arranged in the cavity; one end of the catheter body is flexible, and the flexible end is connected to an annular ring; the other end of the catheter body is connected to the control handle; one end of the pull wire is connected to the flexible end, and the other end of the pull wire is connected to the adjustment apparatus on the control handle, the tension of the pull wire is adjusted through the adjustment apparatus to achieve radian control of the flexible end; a shape memory wire is arranged in the annular ring, one end of the shape memory wire extends to the end of the annular ring and the other end of the shape memory wire passes through the root of the annular ring and is fixed on the flexible end of the catheter body; the annular ring is provided with an electrode group with each electrode connected to the lead wire and temperature sensing wire; the lead wire and temperature sensing wire go through the catheter body and are electrically connected to the control handle. The device uses cold saline perfusion method to protect the vascular intima and possesses advantages of simple operation, short operation time and controllable precise ablation. The device can be used to treat pulmonary hypertension with pulmonary denervation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14 / 079,230, filed on Nov. 13, 2013, which claims priority to Chinese Application No. 201210453470.4, filed on Nov. 13, 2012 and Chinese Application No. 201310103141.1, filed on Mar. 27, 2013, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS[0002]1. Field of the Inventions[0003]The present inventions relate to medical devices for treatment of pulmonary hypertension in the pulmonary artery by de-sympathetic methods, for example, with pulmonary artery catheters, as well as methods for diagnosis and method of treating pulmonary hypertension.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Pulmonary hypertension is to be an intractable diseases in the cardiovascular, respiratory, connective tissue, immune and rheumatic systems. Currently available clinical treatments of pulmonary hypertension are limited and therapy eff...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]An aspect of at least one of the inventions disclosed herein includes the realization, supported by experimental data which demonstrates, that pulmonary hypertension is associated with hyper sympathetic activity in pulmonary artery and hyperactive baroreceptor. Blocking the sympathetic nerves in the pulmonary artery or permanently damaging the baroreceptor structure and function thereof can decrease the pulmonary artery pressure, which can provide more successful treatments of pulmonary hypertension.

[0008]Some of the embodiments disclosed herein provide a pulmonary artery ablation catheter for treatment of pulmonary hypertension in the pulmonary artery by a de-sympathetic method. In some embodiments, the catheter only heats the adherent tissue rather than the blood. Additionally, in some embodiments, the catheter can be configured to provide cold saline perfusion at or near the ablation site to protect the vascular intima. Some of the embodiments can also provide advantages of simple operation, short operation time and controllable, precise ablation.

[0018]In some embodiments and / or methods of use, the catheter can heat, with radiofrequency energy, the tissue in direct contact with the electrode and avoid heating blood. Additionally, the catheter can provide advantages of simple operation, short operation time and controllable precise ablation. The catheter body can be preferably made of a polymer material, which is a poor heat conductor, so that it can avoid transmitting the heat when heating the electrodes to the flowing blood contacting the catheter body, thereby effectively avoid heating the blood.

[0019]Furthermore, the shape or curvature of the flexible end can be adjusted by operating the adjustment apparatus, which allows the operator to control the handle with one hand, so as to adjust the curvature of the flexible end easily for purposes of placement of the annular ring and the electrodes. As such, after achieving the desired placement, the electrodes on the annular ring can be pressed against the pulmonary artery and achieve ablation of pulmonary artery intima. During application of the radiofrequency current, the electrodes can produce high local temperature and cause severe damage on the vascular intima.

[0020]Thus, in some embodiments, the catheter can be configured to provide cold saline perfusion to cool down the local temperature. When the electrodes receive the current, the saline is automatically and uniformly diffused through the through holes, which can provide beneficial cooling, for example, decreasing the local temperature to be below 60° C., thereby protecting the vascular intima.

Problems solved by technology

Currently available clinical treatments of pulmonary hypertension are limited and therapy efficacy thereof is poor.

However, some of those drugs have serious limitations including many side effects, inappropriate dosage form, expensive cost and unreliable efficacy, and thus many have not been widely applied in clinical treatment.

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