US 12,004,802 B2
Devices, systems, and methods for controlled volume ablation
Serena Scott, Worcester, MA (US); Mingxiang Xu, Wayland, MA (US); Hong Cao, Maple Grove, MN (US); Carolina Villarreal, Hopedale, MA (US); and Christopher Watson, Lincoln, MA (US)
Assigned to Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US)
Filed by Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US)
Filed on Aug. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/984,779.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/882,841, filed on Aug. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0038298 A1, Feb. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1492 (2013.01) [A61B 2018/00214 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00613 (2013.01); A61B 2018/126 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1435 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1467 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A catheter for controlled volume ablation, comprising:
an elongated member having a distal end and extending along a longitudinal axis;
a first electrode extending along the elongated member, the first electrode having a plurality of distal portions each arranged as a circumferential band on a circumferential surface about the longitudinal axis on the distal end of the elongated member;
a second electrode extending along the elongated member, the second electrode having a plurality of distal portions each arranged as a circumferential band on the circumferential surface about the longitudinal axis at the distal end of the elongated member such that the portions of the second electrode alternate with the portions of the first electrode along the longitudinal axis, the first and second electrodes creating a first ablation volume when activated while exposed to surrounding tissue; and
a sheath slidably disposed about the elongated member, the sheath configured to change position by sliding along the member to, during an ablation procedure, insulate a portion of the first electrode and a portion of the second electrode from a surrounding tissue while selectively exposing a portion of the first electrode and a portion of the second electrode to the surrounding tissue, the exposed portions of the first and second electrodes creating a second ablation volume when activated that is less than the first ablation volume.
 
7. A method for controlled volume ablation, comprising:
deploying a catheter for an ablation procedure, the catheter comprising:
an elongated member having a distal end and extending along a longitudinal axis,
a sheath, and
first and second electrodes extending along the elongated member, each of the first and second electrodes having a plurality of circumferential bands on the distal end of the elongated member, the bands of the first electrode alternating with the bands of the second electrode along the longitudinal axis, the first and second electrodes creating a first ablation volume when activated while exposed to surrounding tissue;
delivering the distal end of the elongated member of the catheter to a target tissue;
activating the first and second electrodes;
during the ablation procedure, adjusting the ablation volume by moving the sheath to selectively expose a portion of the activated first and second electrodes to the target tissue, creating a second ablation volume that is less than the first ablation volume; and
delivering energy from the exposed portion of the activated electrodes to the target tissue.