US 12,089,890 B2
Multi-rate fluid flow and variable power delivery for ablation electrode assemblies used in catheter ablation procedures
Steven C. Christian, New Brighton, MN (US); and Theodore A. Johnson, St. Paul, MN (US)
Assigned to St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc., St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed by St. Jude Medical, Atrial Fibrillation Division, Inc., St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed on Mar. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/193,859.
Application 17/193,859 is a division of application No. 15/860,503, filed on Jan. 2, 2018, granted, now 10,973,571.
Application 15/860,503 is a continuation of application No. 13/151,750, filed on Jun. 2, 2011, granted, now 9,855,094, issued on Jan. 2, 2018.
Application 13/151,750 is a continuation in part of application No. 12/979,803, filed on Dec. 28, 2010, granted, now 9,788,891, issued on Oct. 17, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0212757 A1, Jul. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 18/12 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/02 (2006.01); A61B 18/06 (2006.01); A61B 18/08 (2006.01); A61B 18/18 (2006.01); A61B 18/24 (2006.01); A61B 34/20 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 18/1492 (2013.01) [A61B 2018/00029 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00357 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00648 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00702 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00744 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00761 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00791 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00863 (2013.01); A61B 2018/0212 (2013.01); A61B 18/06 (2013.01); A61B 18/082 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1861 (2013.01); A61B 18/24 (2013.01); A61B 2034/2053 (2016.02); A61B 2218/002 (2013.01); F04C 2270/041 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of delivering fluid to an irrigated catheter including an ablation electrode assembly, comprising:
delivering a pulsatile flow of irrigation fluid within at least a portion of the irrigated catheter;
wherein the irrigation fluid has a first flow rate in a first time period and the irrigation fluid has a second flow rate in a second time period,
wherein the first flow rate and the second flow rate are different,
wherein the first flow rate and the second flow rate are based at least in part on a plurality of temperature measurements taken by thermal sensors disposed within the irrigated catheter, wherein the thermal sensors include at least two thermal sensors positioned to take temperature measurements of the irrigation fluid as the irrigation fluid flows in a direction to exit the irrigated catheter through the ablation electrode assembly, and
wherein the first flow rate and the second flow rate alternate and recur at intervals over time.