U.S. patent application number 12/022708 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-20 for tissue ablation apparatus and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to AngioDynamics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Daniel J. Balbierz, Steven A. Daniel, Theodore C. Johnson, ROBERT M. PEARSON, Zia Yassinzadeh.
Application Number | 20080287944 12/022708 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23270584 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080287944 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PEARSON; ROBERT M. ; et
al. |
November 20, 2008 |
TISSUE ABLATION APPARATUS AND METHOD
Abstract
A method and apparatus for carrying our thermal ablation of
target tissue is disclosed. The apparatus includes an RF ablation
device having a multi-electrode electrode assembly designed to be
deployed in target tissue, defining a selected-volume tissue region
to be ablated, and having infusion channels for infusing a liquid
into the target tissue during the ablation process. A control unit
in the apparatus is operably connected to an RF energy source, for
controlling the RF power level supplied to the electrodes, and to
an infusion device, for controlling the rate of infusion of a
liquid through the device into the tissue. During both electrode
deployment and tissue ablation, impedance and or temperature
measurements made within the tissue are used to control the RF
source and infusion device, for optimizing the time and extent of
tissue ablation.
Inventors: |
PEARSON; ROBERT M.; (San
Jose, CA) ; Daniel; Steven A.; (Fremont, CA) ;
Balbierz; Daniel J.; (Redwood City, CA) ; Johnson;
Theodore C.; (Ann Arbor, MI) ; Yassinzadeh; Zia;
(San Jose, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANGIODYNAMICS, INC.
603 QUEENSBURY AVENUE
QUEENSBURY
NY
12804
US
|
Assignee: |
AngioDynamics, Inc.
Queensbury
NY
|
Family ID: |
23270584 |
Appl. No.: |
12/022708 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10260187 |
Sep 28, 2002 |
7344533 |
|
|
12022708 |
|
|
|
|
60326043 |
Sep 28, 2001 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
606/41 ;
606/34 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2018/143 20130101;
A61B 2018/00738 20130101; A61B 2018/00755 20130101; A61B 2018/00577
20130101; A61B 2018/00875 20130101; A61B 2018/00791 20130101; A61B
2018/0075 20130101; A61B 2018/00196 20130101; A61B 2018/00083
20130101; A61B 2018/00726 20130101; A61B 2018/00761 20130101; A61B
2018/00011 20130101; A61B 2018/1425 20130101; A61B 18/1477
20130101; A61B 2018/00702 20130101; A61B 2018/00869 20130101; A61B
2018/124 20130101; A61B 2218/002 20130101; A61B 2018/00744
20130101; A61B 2018/1432 20130101; A61B 2018/1253 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/41 ;
606/34 |
International
Class: |
A61B 18/18 20060101
A61B018/18; A61B 18/04 20060101 A61B018/04 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for tissue ablation, comprising: an elongated
delivery device; an energy delivery device operably coupled to an
energy source, the energy delivery device comprising a plurality of
electrodes, each of the electrodes having a tissue piercing distal
portion and being positionable in the elongated delivery device,
one or more of the electrodes configured to be curved when deployed
to a selected tissue site, two or more of the electrodes being
configured for liquid infusion to the selected tissue site and each
separately comprising an infusion lumen; an energy control
configured to be operably coupled to the energy delivery device for
impedance detection within the selected tissue site, and for energy
delivery control in response to the detected impedance; and a fluid
control configured to be operably coupled to the at least two
infusion electrodes for infusion control in response to the
detected impedance.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation application claiming the benefit of
U.S. application Ser. No. 10/260,187 filed Sep. 28, 2002, which
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/326,043
filed Sep. 28, 2001; all related applications are incorporated
herewith by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to a method for treating
tissue using minimally invasive methods. More particularly, the
invention relates to an apparatus and method for ablatively
treating tumorous and diseased tissue. Still more particularly, the
invention relates to an apparatus and method for ablatively
treating tumorous tissue using impedance values to control and
optimize the delivery of electromagnetic ablative energy to a
target tissue site.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various ablative therapies such as radio-frequency,
microwave and laser ablation can be used to treat benign and
cancerous tumors. In theory, such methods are intended to produce
physiological and structural changes to cause cell necrosis or
destruction of the selected target tissue. However in practice,
there are numerous difficulties in the use of ablative procedures
to treat cancerous tissue, these include (i) locating the target
tissue, (ii) identifying or biopsying the disease state of the
tumorous tissue (iii) distinguishing between diseased tissue versus
healthy tissue, (iii) placing and maintaining the position of the
ablation apparatus within the target tissue site, (iv) monitoring
the progress of ablation including the developing ablation volume,
(v) minimizing injury to adjacent critical structures (vi) assuring
complete ablation of the tumor mass including assurance of a
sufficient healthy tissue margin and (vii) assessing degree of the
completed ablation. Current ablative therapies have not considered
nor provided solutions to these problems. Thus, there is a need for
an apparatus and method to address these difficulties and other
unmet needs in performing ablative therapies for the treatment of
cancer, tumors and other diseases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An embodiment of the invention provides an impedance
controlled tissue ablation apparatus and method that utilizes
impedance determinations, such as localized tissue impedance to
optimize the delivery of radio-frequency or other electromagnetic
energy to a target tissue site and create larger ablation volumes
using lower power levels and faster ablation times than currently
possible with conventional RF tissue ablative technology. By
lowering power levels required to produce an ablation volume the
apparatus also provides the benefit of significantly reduced the
risk of pad burns and other electroshock hazards associated with
conventional RF ablation therapies. A related embodiment of the
invention uses controlled infusion of electrolytic fluid at the
tissue site to control and maintain tissue impedance at an optimal
level for delivery of ablative energy.
[0005] Another embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus
for detecting and treating tumors using localized impedance
determination. The apparatus comprises an elongated delivery device
that includes a lumen and is maneuverable in tissue. An impedance
sensor array is deployable from the elongated delivery device and
configured to be coupled to at least one of an electromagnetic
energy source or a switching device. The impedance array includes a
plurality of resilient members, at least one of the plurality being
positionable in the elongated delivery device in a compacted state
and deployable with curvature into tissue from the elongated
delivery device in a deployed state. In the deployed state, the
plurality of resilient members defines a sample volume. At least
one of the plurality of resilient members includes a sensor and at
least a portion of the impedance array is configured to sample
tissue impedance through a plurality of conductive pathways. An
energy delivery device is coupled to one of the sensor array, the
resilient member or the elongated delivery device.
[0006] An embodiment of the invention provides a method for
detecting and treating a tumor using tissue localized volumetric
impedance determination. The method includes providing an impedance
determination apparatus having a plurality of resilient members
deployable with curvature and configured to sample tissue impedance
through a plurality of conductive pathways. The apparatus is
configured to be coupled to at least one of an energy delivery
device, a power supply, a switching device or logic resources. The
apparatus is then positioned at a selected tissue site and the
impedance array deployed to define a sample volume. The impedance
array is then utilized to make impedance determinations through a
plurality of conductive pathways. Information from the impedance
determinations is then utilized to determine a tissue condition of
the sample volume. Energy is then delivered from the energy
delivery device to ablate or necrose at least a portion of the
tumor.
[0007] The apparatus can be configured to detect, locate and
identify tumorous tissue at a selected tissue site using impedance
determinations such as multi-pathway determined impedance, complex
impedance and impedance vector determinations. For complex
impedance embodiments, real and imaginary components of the
impedance signal can be used to determine more refined bioelectric
parameters such as interstitial and intracellular impedance and
cell membrane capacitance that provide greater sensitivity and
predictive power of cell necrosis or malignancy. Also, the
apparatus can also be configured to utilize one or more impedance
determinations to monitor a target tissue site and control the
course of ablative therapy before during or after the delivery of
ablative energy or other treatment to the tissue site. Accordingly,
the apparatus can be configured to be used independently or in
conjunction with another ablative apparatus such as an RF,
microwave laser or other optical ablation apparatus. Further, the
apparatus can be configured to utilize multi-path impedance
determination to monitor two or more tissue volumes including a
tumor volume, a developing ablation volume and an adjacent
anatomical structure. Additional embodiments of the apparatus can
also be configured to utilize impedance determinations such as
complex, vector or locus impedance determinations to generate an
image of a target tissue site and display the image to facilitate
the location and monitoring of a tumor and/or ablation volume.
[0008] In the use, the apparatus would be positioned at selected
tissue site previously imaged and found to contain a tumor or other
tissue mass. The apparatus would be introduced and positioned at
the tissue site using the elongated delivery device or an
introducing device known in the art such as a trocar or endoscopic
device. The impedance array would then be deployed and used to
determine impedance including complex impedance and capacitance
through one or more conductive pathways. This information could be
analyzed by coupled logic resources and then utilized to locate the
position of and borders of the tumor volume and/or identify the
tumor or tissue type. Also, the information could be processed by
the logic resources or other processing means to generate an image
of the tissue site including the tumor volume which could utilize
the locus of impedance as way to indicate the center of the tumor
mass or otherwise visually enhance the detection and display of the
tumor mass. This information could then be used to position the
energy delivery to produce the desired ablation volume. Once the
energy delivery device was positioned, the impedance array could
then be utilized to monitor and/or control the delivery of ablative
energy or therapy to the tumor volume including monitoring the size
and shape of a developing ablation volume in relation to size and
location of the tumor volume. This allows the medical practitioner
to not only determine the degree to which the tumor volume has been
ablated, but also allows for the control of the amount of healthy
tissue margin around the tumor volume. Such control and related
capability allows for the determination of a desired clinical
endpoint. Further, it allows the practitioner to titrate or
otherwise control the delivery of energy or other ablative therapy
to control rate of growth of the ablation volume (and in turn the
overall ablation time) as well as the final shape and size of the
tumor volume. Multiple tissue volumes can be simultaneously
monitored and compared to monitor progress of the ablation volume,
assure uniform ablation or necrosis throughout the tumor or
ablation volume and provide real time assurance that surrounding
healthy tissues and structure were not injured. For example, tissue
volumes at the center and one or more peripheries of the tumor mass
could be simultaneously or near simultaneously monitored to assure
uniform necrosis at these locations and hence throughout the tumor
volume. Impedance determinations can be simultaneously or
sequentially determined at multiple conductive pathways passing
through the target volume (at convergent divergent and paths) to
provide a higher confidence of uniform ablation by reducing the
size of un-sampled zones within the target volume as well any
directional bias of the measurements. The multiple conductive
pathways can be selected electronically via a controllable
switching device or manually by rotational, lateral or longitudinal
movement of the impedance array within the target volume. In the
former case, the user could program the conductive pathways via a
coupled monitoring device and in the later the user could rotate,
advance, retract or deflect the impedance array via the elongated
delivery device or via a deployment, advancement or deflection
device mechanically coupled to the impedance array or delivery
device. In addition to real time impedance determination during the
ablation process, measurements can also be taken post ablation at
one or more pathways, (including pathways different than those used
during inter-ablative monitoring) and compared to baseline
measurements or an impedance database to provide a further
indication of a complete ablation and/or clinical endpoint.
Endpoints can also be determined based on ratios of intracellular
to interstitial impedance as well a characteristic shape of the
impedance or complex impedance curve including determinations of
thresholds, slopes or inflection points.
[0009] Various aspects of the invention can also be directed to
display impedance determinations in a variety of manners that are
both user-friendly and easily discernible by the user/medical
practitioner. In an embodiment, the loci of impedance of a sample
volume or an impedance vector of the sample volume can be displayed
as icons to facilitate tumor identification and positioning of an
energy delivery or ablative device within the tumor mass. In
related embodiments logic resource of the apparatus could be
configured to use impedance vector measurements to determine the
radial direction of the tumor from the impedance array or energy
delivery device and display this information in the form of a
directional or pointing icon.
[0010] In another embodiment, an apparatus for tissue ablation may
include an elongated delivery device, an energy delivery device, an
energy control, and optionally a fluid control. The energy delivery
device may be operably coupled to an energy source. The energy
delivery device may include a plurality of electrodes. Each of the
electrodes may have a tissue piercing distal portion. Each of the
electrodes may be positionable in the elongated delivery device.
One or more of the electrodes may be preformed to assume a curved
shape when deployed to a selected tissue site. Two or more of the
electrodes may be infusion electrodes, each separately including an
infusion lumen and one or more infusion ports for liquid infusion
within the selected tissue site. The energy control may be operably
coupled to the energy delivery device for impedance detection
within the selected tissue site. The energy control may be
configured for energy delivery control in response to the detected
impedance. The optional fluid control may be operably coupled to
the at least two infusion electrodes. The optional fluid control
may be configured for infusion control in response to the detected
impedance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0011] FIG. 1 is a lateral view illustrating the placement at a
tissue site of an embodiment of an apparatus for detecting and
treating tumors using localized impedance determination.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a lateral view illustrating the elements of an
apparatus for detecting and treating tumors using impedance
determination including an elongated delivery device, a sensor
array, sensors, electrodes, energy delivery device and advancement
member.
[0013] FIG. 3 a is a schematic view of an embodiment of the
impedance sensor array configured to determine impedance of a
tissue volume via a plurality of selectable conductive
pathways.
[0014] FIG. 3b is a schematic view illustrating of an embodiment of
the apparatus illustrating the use of primary and secondary
conductive pathways and conductive pathway angle.
[0015] FIGS. 4a-4c are perspective views illustrating various
arrangements of the emitting and detecting members; FIG. 4a
illustrates an embodiment having a centrally positioned a return
electrode surrounded by other electrodes; FIG. 4b illustrates an
embodiment having the return electrode eccentrically positioned
respect to other electrodes; FIG. 4c illustrates an embodiment
having multiple and independently positionable impedance sensor
arrays.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the use of
multiple groups of conductive pathways to sample multiple tissue
volumes in an embodiment of the invention as well as determine
impedance vectors and loci of impedance for each sample volume.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of
an apparatus for detecting and treating tumors including an
impedance monitoring device having memory resource and logic
resources including software modules to analyze impedance data and
generate impedance profiles and images.
[0018] FIG. 7a is a plot of tissue impedance curve illustrating the
frequency dependency of impedance.
[0019] FIG. 7b is a plot of tissue complex impedance curves
illustrating the frequency dependency of complex impedance.
[0020] FIGS. 8a-8d are plots of impedance curves illustrating the
use of multiple frequency impedance curves to monitor the time
course of an ablation.
[0021] FIGS. 8e-8g are plots of complex impedance curves (imaginary
vs. real values) illustrating the use of complex impedance curves
to monitor the time course of an ablation.
[0022] FIGS. 9a-9c are plots of complex impedance curves
illustrating the use of complex impedance curves to identify tissue
type or condition.
[0023] FIG. 10 is a plot of spectral signal intensity verses time
for a sample volume of ablating tissue illustrating quantitative
determinants of an ablation endpoint.
[0024] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a
three-dimensional plot of complex impedance.
[0025] FIG. 12a is a lateral view illustrating an embodiment of the
introducer.
[0026] FIGS. 12b and 12c are cross sectional views illustrating
cross-sectional profiles of the introducer.
[0027] FIG. 13 is a lateral view illustrating an embodiment of a
deflectable introducer along with the components of the
introducer.
[0028] FIG. 14 is a lateral view illustrating an embodiment of a
tissue biopsy and treatment apparatus with a hand piece and coupled
aspiration device, fluid delivery device and fluid reservoir.
[0029] FIGS. 15a-15h are lateral views illustrating various
configurations of the electrode including ring-like, ball,
hemispherical, cylindrical, conical and needle-like.
[0030] FIG. 16 is lateral view illustrating an embodiment of a
needle electrode configured to penetrate tissue.
[0031] FIG. 17 is lateral view illustrating an embodiment of an
electrode having at least one radius of curvature.
[0032] FIG. 18 is lateral view illustrating an embodiment of the
electrode having at least one radius of curvature, sensors and a
coupled advancement device.
[0033] FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of
the electrode that includes insulation sleeves positioned at
exterior surfaces of the resilient members or electrodes so as to
define an impedance sensor length or an energy delivery
surface.
[0034] FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of
the electrode that includes multiple insulation sleeves that
circumferentially insulate selected sections of the
electrode(s).
[0035] FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of
the electrode with insulation that extends along longitudinal
sections of the electrodes to define adjacent longitudinal energy
delivery surfaces.
[0036] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.
21.
[0037] FIG. 23a is a lateral view illustrating an embodiment of the
apparatus with an electrode having a lumen and apertures configured
for the delivery of fluid and the use of infused fluid to create an
enhanced electrode.
[0038] FIG. 23b is a perspective view illustrating the key
components of a tissue infusion ablation apparatus including
configurations of the infusion device having multiple syringes and
multi-channel tubing.
[0039] FIG. 23c is an expanded view of the distal portion of the
apparatus of the embodiment of FIG. 23b illustrating the components
of the distal tip as well as the conductive pathways of a device
for measuring and controlling impedance.
[0040] FIG. 23d are plots of dissipated power verses impedance
illustrate a novel approach of maximizing ablative power delivery
at a target tissue site at a non-minimal impedance.
[0041] FIG. 23e is a plot of tissue resistance versus distance from
embodiments of the electrode which illustrate the use of infusion
to reduce tissue charring adjacent the electrode.
[0042] FIG. 24 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of
an impedance-sensing member that includes a conductive coating that
can be configured to produce an impedance gradient within the
sensing member.
[0043] FIG. 25a-25c are perspective views of an embodiment of an
energy delivering ablation apparatus using frequency controlled
positionable ablation fields.
[0044] FIGS. 26a-26c are plots of energy density or concentration
versus lateral distance from the electrode/energy delivery device
of the embodiment of FIGS. 25a-25c.
[0045] FIG. 27 is a flow chart illustrating a method for generating
and displaying impedance derived images.
[0046] FIG. 28 is a block diagram illustrating a controller, power
source, power circuits and other electronic components used with an
embodiment of a control system other embodiments of the
invention.
[0047] FIG. 29 is a block diagram illustrating an analog amplifier,
multiplexer and microprocessor used with an embodiment of a control
system or other embodiments of the invention.
[0048] FIG. 30 is a lateral view illustrating a control and display
unit used in various embodiments of the invention.
[0049] FIG. 31 is a plot showing an embodiment of an impedance
determination duty cycled signal super-imposable on an RF treatment
signal under selectable threshold conditions.
[0050] FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the
device for impedance modulation with infusion.
[0051] FIG. 33 is a flow chart illustrating the use of one
embodiment of the device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Definitions
[0052] The terms below, as used herein, have the following
meanings, unless indicated otherwise:
[0053] "Electrode", "resilient member" and "antenna" are
interchangable and refer to a needle or wire for conducting energy
to a tissue site. Electrodes may be passive, active or switchable
between passive and active. Further, an electrode may be a ground
pad electrode positionable at an exterior position on the
patient.
[0054] A "sensing member" is a passive or active electrode for
sensing an ablation parameter.
[0055] "Fluid delivery device" and "infusion device" are
interchangable and refer to a device connected to, or including (i)
a source of fluid to be infused, and (ii) one or more electrodes or
the elongated delivery device for delivery of the fluid to a target
tissue.
[0056] "Feedback control device", "control unit", "control
resources", "feedback control system", and "controller" are
interchangable and refer to a control capable of modulating an
ablation parameter, i.e. power, temperature, infusion, etc. The
control may be automatically or manually operated.
[0057] "Impedance measurement" or "impedance determination" are
interchangable and refer to the calculation of impedance from a
data source, i.e. current sensor, voltage sensor, or power source,
using any suitable calculation device or algorithm known in the
art.
[0058] Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus
and method for performing tissue characterization using localized
impedance determination including complex impedance determination
to locate and diagnose a tumor, accurately position an ablative
apparatus, monitor the progress of an ablative treatment and
determine clinical endpoints. Further these and other embodiments
of the invention can be configured to measure and analyze
bioelectric parameters with enhanced predictive power of cell
metabolism along with associated images that allow for real time
control of the ablative process awhile significantly reducing the
risk of incomplete ablation or unwanted damage to critical
anatomical structures. Each of the disclosed embodiments may be
considered individually or in combination with other variations and
aspects of the invention. The method and apparatus provided herein
are useful in treating cancerous tumors in organs and tissue
throughout the body including, but not limited to the liver, bone,
breast, lung and brain. They are also useful and equally applicable
to treatment of benign tumors, growths and otherwise abnormal or
enlarged tissue that requires removal, resection or modification by
surgical or minimally invasive means.
[0059] Localized monitoring of impedance provided in various
aspects of the invention is particularly beneficial for use in the
treatment of tumors and tumorous tissue by ablative therapies such
as RF, microwave, laser and chemical ablation. These and related
ablative therapies causes disruption of cell membranes resulting in
impedance change in the interstitial fluid but only in the affected
tissue with minimal or no changes to the surrounding tissue.
Previous attempts to determine impedance using a full electrical
circuit through the patients body had the drawback of not being
able to detect tissue localized impedance by failing to consider
the problems involved including the following:
[0060] (i) the signal is too small in relation to and/or mask out
by the impedance of the entire impedance determination system
including the conductive pathway through body the ground pad
electrodes and associated wires;
[0061] (ii) the measurement was made too far away on the body from
the desired tissue site and is thus again masked out; and
[0062] (iii) the localized impedance was masked out by RF or other
ablative energy signal delivered to the tissue. Embodiments of
present invention provide solutions to these problems to detect
localized impedance changes, particularly those changes occurring
during an ablation procedure through the use of impedance arrays
positioned at the target tissue to determine impedance including
complex impedance and other bioelectric properties described
herein.
[0063] A discussion will now be presented of impedance
determination theory and impedance determination methods employed
by embodiments of the invention. In order to determine tissue
impedance or impedivity (which typically has units of impedance/cc
of tissue at 20.degree. C.) a current is applied across the tissue
and the resulting voltages are measured. This current, known as the
excitation current or excitation signal is relatively small in
comparison to an ablative RF or other ablative current and hence
results in no appreciable ablative effect. In various embodiments
the excitation current can range from 0.01 ma to 100 amps with
specific embodiments of 0.1, 1.0 and 10 amps which can be delivered
in a continuous or pulsed fashion using a duty cycle. In various
embodiments, the duty cycle can be in the range of 5 to 50% with a
pulse duration of 10 to 200 ms. The average power delivered over
the course of the duty cycle can be in the range of 0.1 to 10
watts. In these and related embodiments the excitation current
source is used to measure voltage differences between two or more
sites in a bipolar mode or one or more sites and a common ground.
The known excitation current and measured voltage are then used to
derive impedance using algorithms and methods described herein
and/or known in the art.
[0064] Because different frequencies conduct differently through
different tissue types some tissue is more or less conductive at
certain frequencies. Accordingly, depending upon the tissue type or
condition to be detected, the sensing or excitation signal can be
varied or otherwise controlled to improve one or more of the
sensitivity, accuracy, precision and resolution of an impedance
determination. In various embodiments the excitation signal can be
a mono-frequency or a multi-frequency signal and can be constant or
variable. In an embodiment, improved signal resolution and thus
more precise tissue analysis and characterization can be achieved
by use of a multi-frequency excitation signal and/or an excitation
signal varied across a broad range of frequencies. In various
embodiments, this range of frequencies can be from about 1 Hz to
about 1 MHz with specific embodiments of 0.5 Hz, 1, 5, 10, 25, 50,
100, 250, 500 and 750 kHz. Since the bioelectric distinctions (e.g.
phase angle, impedance) between cancerous and healthy tissue can be
the greatest at low frequencies such as 100 Hz, in exemplary
embodiments measurements can be taken over a plurality of
excitation frequencies below 100 Hz, with specific embodiments of
3, 4, 10 and 20 frequencies below 100 Hz. Other embodiment can be
combine measurements below 100 Hz with those between 100 Hz to 5
kHz.
[0065] Further embodiments of the invention can be configured to
determine impedance at different excitation frequencies (either
concurrently or sequentially), to obtain more robust data and hence
more refined clinical diagnostic information. Using these and other
data and methods a plot of impedance versus frequency can be
generated for a sampled tissue volume and analyzed to determine
tissue type and tissue conditions of the sample volume as is more
fully described herein.
[0066] Complex impedance includes both real and imaginary
components, which reflect the phase shift between voltage and
current (e.g. the voltage can lead or lag current depending on the
electrical properties of the tissue). Various embodiments of the
invention can be configured to record both the real and imaginary
components of complex impedance. This provides the benefit of
providing more comprehensive information on the tissue allowing
analysis with a greater degree of accuracy, precision and
resolution. These components can be determined by passing an
excitation current through the target tissue and determining
impedance and/or any phase shift between the current and voltage as
the signal is conducted through the target tissue.
[0067] In related embodiments, real and imaginary components of
impedance can be used to determine intracellular impedance,
interstitial impedance and cell membrane capacitance. These three
elements alone or in combination can be used to uniquely
characterize and identify tissue type and condition with increased
amounts of specificity. In an embodiment, the monitoring device, or
other logic resources can be configured to utilize one or more of
these three parameters (the "three parameters") to characterize an
amount of ablation or progression of tissue ablation from an
ablative treatment such as RF ablation or ablative method described
herein. The characterization can be done by a software module
resident within the monitoring device, power supply or coupled
logic resources all described herein.
[0068] In specific embodiments, the thee parameters can be used to
detect various physiologic indicators of ablation and cell necrosis
including cell lysis, cell membrane swelling (indicated by an
increase in membrane capacitance), cell membrane rupture (indicated
by a sharp decrease in membrane capacitance), a decrease in
extracellular fluid (indicated by an increase in intracellular
impedance) and in increase in intracellular fluid (indicated by a
decrease in extracellular fluid). Other parameters which can be
calculated and used for detection and control purposes include the
absolute value of the impedance or admittance, the phase of the
impedance (e.g. the phase difference between the current and the
voltage), the capacitance or a function of a combination of the
impedance and admittance components.
[0069] Specific embodiments of the invention can be configured to
detect and/or control for threshold increases or decreases in one
or more of the three parameters (or other variables) including
increases or decreases in the ranges of 1.1:1.0 to 100:1.0 with
specific embodiments of 1.5:1.0, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 10:1, 20:1 and
50:10. Related embodiments can be configured to detect and/or
control for combinations of increases or decreases in the
parameters including but not limited to a rise followed by a
decrease in extracellular impedance, a decrease followed by an
increase in intracellular impedance and an increase followed by a
decrease in cell membrane capacitance. Other related embodiments
can be configured to detect, monitor and control for changes in the
slopes of the curves of one or more of the three parameters. Still
other related embodiments can employ PID control methods known in
the art utilizing combinations of proportional, integral or
derivative changes in the three-parameter curves.
[0070] Embodiments of the invention can incorporate the three
parameters into electronic algorithms/software programs which are
configured to do one or more of the following: (i) control the
delivery of power to the target tissue site, (ii) provide the
medical practitioner with prompts and diagnostic information about
the course of the ablation/treatment process, and (iii) provide the
medical practitioner with an indication of a clinical endpoint.
[0071] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of
an impedance monitoring and treatment apparatus 10 configured to
detect and treat a tumor mass 5'' in a target tissue site 5' by
sampling the impedance of the tissue mass and delivering energy or
other ablative treatment to produce an ablation volume 5av. The
apparatus can be configured to determine impedance, including
complex impedance, before during and after an ablation so as to
perform tissue identification at the target site, monitor the
progress of an ablation procedure including the developing ablation
volume and quantitatively determine a clinical endpoint for the
procedure.
[0072] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of impedance
treatment apparatus 10 comprises an elongated member or introducer
12 having a lumen 13, a proximal portion 14, a distal end 16, one
or more resilient members 18 positionable in the introducer lumen
13 and one or more sensors 22 disposed on members 18 or sensing
members 22m positionable in electrode lumen(s) 72 disposed within
members 18. The electrode distal end may be sufficiently sharp to
penetrate tissue including fibrous and/or encapsulated tumor
masses, bone, cartilage and muscle. The introducer lumen 13 may
extend over all or a portion of the length of introducer 12.
Members 18 can comprise a plurality 18pl of resilient members 18
configured to be positionable in lumen 13 and advanceable in and
out of distal end 16 by an advancement device 15 or advancement
member or other means described herein. Resilient members 18 can be
deployed with curvature from introducer 12 to collectively define a
volume 5av in target tissue site 5'. In an embodiment all, or a
portion, of one or more members 18 can be an energy delivery device
or energy delivery member described herein. Energy delivery device
18e can be coupled to an energy source or power supply 20 and can
also include one or more lumens 72.
[0073] Embodiments of the invention can be adapted, integrated
otherwise applicable to a number of ablative therapies including,
but not limited to, radio-frequency (RF) ablation, cryo-ablation,
brachytherapy, alcohol tissue ablation, chemical ablation,
microwave ablation, laser ablation, thermal ablation,
electroporation ablation, conformal beam radiation ablation,
standard radiation ablation, high intensity focused ultrasound
ablation, photo-dynamic therapy ablation. These and related
embodiments can comprise an energy delivery device and sensing
device coupled to a power supply.
[0074] For ease of discussion, the energy delivery and sensing
apparatus will be an RF based apparatus and power supply 20 will be
a RF power supply; however, all other embodiments discussed herein
are equally applicable. In and embodiment the RF power supply can
be an RF generator configured to deliver a treatment current 20t
for tissue ablation while simultaneously or near simultaneously
(using a multiplexing/switching device) delivering a low power
sensing or excitation signals 20e across at one or more frequencies
for making complex impedance determinations and subsequent analysis
of the target tissue. The excitation signal 20e can be delivered
across a broad band of frequencies in the range of 1 to 1 MHz. In
various embodiments, the excitation signal is delivered at a lower
frequency then the treatment signal (typically 460+/-60 kHz). In an
embodiment, the excitation signal is less than 400 kHz. In other
embodiments, the sensing signal is in the range of 1 h to 100 kHz,
with specific embodiments of 0.25, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 75
kHz. In alternative embodiments, the excitation signal is delivered
at frequencies above the treatment frequency and thus can be
greater than 520 kHz. Further the frequency and power differences
between the excitation and treatment signals 20e and 20t can be
monitored and set point controlled using circuitry and control
algorithms known in the art. Also the frequency and power
difference between the two signals can varied responsive to one or
more electrical parameters to maximize the accuracy and precision
of impedance determinations and reduce interference (e.g. bleed
over) from the treatment signal 20t. These electrical parameters
include but are not limited to impedance, treatment current,
treatment frequency, excitation current and excitation
frequency.
[0075] In various embodiments, introducer 12 can be flexible,
articulated and steerable and can contain fiber optics (both
illumination and imaging fibers), fluid and gas paths, and sensor
and electronic cabling. In an embodiment introducer 12 can be
configured to both pierce tissue and also be maneuverable within
tissue. This can be achieved through the use of flexible portions
coupled to a tissue piercing distal end 16 that can be a needle or
trocar tip integral or joined to introducer 12. Introducer 12 can
be sufficiently flexible to move in any desired direction through
tissue to a desired tissue site 5'. In related embodiments,
introducer 12 is sufficiently flexible to reverse its direction of
travel and move in direction back upon itself. This can be achieved
through the use of flexible materials and/or deflecting mechanisms
described herein. Also, introducer 12 can be coupled at its
proximal end to a handle 24 or handpiece 24. Handpiece 24 can be
detachable and can include ports 24' and actuators 24''.
[0076] One or more sensors 22 can be coupled to introducer 12,
resilient members 18 or energy delivery device 18e. In an
embodiment, sensors 22 can comprise one or more sensing members 22m
that can be positionable within lumens 72 of members 18 and
configured to be advanceable in and out of individual members 18 or
can be coupled to an exterior of resilient member 18. Sensing
members 22m can comprise a plurality of members 22mpl positioned in
multiple resilient members 18. Also, apparatus 10 can also have
sensors 22 disposed along elongated member 12 and other locations
outside of the target tissue site for measurement and determination
of the total impedance across the full electrical circuit between
the terminals of power supply 20 (i.e. through the patient's body
and into the ground pad). The total impedance can be monitored and
otherwise utilized to improve the accuracy and precision of the
localized impedance determination from the target site.
[0077] Impedance sensing members 22m, or sensors 22 coupled to
resilient members 18 can be deployed independently or
simultaneously to enable probing of target tissue 5' in multiple
locations so as to determine impedance in multiple locations and/or
through multiple conductive pathways 22cp. Deployment of impedance
sensing member 22m or sensors 22 can be controlled such that
telemetry can be used with impedance feedback to identify tissue
types and map the topography of tissue masses, tumors or tissue
structures.
[0078] Impedance sensing members 22m can also be deployed with
curvature from members 18 to collectively define a volume 5sv (also
called sample volume 5sv) that is volumetrically sampled by sensing
member plurality 22mpl. Collectively, the plurality 22mp of
deployed impedance sensing members 22m or plurality 18pl of
deployed resilient members 18 with coupled sensors 22 can comprise
a three-dimensional or volumetric impedance sensor array 22a. By
having sensors 22 in multiple locations and planes sensor array 22a
is configured to volumetrically sample (e.g. sample in multiple
locations and through multiple conductive pathways) tissue within
target tissue site 5' including tumor mass 5''. Sensor array 22a is
further configured to be able to simultaneously sample tissue at
multiple locations within volume 5sv or tissue site 5' to perform
one or more of the following: (i) locate the position of the tumor
mass 5'', (ii) discern the position or deployment distance of the
energy delivery devices 18, (iii) monitor the developing ablation
volume, (iv) perform tissue sensing identification by comparing
signals between two or more sites (e.g. known healthy tissue and
suspected diseased tissue). In various embodiments sensor array 22a
and/or member plurality 18pl can be configured to define a variety
of shapes for sample volumes 5sv including, but not limited to, a
hemisphere, a sphere, an oval, a cone, pyramidal, a polyhedron or a
tetrahedron.
[0079] Each resilient member 18 can have one or more impedance
sensing members 22m and/or sensors 22 that can be arranged in a
variety of configurations to perform one or more desired functions
described herein (e.g. tissue identification, ablative monitoring
etc.). Referring now to FIG. 3a, sensing members 22m can be
configured to determine impedance in either bipolar between two or
more members 22m or a mono-polar mode between one or more selected
members 22 and a common ground such as a ground electrode or ground
pad electrode. Switching between the two modes can be controlled by
logic resources and/or a switching or device 29 coupled to or
integral with an impedance monitoring device 19 or power supply 20.
Further, switching device 29 can be configured to allow the user to
define and select one or more conductive pathways 22cp to determine
impedance. In use, these and related embodiments allow the user to
select any number of conductive pathways and in a pattern 22pp that
circumscribe or otherwise defines a sample volume 5sv of interest.
Also the use of switching device 29 in these embodiments allows the
user to determine impedance simultaneously or sequentially through
the selected pathways. Further switching device 29 and/or apparatus
10 can be so configured to allow the user to dynamically change or
switch between pathways to do one or more of the following:
[0080] (i) change the number of pathways through a selected sample
volume allowing increased signal resolution and statistical
confidence of predicted tissue conditions;
[0081] (ii) change the angle between two or more conductive
pathways; and
[0082] (iii) change the size of the sample volume (iv); switch
between a first and second sample volume; and (v) compare two or
sample volumes simultaneously.
[0083] In an embodiment shown in FIG. 3b, conductive pathways 22cp
can include a primary pathway(s) and an alternative pathway(s). The
alternative pathway can be at a selectable angle from the primary
pathway and can share points in common with the primary pathway.
Suitable angles include the range of 1 to 360.degree. with
particular embodiments of 30, 45, 90 and 270.degree. from a lateral
axis 22la of the primary pathway. Alternatively, the alternative
conductive pathway can share one or more points in common with the
original pathway or be parallel with the original pathway but
offset a selectable lateral distance 22ld. Also repetitive scans of
impedance including sweep scans and sequential sweep scans (e.g.
sequentially sampling from one side of a sample volume to the
other, similar to radar) can be made through one or more selected
conductive pathway of a selected sample volume to monitor the time
course of ablation as well obtain improved signal to noise ratios
and signal resolution for image analysis.
[0084] Changing the angle and/or lateral offset of the conductive
pathway used to determine impedance can be accomplished through a
variety of means including but not limited to: (i) selectively
switching sensors 22 or sensing elements 22m off and on (ii)
selectively switching sensing elements 22m from a monopolar mode to
a bipolar mode and visa versa, (for RF embodiments) using switching
device 29 (iii) configuring the probe array to be rotatable and/or
deflectable, and (iv) the use and/or deployment of a second array
either on the same or different device. Switching can be
accomplished through the use of a switching or multiplexing device
29 which can be programmable or controlled by logic resources 19lr
described herein.
[0085] In one embodiment the data from alternative conductive
pathways or group of pathways can be integrated with measurements
from the primary conductive pathways for analysis and imaging
purpose or in an alternative embodiment can be analyzed and
displayed separately allowing for a comparison of both measurement
and image from the primary and alternative group of pathways. The
benefit of the former is a more representative and uniform sample
of impedance and the later the ability to detect for uniformities
of impedance within the sample volume.
[0086] In use, such embodiments allow the medical practitioner to
sample or image a larger tissue volume than single pathway
sampling, sample multiple tissue volumes including simultaneous
sampling without having to reposition the apparatus or impedance
array. This capability reduces procedure time generally enhances
the usability of the apparatus. Further, such embodiments also
provides a more accurate and representative signal of the target
tissue volume by selecting conductive pathways to control the shape
and size of the sample volume to sample only the area of interest
eliminating any potential masking or undesired impedance
contribution from surrounding non-target tissue. Also the ability
to switch the angle of the pathway eliminates or reduces any
directional bias in the impedance determinations. Finally, by
virtue of having a larger and volume distributed sample size for a
given volume of tissue, the use of multiple conductive pathway
impedance determinations provides a more representative measurement
of impedance for the selected volume improving the accuracy and
precision of the impedance determination as well as improving
signal and image resolution in one or all three dimensions.
[0087] Referring now to FIGS. 4a-4c in various embodiments,
impedance sensing members 22m can be arranged in arrays 22a having
a variety of geometric arrangements and relationships so as to
electrically sample different volumes of tissue 5sv using different
conductive pathways 22cp. Such embodiments provide the benefit of
improved acquisition, accuracy and analysis of the impedance signal
19p from a given sample volume 5sv to compensate for signal
hysteresis, noise (due to energy delivery etc,) directional bias or
other error. They also provide the benefit of simultaneous sampling
and comparison of two or more tissue volumes to perform tissue
identifications.
[0088] Referring now to FIGS. 4a-4c, conductive pathways 22cp can
have a variety of configuration and orientations all selectable by
the user. In an embodiment the conductive pathways 22cp can be
evenly distributed or spaced within the sample volume 5sv. This can
be achieved by either the configuration of the members 22m, through
the use of switching device 29 or a combination of both.
Alternatively, the conductive pathways can be aligned with respect
to one or more sensing members 22m, the introducer or the tumor
volume 5'' itself. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 4a, one member
22mc can be positioned at the center of tissue volume 5sv with
other members 22m positioned in a surrounding relationship so
excitation current travels in a plurality 22pp of conductive
pathways 22cp to and from the center of the sample volume 5sv to
the outlying impedance sensor members 22m. In use, this
configuration results in an impedance determination for the sample
volume 5sv which is an average of the individual impedance for each
conductive pathway providing the benefit of a more a statistically
representative sample of impedance for a selected tissue volume
than provided by a single pathway alone. Members 22m can be
collectively coupled to a positive terminal of power supply 20 with
member 22m configured as a return electrode and coupled to a return
terminal of power supply 20.
[0089] In a related embodiment shown in FIG. 4b, member 22m can be
eccentrically positioned with respect to members 22m and/or
positioned on the periphery of a sample volume defined by members
22m. Again, this embodiment provides the benefit of an average and
more representative impedance determination for the sample volume.
However, this configuration also provides the benefit of being able
to more readily detect and locate non-uniformities in impedance and
hence tissue properties occurring on the boundaries or otherwise
non centered portions of the tissue volume. Use of switching device
29 allows for the dynamic switching of any of the sensing members
22m to a return electrode to more readily detect the location of a
potential non-uniformity within the sample volume by rapidly
scanning different portions of the periphery of the volume.
[0090] Alternatively as shown FIG. 4c, members 22m can comprise a
first array (such as perpendicular array) and a second array. The
first array can be rotated to obtain different conductive paths to
the second array so as to sample different tissue volumes and/or
provide multiple samplings of the same volume (via different
conductive paths) to improve accuracy and precision of the
measurement and reduce noise. In use, this embodiment also allows
detection of incomplete ablation by comparing a determined
impedance from a first group of conductive pathways 22cp1 defined
by first array 22a1 to a second group of conductive pathways 22cp2
defined by second array 22a2.
[0091] In various embodiments apparatus 10 can be configured to
simultaneously sample different locations within target tissue site
5' utilizing switching device or multiplexer 29 or other switching
means described herein or known in the art. In an embodiment shown
in FIG. 5 a first group of selected conductive pathways 22cp' can
be used to sample a local first volume 5sv1 and a second group of
selected conductive pathways 22cp'' can selected to do so for a
second volume 5sv2 and a third group of selected conductive
pathways 22cp'; can be so selected to do so for a larger or global
sample volume 5sv3 defined or circumscribed by multiple sensor
tipped members 18 or sensing members 22m. Each sample volume
results in a separate impedance profile 19p. Thus sample volumes
5sv1, 5sv2 and 5sv3 produce impedance profiles 19s1, 19s2 and 19s3
respectively, all or portion of which can be compared to one
another or a database of impedance profiles 19db using
comparison/pattern recognition algorithms of module 19m other
software or computational means. In a related embodiment the
determined impedance signal for each sample volume can integrated
or otherwise analyzed by module 19m or other computational means to
determine an impedance vector 22v and loci of impedance 22i for
each respective sample volume (e.g. impedance vectors 22v1, 22v2,
22v3; and impedance loci 22l1, 22l2 and 22l3).
[0092] Referring now to FIG. 6, in an embodiment one or more
sensors 22 or sensing members 22m can be coupled to an impedance
determination and monitoring device 19. Monitoring device 19
includes circuitry described herein to measure voltage from the
excitation current and subsequently calculate impedance. Further
monitoring device 19 can also be configured to measure, calculate
and record complex impedance, an impedance profile 19p and a
complex impedance profile 19pc resulting from various tissue
bioelectric properties including, impedance conductance,
capacitance, etc. In an embodiment, monitoring device 19 can
include logic resources 19lr such as a microprocessor and memory
resources 19mr such as RAM or DRAM chip configured to analyze,
store and display tissue impedance profile 19p and/or other
bio-electric information derived from sensing member 22m and/or
sensing array 22a. Impedance monitoring device 19 can also be
coupled to a display device 21 so as to display real time or stored
impedance profiles images and other data generated by impedance
monitoring device 19. Examples of display devices 21 include
cathode ray tubes (CRTs), liquid crystal displays, plasma displays,
flat panel displays and the like. Display device 21 can also be
incorporated in an external computer coupled to impedance
monitoring device 19.
[0093] In various embodiments, impedance monitoring device 19 or
power supply 20 can be equipped with a number of feature including
but not limited to the following:
[0094] (i) memory resources containing a database of characteristic
impedance profiles;
[0095] (ii) a readout window for the impedance based diagnosis of
tissue type and/or condition;
[0096] (iii) artificial intelligence algorithms/programming
enabling the generator to learn from newly acquired impedance
scans;
[0097] (iv) ability for the user to enter and teach the generator
the correct tissue type and condition based on biopsy or pathology
data;
[0098] (v) ability to sense impedance on multiple frequencies
simultaneously to improve speed, accuracy, and reduce effects of
interference;
[0099] (vi) ability to work with non-invasive pads (like
electro-physiology pads) for measurement of complex impedance and
performing targeted tissue assessment non-invasively;
[0100] (vii) ability to monitor a reference signal and/or basic
patient electro-physiological conditions for baseline comparisons
with impedance readings and as additional information for the user;
and
[0101] (viii) programming to utilize the reference signal or signal
to account for hysteresis, signal noise, cross talk and other
signal interference using digital subtraction, suppression and
other signal processing methods known in the art and thus improve a
signal to noise ratio, signal sensitivity or resolution.
[0102] In various embodiments, apparatus 10 along with impedance
monitoring device 19 can be configured to perform tissue
identification, differentiation, ablation monitoring and mapping of
tissue masses and structures. In specific embodiments, monitoring
device 19 is configured to perform a tissue identification function
using impedance information derived from sensors 22, sensing
members 22m or array 22a. A discussion will now be presented on the
background of tissue monitoring and identification using impedance
determination. Owing to variations in composition and morphology
various tissue types have different electrical properties (e.g.
conductance, inductance, capacitance etc) and therefore conduct
electrical energy differently particularly at certain frequencies.
For example cancerous tissue will typically have a significantly
higher phase than the health tissue, particularly at low
frequencies. These difference in electrical properties, particular
conductance result, in a characteristic impedance profile 19p for a
given tissue type or condition when the tissue is exposed to an
excitation current at one or more specific frequencies. Impedance
profile 19p can have one or more peaks, curves and other shapes
that serve as a fingerprint of the tissue type or tissue condition.
Accordingly by analyzing the impedance profile 19p and matching
peaks, curve shapes, thresholds etc, profile 19p can be utilized by
embodiments of the invention to identify tissue types and
conditions such as malignancy, vascularity, necrosis, thermal
injury etc. Related conditions that can also be identified using
this approach include abnormally mutated tissue, abnormally
dividing tissue or hypoxic tissue.
[0103] Further, many tissue types including cancerous tissue such
as metastatic tissue, will have a signature profile 19p that can be
readily identified and matched to a database of profiles using
pattern recognition techniques or algorithms known in the art.
Accordingly, apparatus 10 can include electronic algorithms or
software modules 19m resident in logic resources 19lr of monitoring
device 19 or microprocessor 339 that are configured to analyze an
impedance profile 19p including real and imaginary components and
perform tissue identification and/or tissue differentiation between
one or more sampled volumes 5sv. Modules 19m can include pattern
recognition algorithms, curve fitting, fuzzy logic or other
numerical methods known in the art. Also in an embodiment, modules
19m can be configured to compare profile 19p to a database of
profiles 19db stored in memory resources 19mr an use curve fitting
or other numerical methods known in the art to provide and display
a correlation coefficient or statistic (e.g. p value) indicative of
the probability of a match to a given tissue type or condition.
[0104] In various embodiments the impedance and other bioelectric
properties that can be analyzed to determine a tissue type or
condition include, but are not limited to complex impedance (real
and imaginary components), extracellular impedance, intracellular
impedance, interstitial impedance, cell membrane capacitance,
intracellular capacitance. In an embodiment, monitoring device 19
can be configured to analyze only selected frequencies of an
impedance profile or other bioelectric property measurement that
are known to identify or correlate to selected tissue
characteristics, rather than analyzing the full frequency spectrum
of the profile. Such frequencies can be selected from a
pre-existing database or determined in vivo using swept frequency
methods described herein. This approach presents the advantage of
faster signal processing times, allowing a faster tissue assessment
and diagnosis using fewer computational resources. In turn this
enables the size, power requirements and complexity of the control
and display instrumentation to be reduced.
[0105] Referring now to FIGS. 7-10, in related embodiments
apparatus 10 and monitoring device 19 can be configured to utilize
complex impedance curves to identify and characterize different
tissue types and conditions. Accordingly, monitoring device 19 can
be configured to measure generate and display curves or profiles
19pc of complex impedance. Curves can be both two-dimensional and
three-dimensional. For two-dimensional plots the x-axis can be the
real component and the y-axis the imaginary component while
three-dimensional plots can include an axis for time or frequency.
This can be accomplished via algorithms within modules 19m that
receive input from impedance array 22a, perform complex impedance
calculations known in the art and curve fitting or transform
functions described herein and subsequently output an impedance
profile 19p that is displayed on display device 21. As shown in
FIGS. 7a and 7b, because tissue conducts differently at
frequencies, measurements made across a range of excitation
frequencies results in an impedance frequency response curve 500
(FIG. 7a) or a series of complex impedance frequency response
curves (FIG. 7b). Using either of the frequency response curves
from FIG. 7a or 7b, a particular frequency can be selected for
subsequent impedance complex impedance determinations and analysis
which has the greatest sensitivity for a given tissue type or
condition and/or results in a complex impedance curve having the
greatest predictive value for the desired tissue type or condition.
The selection can done using methods described herein or by
calibration against a set of in vitro standards representative of
the desired tissue condition, by visual determination/estimation of
the user or a combination of both.
[0106] As shown in FIGS. 8a-8c, in an embodiment, the course of an
ablation can be monitored using impedance determinations made at
multiple frequencies. The impedance at some frequencies will rise,
fall or do both over the time course of the ablation. By combining
impedance data from multiple curves the overall predictive value of
the measurements for an ablation event or endpoint is greatly
increased. Accordingly, using differential diagnosis methodology an
ablation monitoring algorithm or module can be configured to look
for impedance characteristic curve shapes, slopes threshold, etc.
in two or more impedance curves made at different frequencies as a
predictor of an ablation endpoint. Such information can be used to
provide a more reliable indicator of clinical endpoint as well
monitor and titrate the delivery of ablative energy or ablative
therapy to the requirements. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8d,
differences in the impedance-frequency spectrum, pre-, inter- and
post-ablation can also be also be used to monitor and evaluate the
ablation process.
[0107] In related embodiments shown in 8e-8g, complex impedance
curves can be used to monitor and assess the ablation process
including determination of clinical endpoints as described herein.
Further as shown in FIGS. 9a-9c, the apparatus can be configured to
utilize complex impedance curves to identify and characterize
different tissue types, tumors etc. Related embodiments can be
configured to generate and display three-dimensional plots of
complex impedance utilizing time and or position as the third axis.
For positional 3-D plots the locus of impedance 502 can be
calculated and graphically displayed as is shown in FIG. 10 or in
another graphical format known in the arts including 2-D. Also, the
impedance locus can be utilized to characterize the ablation
process and can be used to perform vector analysis of RF or
microwave current or other ablative energy vector, (e.g. the
magnitude and direction of the ablative energy), as well as vector
analysis of physiologic indicators of cell necrosis, such as
changes in interstitial conductivity. In various embodiments, the
impedance locus can be utilized to facilitate location and display
of a tumor volume, ablation volume, or other desired tissue mass or
volume at the target tissue site. The generation and display of the
impedance locus 5li (in 2-D or 3-D) can be configured to provide
the medical practitioner an easily discernable visual cue as to the
location, size or movement of the ablation, tumor or other selected
tissue volume.
[0108] In addition to identifying tissue types, the monitoring
device, along with the impedance sensing array(s), can also be
employed to monitor in real time the progression of an ablative
procedure including the progression of an ablation volume resulting
from the delivery of energy to a target tissue volume. This reduces
damage to tissue surrounding the targeted mass to be ablated. By
monitoring the impedance at various points within and outside of
the interior of a tissue site, a determination of the selected
tissue mass periphery can be made, as well as a determination of
when cell necrosis is complete. If at any time sensor results
determine that an impedance level or ablation endpoint has been met
or exceeded, then an appropriate feedback signal is inputted to
power source which then stops or otherwise adjust the levels of
ablative energy delivered to the electrodes. The target tissue site
can also be probed and interrogated by the sensor array after the
completion of ablation to confirm that ablation is complete for the
entire desired volume ablation volume. By probing the ablated
region with the sensor array, the three-dimensional volume of the
ablation can be assessed and the margin of ablated healthy tissue
beyond the tumor mass can also be measured.
[0109] Referring now to FIG. 11, an embodiment for monitoring the
ablative process the impedance signal intensity 510 for a sample
volume of tissue bounded by two or sensing members or array can be
monitored over time using a monitoring device, a power supply or
other bioelectric signal monitoring means known in the art. An
endpoint for ablation can be determined based on either a
selectable threshold value 514 of signal 510 or an inflection point
or change in slope 512 (e.g. a derivative) of curve 506 or a
combination of both. In an embodiment signal 506 can comprise the
subtraction of a baseline (or reference) impedance determination
508 of a nearby, but non-ablated tissue volume, from a real time
measurement 504 of the target tissue volume during the time course
of ablation. This compensates for any signal or tissue hysteresis
over time. Threshold values 514 and signals 510 can be input and
stored in logic resource coupled to the impedance monitoring device
or incorporated into an electronic algorithm controlling the
delivery of energy which can be stored in a controller or processor
coupled to the power supply.
[0110] Turning now to a further discussion of the introducer, in
various embodiments, introducer can be a trocar, catheter,
multi-lumen catheter, or a wire-reinforced or metal-braided polymer
shaft, a port device, a subcutaneous port device, an elongated
delivery device, or other medical introducing device known to those
skilled in the art. In various embodiments, the introducer as well
as resilient member can be configured to have varying mechanical
properties along their respective lengths including, but not
limited to variable stiffness, torquability, column strength,
flexural modulus, pushability, trackability and other mechanical
performance parameters known in the catheter arts. Referring to
FIG. 12a, this can be achieved through the use of stiff shafts
sections 520 disposed within portions of the introducer along its
length 522. It can also be accomplished through the use of braids,
varying/tapered diameters and different materials (e.g. stiffer
materials joined to flexible materials) positioned over portions of
introducer. Sections 520 made from different materials can be
joined using introducer bonding methods known in the art such as
hot melt junctions (with and without capture tubes/collates),
adhesive joints, but joints and the like. The joining method can be
controlled/selected so as to control the mechanical transition 12mt
between two sections to a desired gradient (e.g. smooth vs.
abrupt). In related embodiments, introducer 12 and/or member 18 can
be configured to have stiffer proximal portions and more flexible
distal portions so as to facilitate one or more of the following
(i) introducer steerability and positioning of the introducer
distal tip 16 at a selectable target tissue site, (ii) reduced risk
of perforation, abrasion and other trauma during the positioning
the introducer to the tissue site. In various embodiments, the
transition from the stiffer to the more flexible portion can be
configured to be either (i) gradual with a linear or curve-linear
transition, (ii) a step or abrupt transition, and (iii)
combinations thereof.
[0111] Referring to FIGS. 12b and 12c, introducer 12 can have a
substantially circular, semicircular, oval or crescent shaped cross
sectional profile 12cs, as well as combinations thereof along its
length. Similarly, lumens 13 can have a circular, semicircular,
oval or crescent shaped cross section for all or a portion of the
length of introducer 12.
[0112] Suitable materials for introducer 12 and resilient member 18
include, but are not limited to, stainless steel, shape memory
alloys such as nickel titanium alloys, polyesters, polyethylenes,
polyurethanes, Pebax.RTM., polyamides, nylons, copolymers thereof
and other medical plastics known to those skilled in the art. All
or portions of introducer 12 can be coated with a lubricious
coating or film 524 which reduces the friction (and hence trauma)
of introducer 12 with hepatic, pulmonary, bone and other tissue.
Such coatings can include but are not limited to silicones, PTFE
(including Teflon.RTM.) and other coatings known in the art. Also,
all or portions of apparatus 10, including introducer 12 and
members 18, can be constructed of materials known in the art that
are optimized and/or compatible with radiation sterilizations (e.g.
Gamma or E-beam). In related embodiments, all or portions of
apparatus 10 can be configured (e.g. lumen diameter to length
ratio, etc.) to be sterilized by plasma (e.g. H.sub.2O.sub.2)
sterilization by systems.
[0113] Referring now to FIG. 13, in other embodiments all or
portions of introducer 12 or resilient members 18 can be configured
to be deflectable and/or steerable using deflection mechanisms 25
which can include pull wires 15, ratchets, cams, latch and lock
mechanisms, piezoelectric materials and other deflection means
known in the art. The amount of deflection of introducer 12 is
selectable and can be configured to allow the maneuvering of
introducer 12 through oblique turns in tissue, organs, organ ducts
and blood vessels. In specific embodiments, the distal portions of
introducer 12 can be configured to deflect 0-180.degree. or more in
up to three axes to allow the tip of introducer 12 to have
retrograde positioning capability. Deflection mechanism 25 can be
coupled to, or integral with, a moveable or slidable actuator 24'',
25' on handpiece 24. Mechanism 25 and coupled actuator 25' are
configured to allow the physician to selectively control the amount
of deflection 25 of distal tip 16 or other portion of introducer
12. Actuator 25' can be configured to both rotate and deflect
distal tip 16 by a combination of rotation and longitudinal
movement of the actuator.
[0114] Referring now to FIG. 14, in various embodiments introducer
12 can be coupled at its proximal end 14 to a handle 24 or
handpiece 24. Handpiece 24 can be detachable and can include ports
24' and actuators 24''. Ports 24' can be coupled to one or more
introducer lumens 13 (and in turn electrode lumens 72) and can
include fluid and gas ports/connectors and electrical, or optical
connectors. In various embodiments, ports can be configured for
aspiration (including the aspiration of tissue), and the delivery
of cooling, electrolytic, irrigation, polymer and other fluids
(both liquid and gas) described herein. Ports can include but are
not limited to luer fittings, valves (one-way, two-way),
toughy-bourst connectors, swage fittings and other adaptors and
medical fittings known in the art. Ports can also include
lemo-connectors, computer connectors (serial, parallel, DIN, etc)
micro connectors and other electrical varieties well known to those
skilled in the art. Further, ports can include opto-electronic
connections which allow optical and electronic coupling of optical
fibers and/or viewing scopes to illuminating sources, eye pieces,
video monitors and the like. Actuators 24'' can include rocker
switches, pivot bars, buttons, knobs, ratchets, levers, slides and
other mechanical actuators known in the art, all or portion of
which can be indexed. These actuators can be configured to be
mechanically, electro-mechanically, or optically coupled to pull
wires, deflection mechanisms and the like allowing selective
control and steering of introducer 12. Handpiece 24 can be coupled
to tissue aspiration/collection devices 26, fluid delivery devices
28 (e.g. infusion pumps) fluid reservoirs (cooling, electrolytic,
irrigation etc) 30 or power source 20 through the use of ports 24'.
Tissue aspiration/collection devices 26 can include syringes,
vacuum sources coupled to a filter or collection chamber/bag. Fluid
delivery device 28 can include medical infusion pumps, Harvard
pumps, syringes and the like. In specific embodiments, aspiration
device 26 can be configured for performing thoracentesis.
[0115] Turning now to a discussion of electrodes or resilient
members 18 and sensing members 22m, these members can be of
different sizes, shapes and configurations with various mechanical
properties selected for the particular tissue site. In one
embodiment, members 18 can be needles, with sizes in the range of
28 to 12 gauge with specific embodiments of 14, 16 and 18 gauges.
Resilient members 18 are configured to be in non-deployed positions
while retained in introducer 12. In the non-deployed positions,
resilient members 18 may be in a compacted state, spring loaded and
generally confined within introducer 12 or substantially straight
if made of a suitable memory metal such as nitinol. As resilient
members 18 are advanced out of introducer 12 they become distended
to a deployed state as a result of their spring or shape memory
that collectively defines an ablative volume 5av, from which tissue
is ablated as illustrated more fully in FIGS. 1 and 2. The
selectable deployment of resilient members 18 can be achieved
through one or more of the following approaches
[0116] (i) the amount of advancement of resilient members 18 from
introducer 12;
[0117] (ii) independent advancement of resilient members 18 from
introducer 12;
[0118] (iii) the lengths and/or sizes of energy delivery surfaces
of electrodes 18 and 18'; (iv) variation in materials used for
electrode 18;
[0119] (v) selection of the amount of spring loading or shape
memory of electrode 18; (vi) variation of the geometric
configuration of electrode 18 in their deployed states; and
[0120] (vii) preformed to assume curvature when the resilient
members 18 are advanced from the introducer 12.
[0121] As described herein, in various embodiments all or a portion
of resilient member 18 can be an energy delivery device or member
18e. Turning to a discussion of energy delivery device and power
sources, the specific energy delivery devices 18e and power sources
20 that can be employed in one or more embodiments of the invention
include but are not limited to, the following:
[0122] (i) a microwave power source coupled to a microwave antenna
providing microwave energy in the frequency range from about 915
MHz to about 2.45 GHz;
[0123] (ii) a radio-frequency (RF) power source coupled to an RF
electrode;
[0124] (iii) a coherent light source coupled to an optical fiber or
light pipe;
[0125] (iv) an incoherent light source coupled to an optical
fiber;
[0126] (v) a heated fluid coupled to a catheter with a closed or at
least partially open lumen configured to receive the heated
fluid;
[0127] (vi) a cooled fluid coupled to a catheter with a closed or
at least partially open lumen configured to receive the cooled
fluid;
[0128] (vii) a cryogenic fluid;
[0129] (viii) a resistive heating source coupled to a conductive
wire;
[0130] (ix) an ultrasound power source coupled to an ultrasound
emitter, wherein the ultrasound power source produces ultrasound
energy in the range of about 300 KHZ to about 3 GHz, (xi) and
combinations thereof. For ease of discussion for the remainder of
this application, the energy delivery device 18e is one or more RF
electrodes 18 and the power source utilized is an RF power supply.
For these and related embodiments, RF power supply 20 can be
configured to deliver 5 to 200 watts, preferably 5 to 100 watts,
and still more preferably 5 to 50 watts of electromagnetic energy
is to the electrodes of energy delivery device 18e without impeding
out. The electrodes 18 are electro magnetically coupled to energy
source 20. The coupling can be direct from energy source 20 to each
electrode 18 respectively, or indirect by using a collet, sleeve
and the like which couples one or more electrodes to energy source
20.
[0131] In various embodiments, electrodes 18 include at least one
sensor 22 and sensing members 22m can have a variety of shapes and
geometries. Referring now to FIGS. 15a-15f, example shapes and
geometries can include, but are not limited to, ring-like, ball,
hemispherical, cylindrical, conical, needle-like and combinations
thereof. Referring to FIG. 16, in an embodiment electrode 18 can be
a needle with sufficient sharpness to penetrate tissue including
fibrous tissue including, encapsulated tumors cartilage and bone.
The distal end of electrode 18 can have a cut angle that ranges
from 1 to 60.degree., with preferred ranges of at least 25.degree.
or, at least 30.degree. and specific embodiment of 25.degree. and
30.degree.. The surface of electrode 18 can be smooth or textured
and concave or convex. Electrode 18 can have different lengths 38
that are advanced from distal end 16' of introducer 12. The lengths
can be determined by the actual physical length of electrode(s)
18e, the length 38' of an energy delivery surface 18eds of
electrode 18 and the length, 38'' of electrode 18 that is covered
by an insulator 36. Suitable lengths 38 include but are not limited
to a range from 1-30 cms with specific embodiments of 0.5, 1, 3, 5,
10, 15 and 25.0 cm. The conductive surface area of the electrode 18
can range from 0.05 mm.sup.2 to 100 cm.sup.2. The actual length of
the electrode 18 depends on the location of tissue site to be
ablated, its distance from the site, its accessibility as well as
whether or not the physician performs an endoscopic or surgical
procedure. Meanwhile, the conductive surface area 18eds depends on
the desired ablation volume to be created.
[0132] Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, electrode 18 can also be
configured to be flexible and or deflectable having one or more
radii of curvature 70 which can exceed 180.degree. of curvature. In
use, electrode 18 can be positioned to heat, necrose or ablate any
selected target tissue volume. A radiopaque marker 11 can be coated
on the electrodes 18e for visualization purposes. Electrode 18 can
be coupled to introducer 12 and or an advancement member or device
15 or an advancement-retraction member using soldering, brazing,
welding, crimping, adhesive bonding and other joining methods known
in the medical device arts. Also, the electrode 18 can include one
or more coupled sensors 22 to measure temperature and impedance
(both of the electrode and surrounding tissue), voltage and current
other physical properties of the electrode and adjacent tissue.
Sensors 22 can be at exterior surfaces of electrodes 18 at their
distal ends or intermediate sections.
[0133] Electrode 18 can be made of a variety of conductive
materials, both metallic and non-metallic. Suitable materials for
electrode 18 include, steel such as 304 stainless steel of
hypodermic quality, platinum, gold, silver and alloys and
combinations thereof. Also, electrode 18 can be made of conductive
solid or hollow straight wires of various shapes such as round,
flat, triangular, rectangular, hexagonal, elliptical and the like.
In a specific embodiment all or portions of electrodes 18 or a
second electrode can be made of a shaped memory metal, such as
NiTi, commercially available from Raychem Corporation, Menlo Park,
Calif.
[0134] Referring now to FIGS. 19 through 22 in various embodiments
one or more resilient members or electrodes 18 can be covered by an
insulative layer 36 so as to have an exterior surface that is
wholly or partially insulated and provide a non-insulated area
which is an energy delivery surface. In an embodiment shown in FIG.
19, insulative layer 36 can comprise a sleeve that can be fixed or
slidably positioned along the length of electrode 18 to vary and
control the length of the energy delivery surface. Suitable
material for insulative layer 36 includes polyamide and
fluorocarbon polymers such as TEFLON.
[0135] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 20, insulation 36 is formed
at the exterior of the electrodes 18 in circumferential patterns,
leaving a plurality of energy delivery surfaces. In an embodiment
shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, insulation 36 extends along a
longitudinal exterior surface of the electrodes 18. Insulation 36
can extend along a selected distance along a longitudinal length of
the electrodes and around a selectable portion of a circumference
of the electrodes. In various embodiments, sections of the
electrodes can have insulation 36 along selected longitudinal
lengths of electrodes as well as completely surround one or more
circumferential sections of electrodes. Insulation 36 positioned at
the exterior of electrodes 18 can be varied to define any desired
shape, size and geometry of energy delivery surface.
[0136] Referring now to FIGS. 23a and 23b, in various embodiments
electrode 18 can include one or more lumens 72 (which can be
contiguous with or the same as lumen 13) coupled to a plurality of
fluid distribution ports 23 (which can be apertures) from which a
variety of fluids 27 can be introduced, including conductivity
enhancing fluids, electrolytic solutions, saline solutions, cooling
fluids, cryogenic fluids, gases, chemotherapeutic agents,
medicaments, gene therapy agents, photo-therapeutic agents,
contrast agents, infusion media and combinations thereof. This is
accomplished by having ports or apertures 23 that are fluidically
coupled to one or more lumens 72 coupled to lumens 13 in turn
coupled to fluid reservoir 30 and/or fluid delivery device 28.
[0137] In an embodiment shown in FIG. 23a, a conductivity enhancing
solution 27 can be infused into a target tissue site 5' including a
tissue mass. The conductivity enhancing solution can be infused
before during or after the delivery of energy to the tissue site by
the energy delivery device. The infusion of a conductivity
enhancing solution 27 into the target tissue 5' creates an infused
tissue area that has an area of increased or otherwise controlled
electrical conductivity (verses non-infused tissue) so as to act as
an enhanced electrode 40 or an area of controlled tissue impedance
40. During RF energy delivery, tissue impedance and the current
densities in enhanced electrode 40 are controlled to an optimum
level allowing the delivery of greater amounts of RF power into
electrode 40 and target tissue 5' without shut downs of the RF
power supply due to excessive localized impedance. In use, the
infusion of the target tissue site with conductivity enhancing
solution provides two important benefits: (i) faster ablation
times; (ii) the creation of larger lesions; and (iii) reduced
incidence of impedance-related shut downs of the RF power supply.
This is due to the fact that the conductivity enhancing solution
reduces current densities and prevents desiccation of tissue
adjacent the electrode that would otherwise result in increases in
tissue impedance. Also, these and related embodiments provide the
benefit of a significantly reduced risk of pad burns to the patient
due to the use of lower power levels which lowers the current
density at the interface between the patients skin and a ground pad
electrode.
[0138] A preferred example of a conductivity enhancing solution is
a hypertonic saline solution. Other examples include halide salt
solutions, colloidal-ferro solutions and colloidal-silver
solutions. The conductivity of enhanced electrode 40 can be
increased by control of the rate and amount of infusion and the use
of solutions with greater concentrations of electrolytes (e.g.
saline) and hence greater conductivity. In various embodiments, the
use of conductivity enhancing solution 27 allows the delivery of up
to 2000 watts of power into the tissue site impedance shut down,
with specific embodiments of 50, 100, 150, 250, 500, 1000 and 1500
watts achieved by varying the flow, amount and concentration of
infusion solution 27. The infusion of solution 27 can be
continuous, pulsed or combinations thereof and can be controlled by
a feedback control system 329 described herein. In a specific
embodiment, a bolus of infusion solution 27 is delivered prior to
energy delivery followed by a continuous delivery initiated before
or during energy delivery with energy delivery device 18e or other
means.
[0139] In various embodiments, the apparatus can include impedance
determination, tissue ablation capabilities and can be configured
to not only infuse fluid but also to do so as to control tissue
impedance at the target tissue site. An embodiment of an ablation
apparatus configured for tissue infusion tissue for impedance
control is shown in FIG. 23b. In this and related embodiments,
fluid delivery device 28 can be a syringe pump configured with
multiple syringes 28s, multiple-bore syringes 28b with each syringe
coupled to a separate fluid lumen or channel 72 directly or via a
valve such as an indexing valve. Related embodiments of infusion
device 28 can include an indexing valve as well as multi-lumen
tubing or multi-channel tubing connected to one or more electrode
lumens 72 via introducer lumen 13 or other channel within external
to introducer 12. Multi-channel tubing can be fabricated from
PEBAX, silicone, polyurethane or other resilient polymer using
extrusion technology known in the art. Use of an indexing valve
allows independent control of flow rates through individual lumens
72 in turning allowing for independent control of infusion through
electrodes 18. This in turn, allows for greater control of the
infusion process including the creation of smaller or larger zones
of infusion around individual electrodes 18. Such control is
particularly beneficial for bipolar embodiments where, in order to
prevent shorting, it is desirable not to have a continuous infusion
zone between one or more bipolar electrodes 18 and a return
electrode.
[0140] As described herein the tissue ablation apparatus can be
configured to infuse a fluid 27 to control or maintain tissue
impedance at the target tissue site. In various embodiments this
can be accomplished using feedback control devices, systems, a
control for the fluid delivery device, and algorithms described
herein and known in the art such as proportional,
proportional-integral control or proportional-integral-derivative
methods. Further as shown in FIG. 23c, feedback control system can
be coupled to fluid delivery device (or the fluid delivery control,
not shown) and the impedance monitoring device in order to receive
an input or monitoring signal from the monitoring device and output
a control signal to device. The delivery of fluid to tissue site
can be flow or pressure controlled. Accordingly, in various
embodiments the control system regulates impedance by regulating
the infusion flow rate through one or more channels, the infusion
fluid pressure within channels or a combination of both. Flow rates
can be controlled to a range of about 0.01 to about 2.5 ml/per
channels with specific embodiments of 0.1, 0.25. 0.5, 0.75, 1.0,
1.5 and 2.0 ml/min. Pressure can be control to a range of 0.01 to 5
atms with specific embodiments of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.5
and 2.5 atms.
[0141] Other embodiments of fluid delivery methods and ablation
apparatus with associated features can be employed such as those
described in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/290,060 filed May
10, 2001 which is fully incorporated by reference herein.
[0142] A discussion will now be presented of types of impedance
that can be measured and controlled in various embodiments of the
invention, these include system impedance and local impedance. The
local impedance is the impedance along a conductive pathway 22
within target tissue site which in bipolar embodiments can be
measured between one or more electrodes. The system impedance is
the cumulative impedance of the local impedance along conductive
pathway, the impedance on the conductive pathway between the rest
of the body (the abdomen, legs, skin etc) and a ground pad
electrode, the impedance of the groundpad electrode, the impedance
of the RF generator, the impedance of the trocar or delivery
device, the impedance of electrodes and the impedance of all the
associated cabling coupling one or more components of the apparatus
to devices and component described herein (e.g. the RF generator,
etc.). Local impedance can be measured directly by measuring the
impedance along conductive pathways between one or more electrodes
in bipolar embodiments. Alternatively, local impedance can be
measured indirectly by taking baseline impedance determinations of
system impedance prior to ablative therapy and then subtracting
this value from impedance determinations during ablative therapy.
In related embodiments the impedance of the apparatus and RF
generator can be predetermined using a calibration device or a
pre-calibrated tissue/body impedance simulator. Again these values
can be stored and subtracted from real time system impedance
determinations to yield local impedance.
[0143] Local impedance can determined between one or more
electrodes or can be determined between the interior and exterior
of a hollow electrode by coating an exterior portion of electrode
with an insulative coating such that current flows between
non-insulated exterior portions of the electrode and the interior
portions. Alternatively all or portions of electrode can comprise a
coaxial cable with an interior electrode and an exterior
electrode.
[0144] A discussion will now be presented of the impedance
determinations and calculations used by various embodiments of the
invention. In an embodiment the impedance measured by impedance
determination device or power generator is system impedance. System
impedance includes the local impedance (LI) from the target tissue
site and from the rest of the body (BI) as well as the groundpad
and the generator and cables. Typically the impedance from the rest
of the body (BI) is fixed while the local impedance (LI) is
variable. This allows for an indirect determination of local tissue
impedance by taking a baseline impedance determination (either
before or at the onset of RF power delivery) and then subtracting
out the baseline determination. Determination of local tissue
impedance and system impedance allows for the determination of a
parameter known as impedance efficiency (IE). This value is the
ratio of local tissue impedance over the system impedance (LI/SI).
The IE value allows for the determination of another parameter
known as power dissipation efficiency (PDE). This value is the
ratio of the amount of the RF power actually dissipated at the
target tissue site (due to ohmic heating) to the total power
delivered from the RF generator for a given power setting. PDE can
be theoretically determined by multiplying the RF power setting by
the IE. Maximizing PDE maximizes the amount of power dissipated at
the lesion and hence lesion heating and thermally induced necrosis.
Generally, higher PEDs allow for faster, larger and more optimal
ablations while minimizing the risk of pad burns by reducing the
amount of power required to produce an ablation volume and hence
the resulting current density at the interface between the patients
skin and a ground pad or return electrode coupled the RF
generators.
[0145] PDE can be optimized/maximized by a variety of means
including control systems and methods described herein.
Accordingly, various embodiments of the invention can be configured
to optimize PDE by control of one or more of the following
parameters including, but not limited to, target tissue site
impedance including target tissue impedance gradients as function
of distance from the electrode, electrode impedance, electrode
surface impedance, system impedance and target tissue current
density including current density gradients as a function of
distance from the electrode. One or more of these parameters can be
set point controlled using control systems and methods described
herein. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 23d, PDE is maximized by
controlling system impedance and/or local impedance to an optimal
value 526 or range. Prior RF ablative approaches sought to maximize
the delivery of power to the tissue site by minimizing system
impedance. Embodiments of the present invention utilize a contrary
and novel approach by controlling impedance (either local or
system) above a minimum value or to an optimum value in order to
maximize PED. This optimal value is above a minimum value because
when local impedance is too low, there is a reduced power
dissipation at the target tissue site in relation to the rest of
body, (e.g. the legs, torso and interface between the ground-pad
and skin). This approach employed by various embodiments of the
invention represents a radical departure from previous RF ablative
methodologies which were based on the belief that the lower the
tissue impedance the better. Embodiments of the present invention
are configured to achieve increased power delivery to the tissue
site by actually increasing local impedance to higher levels so as
to obtain an increased IE value.
[0146] As shown in FIG. 23d, tissue impedances below the optimal
impedance 526 result in sharp drop off (e.g. a second order,
curvilinear or logarithmic decrease) of the delivered power 528 on
the curve 530, while values above the optimal impedance results in
a more gradual linear or asymptotic decrease. Using this and
related curves, delivered power to the target tissue site can be
controlled by controlling local impedance via the infusion rate of
a conductive solution or other means described herein. Accordingly,
in various embodiments local impedance can be controlled to be not
only set at the optimal impedance value, or optimal impedance range
532, but can also be maintained at values above or below the
optimal impedance over the time course of the ablative therapy. In
use, this allows the medical practitioner to more precisely titrate
the delivery of ablative energy to the size, shape and consistency
of a specific tumor volume, as well as account for local anatomy
such as nearby or internal blood vessels. Further, these and
related embodiments allow the medical practitioner to rapidly
increase or decrease delivered power over the time course of the
ablation without having to change the power setting on the RF
generator. Various embodiments of the invention can include
preprogrammed flow rate profiles or programs (stored in memory
resources described herein) so as to produce a time variable local
impedance profile over the time course of the ablation. For
example, the flow rate could be programmed to operate to right of
the linear portion of the curve 530 so as to gradually increase
delivered power, then shift to impedance value at optimal impedance
and then shift the impedance to the left of optimal impedance to
rapidly decrease delivered power near the end of the ablation. This
embodiment provides the benefit of minimizing damage to surrounding
healthy tissue near the end of ablation. Alternatively, a reverse
profile could be employed. Related embodiments could include
infusion/impedance profiles that have multiple intervals shifting
to the left and the right of the optimal impedance. The apparatus
could also be configured to allow the practitioner to manually
control the flow rate/impedance profile to meet the requirements of
individual tumor volumes. A database of infusion/impedance profiles
could be stored in a memory resources or a database.
[0147] As described herein, in various embodiments optimal
impedance can be controlled and maintained by the infusion of a
conductive solution to the target tissue site to control local
impedance. This can be accomplished by inputting measurements from
sensors and/or electrodes to a control system electronically
coupled to an infusion device described herein. In various
embodiments control system can be a closed loop system employing
Proportional, PI, PID methods as well as fuzzy logic algorithms
known in the art. A control system can be configured to control
both the flow rate as well as the conductivity of the infused
solution by controlling the electrolyte concentration/salinity of
the infused solution. Referring back to FIG. 23a, the latter can be
accomplished by coupling a source of dilute solution to the
reservoir via a control valve or by configuring the reservoir to
have two or more chambers containing concentrated and dilute
electrolytic solutions. In either embodiment, control valve can be
utilized to mix the two solutions in a proportion to achieve the
desired electrolyte concentration using conductivity/pH sensors
known in the art to monitor the output electrolyte
concentration.
[0148] In related embodiments, two or more process parameters can
be controlled to maintain local or system impedance at an optimal
impedance value. In an embodiment, RF generator power and the
infusion rate can be controlled in concert to control local or
system impedance. In situations where impedance is too low, RF
power can be increased and infusion rate decreased. This serves to
dry out the target tissue site by vaporizing or otherwise driving
out fluid from the target tissue site and/or allowing the fluid to
dissipate from the tissue site. Alternatively, the fluid delivery
device can be coupled to a vacuum source or otherwise be configured
to apply negative pressure to suction off fluid from the target
tissue into the lumen(s) of the electrode or lumen(s) of the
introducer. When impedance is too high infusion rates can be
increased in combination with a decrease in RF power levels.
[0149] In various embodiments, the optimal impedance or impedance
range can be maintained in the range of 5 to 200 ohms with a
preferred range of 30 to 150 ohms and specific embodiments of 10,
15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 ohms. The value of
the optimal impedance can be determined using a calibration
software program and/or a calibration test fixture (not shown)
which can be configured to simulate local tissue and/or body
impedance using biomedical instrument calibration methods known in
the art. In use, the doctor would connect an ablation apparatus or
catheter to a RF generator in order to determine a unique value of
the optimal impedance for given catheter generator combination.
Alternatively, each catheter can be factory calibrated using
biomedical instrument calibration methods known in the art. The
value could be stored in a microprocessor or ROM chip known in the
art that is integral or coupled to the apparatus and configured to
electrically signal the measurement device and/or the generator.
Also the control system, measurement device, or the generator can
be configured to allow the medical practitioner to manually enter a
value for the optimal impedance.
[0150] In embodiment shown in FIG. 23e, the infusion of solution
can be controlled to control the positional impedance profile or
gradient 534 (that varies as a function of the distance from the
electrode) and hence a power dissipation gradient 536. An optimal
impedance gradient 538 can be selected to in turn produce an
optimal power dissipation gradient 540 to optimize the delivery of
power in the target tissue site. In an embodiment, the infusion
flow rate can be controlled to maintain the impedance gradient
substantially constant (ins shape and position) over the time
course of the ablation. Alternatively, flow rates can be increased
or decreased as needed by control system 329 to shift the impedance
gradient over the time course of ablative RF power delivery to
optimize ablation volume and minimize ablation times. Decreasing
infusion rates (and/or decreasing electrolytic concentration)
shifts the impedance gradient to the right to allow more power to
be delivered to target tissue to produce larger ablation volumes in
short periods of time. Increase infusing rates allows the impedance
gradient to be shifted to the left to minimize tissue desiccation
and charring and prevent or reduce impedance induced shut downs of
the generator (so called impeding out). In an alternative
embodiment, the infusion of fluid can be configured to produce a
constant impedance profile 546, 548 or a increasing gradient 542,
544. The use of an optimal impedance gradient provides the benefit
of a more precise or fine tuned control of the ablation process by
accounting for impedance differences within the target tissue site
particularly those adjacent the electrode. In various embodiments,
the impedance gradient 534 can be configured to be linear,
logarithmic, second order, third order or other polynomial
function. Flow rate programs or subroutines that can be used to
produce such gradients can be stored in memory resources and/or
logic resources.
[0151] Turning now to a discussion of sensors, in various
embodiments, sensors can include all or a portion of the resilient
members. Referring back to FIG. 19, when resilient member 18 is
made of a conductive material the length of the sensor 22l can be
defined by the placement of a slidable or fixed insulative layer
36. Also in various embodiments, sensors 22 can fabricated from a
variety of conductive materials and metals known in the art
including stainless steel, copper, silver, gold, platinum and
alloys and combinations thereof. Referring now to FIG. 24,
similarly all or portions of sensors 22 or sensing members 22m can
comprise a conductive metal layer or conductive polymer coating 22c
that is coated or deposited (onto a selected portion of resilient
member 18 using methods known in the art such as sputtering, vacuum
deposition, dip coating, photolithography and the like. In a
related embodiment, sensing members 22m and/or sensor 22 can be
configured to have a resistance gradient 22g along all or portions
of their lengths 22l. The resistance gradient can be increasing or
decreasing in a linear, second order, third order, exponential or
other fashion. In a specific embodiment, the resistance gradient is
configured to compensate for resistance losses (i.e. of voltage)
and/or hysteresis occurring along the length of sensor 22, as well
as changes in the overall resistance of sensor 22 due changes in
the temperature and/or conducting/sensing length 22lc (and area) of
sensor 22 as might occur due to advancement or retraction of
slidable insulation layer, or fowling of the sensor with,
desiccated, burnt tissue or otherwise adherent tissue. In this, and
related embodiments, the gradient can be so configured to produce
the least resistance (e.g. maximum conductance) at the distal tip
22d of the sensor 22 and increasingly moving in a proximal
direction along. The gradient can be produced via the use of
coating 22c either by varying the thickness or composition of the
coating, or a combination of both along the length 22l of the
sensor using methods known in the art. Further, by compensating for
such resistance changes or losses along the length or area of the
sensor, these and related embodiments also improve the detection of
real and imaginary components of complex impedance. In other
related embodiments, the resistance gradient can be in a radial
direction or a combination of radial and linear directions with
respect to the sensor length 22l.
[0152] In other embodiments the sensors can comprise a number of
biomedical sensors known in the art including but not limited to
thermal sensors, acoustical sensors, optical sensors, voltage
sensors, current sensors, pH sensors, gas sensors, flow sensors
positional sensors and pressure/force sensors. Thermal sensors can
include thermistors, thermocouples, resistive wires, optical
sensors and the like. Acoustical sensors can include ultrasound
sensors including piezoelectric sensors which can be configured in
an array. Pressure and force sensors can include strain gauge
sensors including silicon-based strain gauges.
[0153] In an embodiment, the sensor can be selected to measure
temperature along with impedance to compensate for any temperature
related bias or hysteresis in the impedance determination.
Accordingly, in an embodiment a feedback signal from a temperature
sensor or temperature calculation device can be inputted to an
impedance calculation device described herein to compensate for
such variation. Temperature monitoring can also be used for real
time monitoring of energy delivery. If at any time date from the
sensors determines that a desired cell necrosis temperature is
exceeded, then an appropriate signal is sent to the controller
which then regulates the amount of electromagnetic energy delivered
to the electrodes.
[0154] Referring now to FIGS. 25a-25c and 26a-26c, in an
embodiment, the position and size of an ablation volume produced by
the delivery of electromagnetic energy can be controlled via the
frequency of the ablative energy delivered. Lower electromagnetic
frequencies such as RF frequencies (e.g. 1 kHz to 1 MHZ) produce a
more localized energy concentration (e.g. current density) with the
resulting zone of energy concentration or ablation zone 5az
occurring close to the energy delivery electrode/antenna in terms
of a lateral distance 18dl or other direction. Higher frequencies
such as microwaves result in a more distant energy concentration
and resulting ablation zone. As shown in FIGS. 25a-25c, by varying
the frequency of the delivered energy and/or utilizing energy
delivery electrodes/antenna coupled to different frequency energy
source (e.g. microwave vs. RF) the position, shape and size of the
resulting lesion can be precisely controlled and even steered. This
can be accomplished by electrically isolating one or more
electrodes 18 to allow for the use of separate frequencies for each
electrode. Further, one or more isolated electrodes can be coupled
to multiplexing circuitry, and/or control resources coupled to the
power sources and individual electrodes/antenna. Such circuitry and
control resources can be used to turn individual electrodes or
antenna off and on as well as control/set the frequency of each. In
use, these and related embodiments provide the benefit of allowing
the size, position and shape of the lesion to be precisely
controlled and/or titrated in order to meet the therapeutic needs
of the target tissue.
[0155] Referring now to FIGS. 25b and 25c, in various embodiments,
one or more electrodes can have segmented portions 18sp so as to
allow the electrodes to emit or radiate energy at different
wavelengths from different segmented portions 18sp of the electrode
18. Segmentation can be achieved through the use of electrically
insulated sections 36s.
[0156] In an embodiment shown in FIG. 25b, the use of segmented
electrodes allows the creation of segmented ablation zones 5azs
including a first and second segmented zone 5azs1 and 5azs2. The
size and shape of the segmented ablation zones can be controlled by
be discontinuous or overlapping. Such embodiments also provide the
ability to avoid injury to anatomical structure such as blood
vessels, nerves etc., which may be in close proximity or actually
be surrounded by the tumor to be treated. For example, in an
embodiment shown in FIG. 25b, the segmented ablation zones 5azs1
and 5azs2 can be sized and positioned (via frequency control of the
ablative frequencies delivered to each electrode) to have
sufficient space between each zone to avoid damaging a blood vessel
5bv or other critical structure 5as which lies between two or more
electrodes 18. Alternatively, if desired, the ablative frequencies
delivered to each electrode segmented portion 18sp could be
reconfigured to produce overlapping segmented ablation zones 5azs
as is shown in FIG. 25c.
[0157] In use, the medical practitioner would position the
apparatus and then image the target tissue site (using imaging
systems known in the art such as medical ultrasound or CAT scan
technology) to identify both the tumor and critical structures and
then utilize that image to control the input frequency to the
energy delivery device to produce the desires lesion size and shape
to completely ablate the tumor while avoiding the critical
structure. In an embodiment, the image could be electronically
stored and be analyzed to identify tumors and surrounding anatomy
(using imaging processing methods known in the art such as edge
detection algorithms resident within a processor of the imaging
device) with the output feed into a power control software module,
coupled to the power supply, that controls the power frequency to
produce the desired ablation volume. Another benefit, of these and
related embodiments, is the ability to produce an energy or thermal
gradient within a target tissue site. That is, the ability to
deliver more or less energy to discrete sections of the target
tissue volume in order to titrate the delivery of energy to address
the physical and thermal conditions of a particular tumor mass and
even subsections of the tumor mass. This is an important capability
because tumors are often morphologically, and therefore thermally
non-homogeneous, a problem which current ablative therapies have
not recognized or addressed.
[0158] Exemplary embodiments for the use of this capability include
delivering larger amounts of energy to the center of a tumor and
less to the periphery in order to produce higher temperatures and
ensure complete ablation at the center and minimize risk of thermal
injury to surrounding healthy tissue. Alternatively, increased
energy could also selectively be directed to the tissue tract made
by the RF needle or probe (or other penetrating energy delivery
device) in penetrating the tumor and surrounding tissue to ensure
that no living malignant tissue is dragged back through the tract
upon removal of the RF needle.
[0159] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 27, various embodiments of the
invention can be configured to generate and display images or maps
from one or more impedance determinations including but not limited
to complex impedance, impedance vectors, impedance loci and
combinations thereof. In an embodiment, a process 100 for
generating and displaying an impedance map or impedance derived
image 4' includes one or more of the following steps, all or a
portion of which, can be implemented as an electronic instruction
set on a processor or logic resources described herein. Impedance
array 22a and/or apparatus 10 can be positioned 101 within or near
the desired sample volume 5sv and/or conductive paths 22cp can be
selected 105 so as to define, and thus select 110, a particular
sample volume 5sv. The volume is then imaged 200 using all or a
portion of the sensing members 22m or sensors 22 that comprise
array 22a. A decision 300 can then be made to perform one or more
re-images of the sample volume in order to enhance image
resolution. Further, different excitation currents can be applied
to the target tissue site and the voltage measurements repeated
over time to increase measurement accuracy and precision through
increased sampling and reducing signal bias or noise that may occur
at a particular excitation current. Signals 22i from impedance
array 22a can then be signaled or inputted 400 to logic resources
19lr include module 19m which can include an image processing
sub-module 19mi. Sub-module 19mi includes subroutines or algorithms
configured to generate an impedance map or derived image 4' of all
or a portion of the target tissue volume 5' using image/signal
processing methods including, but not limited to, edge detection,
filtering, approximating techniques, volume imaging, contrast
enhancement, fuzzy logic and other methods known in the art.
Alternatively, one or more signals 22i from array 22a can be
inputted or signaled 500 to memory resources 19mr (or an externally
coupled data storage device) and stored as an impedance data set
22ds in memory resources 19mr. Subsequently, all or a portion of
data set 22ds can inputted to sub-module 19mi and processed 600 as
described herein to generate an impedance map or impedance derived
image 4' which can then be displayed 700 on display device 21 or
other display means. A decision 800 can then be made to image a new
sample volume and the process can repeated starting at the
positioning step 101 or the selecting conductive pathway step 105.
In an embodiment, the imaging or mapping process can be facilitated
by rotating array 22a about introducer axis 12al or advancing and
retracting one or more sensing members 22m from members 18 or a
combination of both.
[0160] In an embodiment, module 19m or 19mi can include an
algorithm utilizing Laplace's equation to calculate impedivity or
resistivity from the known voltages and currents measured at one or
more conductive pathways 22cp within the target tissue volume.
Reference measurements or normalization methods may be used to
account for noise in the measurements. In related embodiments
impedance and other bioelectric measurements described herein can
be analyzed and converted from the frequency domain to the time
using transform function including Fourier transforms, fast Fourier
transforms, wavelet analysis methods and other numerical methods
known in the art. These functions and methods can be incorporated
into algorithms or subroutine within module 19m or 19mi. These
algorithms incorporating wavelet functions and transforms
(including packets) can be configured to analyze and solve
multidimensional and multi-frequency data and associated functions
and equations. This approach provides the benefit of more
flexibility in applying wavelets to analyze impedance, conductivity
and other bioelectric data gathered using systems and apparatus of
the present invention. One or more of the following wavelet
functions can be incorporated into an algorithm or subroutine of
module 19m or 19mi: spline wavelets, waveform modeling and
segmentation, time-frequency analysis, time-frequency localization,
fast algorithms and filter banks, integral wavelet transforms,
multiresolution analysis, cardinal splines, orthonormal wavelets,
orthogonal wavelet spaces, wavelets of haar, shannon, and meyer;
spline wavelets of battle-lemarie and stromberg; the daubechies
wavelets; biorthogonal wavelets, orthogonal decompositions and
reconstruction; and multidimensional wavelet transforms. In an
exemplary embodiment modules 19m or 19mi utilizes spline wavelets
to allow analysis and synthesis of discrete data on uniform or
non-uniform tissue sample sites without any boundary effect.
[0161] Image module 19mi can also include subroutines to perform
interpolation such as linear, quadratic or cubic spline
interpolation between individual determined impedance values from
image data set of a given sample volume. This improves image
quality including resolution without any substantial loss of
spatial or contrast detail. In related embodiments, the image
processing module 19mi can be configured to allow the user to
select both the interpolative or other image processing algorithms
to be performed as well as the area of the image to be so
processed. Thus, the user can select all or a portion of the image
to enhance, providing faster image processing times (by not having
to process the entire image) as well improving image quality and
other overall usability of the imaging apparatus/system. The image
processing module 19mi can also include gray scale and color
contrast capabilities which can be selectable. Both the gray scale
and color can be scaled or normalized against a baseline
measurement obtained from the individual patient, a calibration
measurement or a statistic (e.g. mean) value for a patient sample
group or a parameter (e.g. average) for a patient population or a
combination thereof.
[0162] In related embodiments, monitoring apparatus 19 and module
19mi can be configured to generate impedance images with the
maximum visual distinction or contrast between tumorous tissue and
healthy tissue. This can be accomplished by using the frequency or
combination of frequencies that yield the maximum sensitivity for
selected tissue types or tissue conditions indicative of a tumor
(e.g. degree of vascularity temperature etc). In an embodiment,
such frequencies can be determined by performing swept frequency
measurements and generating an impedance map or image using one or
more frequencies which resulted in the best contrast between
healthy tissue and tumorous tissue or other tissue condition (e.g.
thermal injury, necrosis etc.).
[0163] Referring now to FIGS. 28 and 29, a feedback control system
329 can be connected to energy source 320, sensors 324 impedance
array 322a and energy delivery devices 314 and 316. Feedback
control system 329 receives temperature or impedance data from
sensors 324 and the amount of electromagnetic energy received by
energy delivery devices 314 and 316 is modified from an initial
setting of ablation energy output, ablation time, temperature, and
current density (the "Four Parameters"). Feedback control system
329 can automatically change any of the Four Parameters. Feedback
control system 329 can detect impedance or temperature and change
any of the Four Parameters in response to either or a combination.
Feedback control system 329 can include a multiplexer (digital or
analog) to multiplex different electrodes, sensors, sensor arrays
and a temperature detection circuit that provides a control signal
representative of temperature or impedance detected at one or more
sensors 324. A microprocessor can be connected to the temperature
control circuit.
[0164] The following discussion pertains particularly to the use of
an RF energy as an ablative energy source for the apparatus. For
purposes of this discussion, energy delivery devices 314 and 316
will now be referred to as RF electrodes/antennas 314 and 316 and
energy source 320 will now be an RF energy source. However it will
be appreciated that all other energy delivery devices and sources
discussed herein are equally applicable and devices similar to
those associated with the treatment apparatus can be utilized with
laser optical fibers, microwave devices and the like. The
temperature of the tissue, or of RF electrodes 314 and 316 is
monitored, and the output power of energy source 320 adjusted
accordingly. The physician can, if desired, override the closed or
open loop system.
[0165] The user of the apparatus can input an impedance value that
corresponds to a setting position located at the apparatus. Based
on this value, along with determined impedance values, feedback
control system 329 determines an optimal power and time needed in
the delivery of RF energy. Temperature is also sensed for
monitoring and feedback purposes. Temperature can be maintained to
a certain level by having feedback control system 329 adjust the
power output automatically to maintain that level.
[0166] In another embodiment, feedback control system 329
determines an optimal power and time for a baseline setting.
Ablation volumes or lesions are formed at the baseline first.
Larger lesions can be obtained by extending the time of ablation
after a center core is formed at the baseline. The completion of
lesion creation can be checked by advancing energy delivery device
316 from the distal end of the introducer to a position
corresponding to a desired lesion size and monitoring the
temperature at the periphery of the lesion such that a temperature
sufficient to produce a lesion is attained.
[0167] The closed loop system 329 can also utilize a controller 338
to monitor the temperature, adjust the RF power, analyze the
result, refeed the result, and then modulate the power. More
specifically, controller 338 governs the power levels, cycles, and
duration that the RF energy is distributed to electrodes 314 and
316 to achieve and maintain power levels appropriate to achieve the
desired treatment objectives and clinical endpoints. Controller 338
can also in tandem analyze spectral profile 19p and perform tissue
biopsy identification and ablation monitoring functions including
endpoint determination. Further, controller 338 can in tandem
govern the delivery of electrolytic, cooling fluid and, the removal
of aspirated tissue. Controller 338 can be integral to or otherwise
coupled to power source 320. In this and related embodiments,
controller 338 can be coupled to a separate impedance determination
current source 317 and can be configured to synchronize the
delivery of pulsed power to tissue site to allow for sensing by
sensors or sensor array 322a during off power off intervals to
prevent or minimize signal interference, artifacts or unwanted
tissue effects during sampling by sensors 324 or sensor array 322a.
The controller 338 can also be coupled to an input/output (I/O)
device such as a keyboard, touchpad, PDA, microphone (coupled to
speech recognition software resident in controller 338 or other
computer) and the like. In an embodiment current source 317 can be
a multi-frequency generator such as those manufactured by the
Hewlett Packard Corporation (Palo Alto, Calif.) and can include or
be coupled to a spectrum analyzer manufactured by the same
company.
[0168] Referring now to FIG. 28, all or portions of feedback
control system 329 are illustrated. Current delivered through RF
electrodes 314 and 316 (also called primary and secondary RF
electrodes/antennas 314 and 316) is measured by a current sensor
330. Voltage is measured by voltage sensor 332. Impedance and power
are then calculated at power and impedance calculation device 334.
These values can then be displayed at a user interface and display
336. Signals representative of power and impedance values are
received by controller 338 which can be a microprocessor 338.
[0169] A control signal is generated by controller 338 that is
proportional to the difference between an actual measured value and
a desired value. The control signal is used by power circuits 340
to adjust the power output in an appropriate amount in order to
maintain the desired power delivered at the respective primary
and/or secondary antennas 314 and 316. In a similar manner,
temperatures detected at sensors 324 provide feedback for
maintaining a selected power. The actual temperatures are measured
at temperature measurement device 342, and the temperatures are
displayed at user interface and display 336. A control signal is
generated by controller 338 that is proportional to the difference
between an actual measured temperature, and a desired temperature.
The control signal is used by power circuits 340 to adjust the
power output in an appropriate amount in order to maintain the
desired temperature delivered at the respective sensor 324. A
multiplexer 346 can be included to measure current, voltage and
temperature, at the numerous sensors 324 as well as deliver and
distribute energy between primary electrodes 314 and secondary
electrodes 316. Suitable multiplexers include but are not limited
to those manufactured by the National Semiconductor.RTM.
Corporation (Santa Clara, Calif.) such as the CLC 522 and CLC 533
series; and those manufactured the Analog Devices.RTM. Corporation
(Norwood, Mass.).
[0170] Controller 338 can be a digital or analog controller, or a
computer with embedded, resident or otherwise coupled software. In
an embodiment controller 338 can be a Pentium.RTM. family
microprocessor manufacture by the Intel.RTM. Corporation (Santa
Clara, Calif.). When controller 338 is a computer it can include a
CPU coupled through a system bus. On this system can be a keyboard,
a disk drive, or other non-volatile memory systems, a display, and
other peripherals, as are known in the art. Also coupled to the bus
are a program memory and a data memory. In various embodiments,
controller 338 can be coupled to imaging systems, including but not
limited to ultrasound, CT scanners (including fast CT scanners such
as those manufacture by the Imatron.RTM. Corporation (South San
Francisco, Calif.), X-ray, MRI, mammographic X-ray and the like.
Further, direct visualization and tactile imaging can be
utilized.
[0171] User interface and display 336 can include operator controls
and a display. In an embodiment user interface 336 can be a PDA
device known in the art such as a Palm.RTM. family computer
manufactured by Palm.RTM. Computing (Santa Clara, Calif.).
Interface 336 can be configured to allow the user to input control
and processing variables, to enable the controller to generate
appropriate command signals. Interface 336 can also receives real
time processing feedback information from one or more sensors 324
for processing by controller 338, to govern the delivery and
distribution of energy, fluid etc.
[0172] The output of current sensor 330 and voltage sensor 332 is
used by controller 338 to maintain a selected power level at
primary and secondary antennas 314 and 316. The amount of RF energy
delivered controls the amount of power. A profile of power
delivered can be incorporated in controller 338, and a preset
amount of energy to be delivered can also be profiled.
[0173] Circuitry, software and feedback to controller 338 results
in process control, and the maintenance of the selected power, and
are used to change, (i) the selected power, including RF,
microwave, laser and the like, (ii) the duty cycle (on-off and
wattage), (iii) bipolar or monopolar energy delivery and (iv)
infusion medium delivery, including flow rate and pressure. These
process variables are controlled and varied, while maintaining the
desired delivery of power independent of changes in voltage or
current, based on temperatures monitored at sensors 324. A
controller 338 can be incorporated into feedback control system 329
to switch power on and off, as well as modulate the power. Also,
with the use of sensor 324 and feedback control system 329, tissue
adjacent to RF electrodes 314 and 316 can be maintained at a
desired temperature for a selected period of time without causing a
shut down of the power circuit to electrode 314 due to the
development of excessive electrical impedance at electrode 314 or
adjacent tissue.
[0174] Referring now to FIG. 29, current sensor 330 and voltage
sensor 332 are connected to the input of an analog amplifier 344.
Analog amplifier 344 can be a conventional differential amplifier
circuit for use with sensors 324. The output of analog amplifier
344 is sequentially connected by an analog multiplexer 346 to the
input of A/D converter 348. The output of analog amplifier 344 is a
voltage which represents the respective sensed temperatures.
Digitized amplifier output voltages are supplied by A/D converter
348 to a microprocessor 350. Microprocessor 350 may be a Power
PC.RTM. chip available from Motorola or an Intel.RTM. Pentium.RTM.
Series chip. However, it will be appreciated that any suitable
microprocessor or general purpose digital or analog computer can be
used to calculate impedance or temperature or perform image
processing and tissue identification functions.
[0175] Microprocessor 350 sequentially receives and stores digital
representations of impedance and temperature. Each digital value
received by microprocessor 350 corresponds to different
temperatures and impedances. Calculated power and impedance values
can be indicated on user interface and display 336. Alternatively,
or in addition to the numerical indication of power or impedance,
calculated impedance and power values can be compared by
microprocessor 350 with power and impedance limits. When the values
exceed predetermined power or impedance values, a warning can be
given on user interface and display 336, and additionally, the
delivery of RF energy can be reduced, modified or interrupted. A
control signal from microprocessor 350 can modify the power level
supplied by energy source 320 to RF electrodes 314 and 316. In a
similar manner, temperatures detected at sensors 324 provide
feedback for determining the extent and rate of (i) tissue
hyperthermia (ii) cell necrosis; and (iii) when a boundary of
desired cell necrosis has reached the physical location of sensors
324.
[0176] Referring now to FIG. 30, in an embodiment one or more of
the impedance determination device 19, power supply 20, display
device 21 and control system, the controller can be incorporated or
integrated into a single control and display device or unit 20cd.
Device 20cd can configured to include display one or more of the
following: impedance profile 19p, tissue site image 4', tumor
volume image 4'', ablation volume image 4av, time temperature
profiles, tissue identification information, and ablation setting
information (e.g. power setting, delivery time etc.). The device
20cd can also be configured to superimpose ablation volume image
4av onto tumor volume image 4'' or tissue site image 4' as well as
superimpose visual cues 4c on the placement (including proper and
improper placement) of the apparatus 10 including energy delivery
devices within the tumor volume or a tissue site. The device 20cd
can also include controls knobs 20ck for manipulating any of the
images (4', 4'' or 4av) in one or more axis.
[0177] Referring now to FIG. 31, in various embodiments, impedance
determination apparatus or the control system can be configured to
switch from a first mode of measuring impedance to a second mode
when certain system impedance or power conditions occur. In an
embodiment, the first mode of measuring impedance is done utilizing
the RF treatment power and then impedance is calculated using a
measured current and voltage as described herein. However, when
system impedance rises greatly and the resulting RF power treatment
power level drops below a threshold the accuracy and precision of
localized impedance determinations decreases as a result due in
part to the decrease in the impedance determination current in
relation to noise levels of the RF power system. This is a problem
not recognized nor addressed by current RF ablative/impedance
determination devices. Under such conditions logic resources within
monitoring device can be configured to switch to a second mode of
measuring localized impedance. The threshold event causing the mode
switching can be selectable and include one or more of the
following: threshold decreases in treatment (e.g. RF) power,
increases in system impedance, changes in slope (e.g. derivative)
of the RF power or system impedance curves. In various embodiments,
the threshold level of RF treatment power causing mode switching
can be in the range from 1 to 50 watts with specific embodiments of
5, 10 and 25 watts.
[0178] In an embodiment shown in FIG. 31, an alternative mode of
measuring impedance is shown comprising superimposing a duty cycled
measurement signal 20e onto the treatment signal 20. The pulse
duration 20pd of signal 20e can be in the range of 1 to 500 ms with
specific embodiments of 50, 100 and 250 ms. The duty cycle 20dc of
signal 20e can be in the range from 1 to 99% with specific
embodiments of 10, 25, 50 and 75%. The monitoring device, power
source or control system can be configured to control the power
amplitude of the measurement signal to maintain a selected total
signal amplitude 20at. In an embodiment the total signal amplitude
20at can range from about 5 to about 50 watts, with specific
embodiments of 10, 20, 30 and 40 watts Also the duty cycle, pulse
duration and total signal amplitude can be controlled to deliver a
selectable average power over the duty cycle which can be in the
range of about 0.5 to about 10 watts with specific embodiments 1,
2.5 and 5 watts. By controlling the average power delivered over
the duty cycle higher measurements currents can be used in short
pulse duration without appreciably affecting delivered treatment
power, system performance or causing additional or unwanted energy
delivery to the target tissue site.
[0179] In use, these and related embodiments of alternative
measurement of impedance determinations including superimposed duty
cycle measurement, provide the benefit of improved accuracy and
signal to noise ratios of impedance and related bio-electric
measurements under conditions of high system impedance and/or lower
levels of delivered RF treatment power (i.e. ablative power).
[0180] In related embodiments, the duty cycle and/or pulse duration
can be configured to vary responsive to one or more selected
parameters which can include frequency of the treatment signal,
power of the treatment signal, or impedance of the treatment
signal. The variation in either the pulse duration or duty cycle
can be controlled by a control system and/or logic resources of the
impedance monitoring device or power supply using control methods
known in the art such as PID control. In use, these embodiments
allow the impedance determinations to be continuously fine tuned to
changing system conditions to improve the accuracy and precision of
impedance and related bioelectric measurements.
[0181] FIG. 32 illustrates a tissue ablation system or apparatus
550, much of which has been described above. The apparatus
generally includes a control unit 55 which is designed to operate
in the manner described more fully below with respect to FIG. 33.
The control unit is operably connected to an RF energy source 554,
such as an energy source of the type described above, for
controlling the energy output, e.g., power output, from the energy
source to the electrodes in a multi-electrode ablation device 556,
of the type described above. The operable connection between unit
552 and energy source, indicated at 560, may be any conventional
electronic or mechanical control, e.g., a servo motor, by which
electronic signals from the control unit can be used to vary the
power output of source 554.
[0182] The output of the energy source is electrically connected to
the electrodes of a multi-electrode ablation device, as above, for
varying the RF power delivered to the electrodes, for varying the
rate of ablation by the device, when the electrodes are deployed in
a target tissue, as detailed above.
[0183] The control unit is also operably connected to an infusion
device 558, such as a pump or the like, to control the rate and/or
pressure of fluid, e.g., saline solution, supplied to electrodes or
other fluid-infusion channels in the ablation device through
fluid-carrying tubes, indicated 561. The operative connection
between unit 552 and the infusion device is indicated at 562, and
may be may be any conventional electronic or mechanical control,
e.g., a servo motor, by which electronic signals from the control
unit can be used to vary the pumping rate or pressure at which
fluid is supplied by device 558 to the ablation device.
[0184] An electrical connection 553 between the ablation device and
control unit is used for transmitting electrical signals related to
the output of temperature sensors carried on the ablation device
electrodes, as described above and/or for transmitting
current-level information relating to current flow between
electrodes and an exterior body surface, (for global impedance
measurements) or between electrodes or regions of one electrode
(for local impedance measurements). Such impedance and/or
temperature measurements may be instantaneous values, or values
relating to change in impedance and/or temperature over time.
[0185] FIG. 33 is a flow diagram illustrating various functions and
operations in the control unit, as they related to control of the
RF energy source and control of the infusion device. At the outset,
it is noted that control unit may automatically control the
operation of the both the energy and infusion devices, without user
intervention, or may provide information to the user which
indicates how the user should control the operational levels of one
or both of the energy device and infusion device, to optimize the
ablation procedure, and in particular, to ensure complete tissue
ablation with a minimum of charring and collateral damage to nearby
healthy tissue.
[0186] Initially, the user may input the type of target tissue,
e.g., liver tumor, bone tumor, or the like, as indicated at 564.
The control unit preferably stores data relating to the impedance
characteristics of tissue and/or rates of heating and changes in
impedance for specific tissue types, when a given power level is
applied, preferably in the presence of infusate. This internal data
will be used, as seen below, to confirm that the tissue into which
the electrodes of the ablation device have been deployed is the
desired tissue type, based on impedance and/or temperature changes
detected during an initial phase of system operation.
[0187] When the user is ready to insert the device into the
patient, and deploy the electrodes into the target tissue, to
define a selected volume for tissue ablation, the system operates
to begin fluid infusion through the device and also controls the
energy device to deliver low-power, pulsed RF energy to the
electrodes being deployed, as indicated at 566. The low-power
pulses are used to generate global or localized current values for
purposes of measuring global or local impedance values as the
electrodes are being deployed, as indicated at 568 and 570. The
power supplied to the electrodes during deployment may also be
sufficient to cause very localized heating around the electrodes,
to facilitate entry of the electrodes into the target tissue. The
ablation device may also signal the control unit, through
connection 553 (FIG. 33) when a selected degree of electrode
deployment, corresponding to a desired tissue volume, is
reached.
[0188] The Impedance (and/or temperature) measurements made during
electrode deployment may be compared with the tissue-specific
impedance or temperature data stored in the control unit, to
confirm that the tissue enveloped by the electrodes is in fact the
selected target tissue. If the program finds a mismatch, as at 574,
control unit may signal the user to redeploy the electrodes, as
indicated. If a tissue-confirmation is made, the program proceeds,
indicating to the user to initiate the ablation procedure, or
automatically initiating the ablation phase of the operation, by
advancing the power level delivered by the energy source to a
desired level, and optionally, increasing the rate of fluid
infusion to the tissue, as indicated at 576.
[0189] Once the ablation operation is underway, system makes
continual and periodic impedance and/or temperature measurements at
the target-tissue site, and performs automatic or user-controlled
adjustments in the power level and/or infusion rate, to achieve a
desired rate and extent of ablation, as indicated at 570. As
indicated above, when this adjustment is carried out automatically,
the control unit operates to automatically adjust the power level
and/or infusion rate of devices 554, 562, respectively (FIG. 32).
Alternatively, the control unit may have a display for indicating
to the user the direction and extent of adjustment requirement, and
controls for making those adjustments.
[0190] Throughout the period of adjustment, the control unit is
receiving periodic and repeated impedance and/or temperature data
which is being processed to guide the control of the energy and
infusion devices. The data-processing operations are indicated at
the bottom in FIG. 32. Initially, and as indicated at 580, the
program asks whether the temperature is rising adequately (it is
desired to complete the ablation within as short a time as
possible, consistent with the objective of optimal tissue
ablation). If the rate of temperature rise is below a selected
threshold, the control unit may operate (or instruct the user) to
adjust the power and/or rate of infusion to the tissue, to enhance
the rate of heating, for example, by increasing power or reducing
infusion. The program also asks whether the measured impedance is
above a desired threshold, as at 582. If the measured impedance is
too low, again the program will operate (or instruct the user) to
adjust the power delivery to the electrodes and/or the rate of
infusion of electrolyte to the tissue. This procedure is repeated
until both temperature change and impedance levels are within
selected acceptable ranges.
[0191] The program also looks for impedance spikes, indicative of
charring or over-heating. If these are observed, through logic
decision 584, the control unit may operate to adjust (or instruct
the user to adjust) either power level of rate of infusion to
minimize so as to reduce impedance spikes.
[0192] Assuming all of these variables are within acceptable
levels, the system is properly adjusted to maximize the ablation
process, that is, to achieve ablation at about the highest rate
that does not lead to tissue charring (or excessive tissue
charring) or ablation damage to collateral healthy tissue. The
program now monitors when complete ablation is achieved in the
region of the electrodes, as at 586. If ablation is incomplete, the
program may continue ablation at the existing power and/or infusion
rate levels, or adjust the levels as appropriate.
[0193] If complete local ablation is achieved, the system may then
ask whether ablation of the total target area is ablated, as at
558. If it is, the program operation is at end, and the system may
terminate or power down to a lower power/infusion levels. For
example, some RF power may be supplied to the electrodes during
electrode retraction or catheter retraction, to reduce the risk
exposing healthy tissue to tumor cells, during removal of the
ablation device from the patient.
[0194] If the total ablation is incomplete, the system signals the
user to advance the deployment of the electrodes, and the above
ablation process is repeated until a final target-tissue ablation
is achieved.
CONCLUSION
[0195] It will be appreciated that the applicants have provided a
novel and useful apparatus and method for the diagnosis and
treatment of tumors using minimally invasive methods including
tissue impedance determinations. The foregoing description of
various embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes
of illustration and description. It is not intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed. Embodiments of the invention can be configured for the
treatment of tumor and tissue masses at or beneath a tissue surface
in a number of organs including but no limited to the liver,
breast, bone and lung. However, embodiments of the invention are
applicable to other organs and tissue as well. Obviously, many
modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners
skilled in this art. Further, elements from one embodiment can be
readily recombined with elements from one or more other
embodiments. Such combinations can form a number of embodiments
within the scope of the invention. It is intended that the scope of
the invention be defined by the following claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *