초록 ▼

A coaxial cable apparatus which transmits radio frequency (RF) energy for the ablation of biological tissues has inner and outer coaxial conductors extending substantially the entire length of the cable from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion. An RF antenna is disposed at the distal end

A coaxial cable apparatus which transmits radio frequency (RF) energy for the ablation of biological tissues has inner and outer coaxial conductors extending substantially the entire length of the cable from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion. An RF antenna is disposed at the distal end portion of the cable and transmits RF energy for ablation of a tissue region to be treated. An angioplasty balloon is disposed over the RF antenna and communicates with a fluid supply and extraction passageway extending through the cable to allow the balloon to be inflated for an angioplasty procedure including tissue ablation, and to be deflated after the procedure is complete.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An angioplasty and tissue ablation apparatus comprising: a catheter adapted for insertion into a body vessel of a patient, the catheter having a proximal end, a proximal portion extending from the proximal end, a distal portion having a distal end, and a lumen between the proximal portion and the

1. An angioplasty and tissue ablation apparatus comprising: a catheter adapted for insertion into a body vessel of a patient, the catheter having a proximal end, a proximal portion extending from the proximal end, a distal portion having a distal end, and a lumen between the proximal portion and the distal end for receiving a fluid;a radio-frequency (“RF”) antenna mounted on'the distal portion of the catheter and spaced radially outward from the lumen, the RF antenna having a proximal end and a distal end, the RF antenna adapted to receive and generate radio-frequency energy for ablating the biological tissues of the body vessel;an RF transmission line which extends from the proximal portion of the catheter to the RF antenna and which transmits RF energy from the proximal portion to the RF antenna;a guide tube extending through the lumen and spaced radially inwardly from the RF antenna, the guide tube defining an annular passageway in the lumen outside the guide tube, the annular passageway having an open distal end spaced forward from the proximal end of the antenna; the guide tube having a distal end portion projecting forward from the open distal end of the passageway and the distal end of the catheter;a guide wire extending through the guide tube; anda balloon having a distal end sealingly mounted on the projecting distal end portion of the guide tube at a location spaced forward from the distal end of the catheter and a proximal end sealingly mounted on the distal end portion of the catheter adjacent the proximal end of the antenna, whereby the RF antenna is inside the balloon and the interior of the balloon is in communication with the annular passageway, the annular passageway comprising a fluid injection and extraction path through which fluid is supplied to inflate the balloon and fluid is extracted to collapse the balloon. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio-frequency transmission line comprises a hollow coaxial electrical cable having an inner conductor comprising a first elongated electrically conductive tubular member, an outer conductor comprising a second elongated electrically conductive tubular member disposed in a substantially coaxial relationship over at least a portion of the inner conductor and defining a space between the walls of the inner conductor and the outer conductor, and a dielectric interposed in the space. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the outer conductor has a distal end adjacent the proximal end of the balloon, the inner conductor and dielectric have a distal end portion projecting beyond the distal end of the outer conductor, and the RF antenna comprises a helical coil mounted over the distal end portion of the dielectric and inner conductor. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RF antenna is adapted to operate at a frequency greater than 300 Megahertz (MHz) of the electromagnetic spectrum. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RF antenna comprises a monopole. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an expandable stent removably mounted over the balloon, the stent being adaptable for installation in the body vessel on expansion of the balloon. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor located in the lumen at the distal portion of the catheter, the temperature sensor being spaced inwardly from the RF antenna and balloon. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the temperature sensor is located in the annular passageway. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an expandable stent removably mounted over the balloon. 10. An angioplasty and tissue ablation apparatus comprising: a catheter adapted for insertion into a body vessel of a patient, the catheter having a proximal end, a proximal portion extending from the proximal end, and a distal portion having a distal end;the catheter comprising a radio frequency (RF) transmission line and an outer casing enclosing the RF transmission line, the RF transmission line comprising a hollow coaxial electrical cable having a proximal portion and a distal portion;the hollow coaxial electrical cable comprising an inner conductor and an outer conductor each comprising an elongated electrically conductive tubular member, the outer conductor disposed in a substantially coaxial relationship over at least a portion of the inner conductor to define an annular space between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, and a dielectric filling the annular space between the inner and outer conductor;the inner conductor having a distal end portion extending beyond a distal end of the outer conductor;the cable defining a lumen extending inside the inner conductor and having an open distal end;a balloon sealingly mounted on the distal portion of the catheter and extending from the distal end of the outer conductor over the distal end portion of the inner conductor and the distal end of the catheter, the balloon having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and an interior volume in fluid communication with the lumen; anda radio frequency (RF) ablation antenna disposed substantially within the interior volume of the balloon and spaced inwardly from the interior surface of the balloon, the RF antenna adapted to receive input RF energy from the transmission line and to transmit RF energy for the ablation of tissue at the biological vessel site. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the RF transmission line is adapted to transmit radio-frequency energy at a frequency greater than 300 Megahertz (MHz) of the electromagnetic spectrum. 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the radio-frequency antenna comprises a helical coil circumscribing the distal end portion of the inner conductor. 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the radio-frequency antenna comprises a monopole circumscribing the distal end portion of the inner conductor. 14. The apparatus of claim 10, which further comprises at least one temperature sensor disposed within the lumen. 15. The apparatus of claim 10, which further comprises an expandable stent removably mounted over the balloon. 16. An angioplasty and tissue ablation apparatus comprising: a catheter adapted for insertion into a body vessel of a patient, the catheter having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a distal end, and a lumen between the proximal portion and the distal end for receiving a fluid;a radio-frequency (“RF”) antenna mounted on the distal portion of the catheter, the RF antenna having a proximal end and a distal end and adapted to receive and generate radio-frequency energy for ablating the biological tissues of the body vessel;a balloon sealingly mounted on the distal portion of the catheter to extend over the RF antenna and having an interior volume in fluid communication with the lumen, the balloon having a proximal end adjacent the proximal end of the RF antenna and a distal end spaced forward from the distal end of the antenna and the distal end of the catheter, the RF antenna extending over at least a major portion of the length of the balloon from the proximal end of the balloon; anda guide member extending through the lumen and having a distal end projecting forward from the distal end of the catheter, the distal end of the balloon being sealingly mounted on the projecting forward end of the guide member.