Systems and methods for controlling tissue ablation using multiple temperature sensing elements

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1 wherein the temperature controller includes means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse by individually varying the amplitude of the power pulse based upon the signal for that emitter, while maintaining the duty cycle of the power pulses essentially the same for all emitters.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 2 wherein the means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse by varying amplitude maintains the duty cycle at 1/N, where N is the number of energy emitters.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 2 wherein the the means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse by varying amplitude varies amplitude by varying either voltage or current.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 2 wherein the the means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse by varying amplitude individually turns off an energy emitter when the temperature measured at the emitter equals or exceeds the desired temperature by a predetermined amount and individually turns on the emitter when the temperature measured at the emitter is less than the desired temperature by a predetermined amount.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 1 wherein the temperature controller includes means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse by individually varying the duty cycle of the emitter based upon the signal for that emitter, while maintaining the amplitude of the power pulses essentially the same for all emitters.

Claim 8

A system according to claim 6 wherein the means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse by varying duty cycle individually turns off an energy emitter when the temperature measured at the emitter equals or exceeds the desired temperature by a predetermined amount and individually turns on the emitter when the temperature measured at the emitter is less than the desired temperature by a predetermined amount.

Claim 9

A system according to claim 1 wherein the temperature controller includes means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse by individually varying both the duty cycle and the amplitude of the power pulse for each energy emitter based upon the signal for that emitter.

Claim 10

A system according to claim 8 wherein the means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse by varying both duty cycle and amplitude individually turns off an energy emitter when the temperature measured at the emitter equals or exceeds the desired temperature by a predetermined amount and individually turns on the emitter when the temperature measured at the emitter is less than the desired temperature by a predetermined amount.

Claim 11

A system according to claim 8 wherein the means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse by varying both duty cycle and amplitude varies amplitude by varying either voltage or current.

Claim 12

A tissue ablation system comprising an ablating element comprising at least one structure supporting at least two zones for emitting ablating energy E(J), where J=2 to N, N being the total number of zones, at least one temperature sensing element supported in proximity with each zone E(J) for measuring a temperature condition localized with respect to the zone E(J), the localized temperature condition being designated TEMP(J), a power controller coupled to a source of ablating energy and to the zones E(J) including a switching element to convey ablating energy individually to each zone E(J) in a power pulse having a duty cycle DUTYCYCLE E (J) and an amplitude AMP E (J), DUTYCYCLE E (J) being set to be essentially the same for all E(J), wherein the power P E (J) delivered to each zone E(J) is expressed as follows: P.sub.E(J) ˜AMP.sub.E(J).sup.2 ×DUTYCYCLE.sub.E(J) a processing element coupled to the at least one temperature sensing element including means for periodically reading the temperature condition measured by each temperature sensing element TEMP(J), means for comparing the read temperature condition TEMP(J) to a desired temperature condition TEMP SET to generate a signal SIGNAL(J) based upon the comparison, and a temperature controller coupled to the power controller and the processing element including control means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse to each zone E(J) based upon SIGNAL(J) by varying AMP E (J) while keeping DUTYCYCLE E (J) essentially the same for all E(J), to maintain TEMP(J)≈TEMP SET for all E(J).

Claim 13

A tissue ablation system comprising an ablating element comprising at least one structure supporting at least two zones for emitting ablating energy E(J), where J=2 to N, N being the total number of zones, at least one temperature sensing element supported in proximity with each zone E(J) for measuring a temperature condition localized with respect to the zone E(J), the localized temperature condition being designated TEMP(J), a power controller coupled to a source of ablating energy and to the zones E(J) including a switching element to convey ablating energy individually to each zone E(J) in a power pulse having a duty cycle DUTYCYCLE E (J) and an amplitude AMP E (J), DUTYCYCLE E (J) being set to be essentially the same for all E(J), wherein the power P E (J) delivered to each zone E(J) is expressed as follows: P.sub.E(J) ˜AMP.sub.E(J).sup.2 ×DUTYCYCLE.sub.E(J) a processing element coupled to the at least one temperature sensing element including means for periodically reading the temperature condition measured by each temperature sensing element TEMP(J), means for comparing the read temperature condition TEMP(J) to a desired temperature condition TEMP SET to generate a signal SIGNAL(J) based upon the comparison, and a temperature controller coupled to the power controller and the processing element including control means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse to each zone E(J) based upon SIGNAL(J) by varying AMP E (J) while keeping DUTYCYCLE E (J) essentially the same for all E(J), to maintain TEMP(J)≈TEMP SET for all E(J).

Claim 14

A system according to claim 11 wherein the control means keeps DUTYCYCLE E (J) set at 1/N for all E(J).

Claim 15

A system according to claim 11 wherein the control means varies AMPE(J) by varying either voltage or current.

Claim 16

A tissue ablation system comprising an ablating element comprising at least one structure supporting at least two zones for emitting ablating energy E(J), where J=2 to N, N being the total number of zones, at least one temperature sensing element supported in proximity with each zone E(J) for measuring a temperature condition localized with respect to the zone E(J), the localized temperature condition being designated TEMP(J), a power controller coupled to a source of ablating energy and to the zones E(J) including a switching element to convey ablating energy individually to each zone E(J) in a power pulse having a duty cycle DUTYCYCLE E (J) and an amplitude AMP E (J), AMP E (J) being set to be essentially the same for all E(J), wherein the power P E (J) delivered to each zone E(J) is expressed as follows: P.sub.E(J) ˜AMP.sub.E(J).sup.2 ×DUTYCYCLE.sub.E(J) a processing element coupled to the at least one temperature sensing element including means for periodically reading the temperature condition measured by each temperature sensing element TEMP(J), means for comparing the read temperature condition TEMP(J) to a desired temperature condition TEMP SET to generate a signal SIGNAL(J) based upon the comparison, and a temperature controller coupled to the power controller and the processing element including control means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse to each zone E(J) based upon SIGNAL(J) by varying DUTYCYCLE E (J) while keeping AMP E (J) essentially the same for all E(J), to maintain TEMP(J)≈TEMP SET for all E(J).

Claim 17

A tissue ablation system comprising an ablating element comprising at least one structure supporting at least two zones for emitting ablating energy E(J), where J=2 to N, N being the total number of zones, at least one temperature sensing element supported in proximity with each zone E(J) for measuring a temperature condition localized with respect to the zone E(J), the localized temperature condition being designated TEMP(J), a power controller coupled to a source of ablating energy and to the zones E(J) including a switching element to convey ablating energy individually to each zone E(J) in a power pulse having a duty cycle DUTYCYCLE E (J) and an amplitude AMP E (J), AMP E (J) being set to be essentially the same for all E(J), wherein the power P E (J) delivered to each zone E(J) is expressed as follows: P.sub.E(J) ˜AMP.sub.E(J).sup.2 ×DUTYCYCLE.sub.E(J) a processing element coupled to the at least one temperature sensing element including means for periodically reading the temperature condition measured by each temperature sensing element TEMP(J), means for comparing the read temperature condition TEMP(J) to a desired temperature condition TEMP SET to generate a signal SIGNAL(J) based upon the comparison, and a temperature controller coupled to the power controller and the processing element including control means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse to each zone E(J) based upon SIGNAL(J) by varying DUTYCYCLE E (J) while keeping AMP E (J) essentially the same for all E(J), to maintain TEMP(J)≈TEMP SET for all E(J).

Claim 18

A tissue ablation system comprising an ablating element comprising at least one structure supporting at least two zones for emitting ablating energy E(J), where J=2 to N, N being the total number of zones, at least one temperature sensing element supported in proximity with each zone E(J) for measuring a temperature condition localized with respect to the zone E(J), the localized temperature condition being designated TEMP(J), a power controller coupled to a source of ablating energy and to the zones E(J) including a switching element to convey ablating energy individually to each zone E(J) in a power pulse having a duty cycle DUTYCYCLE E (J) and an amplitude AMP E (J), AMP E (J) being set to be essentially the same for all E(J), wherein the power P E (J) delivered to each zone E(J) is expressed as follows: P.sub.E(J) ˜AMP.sub.E(J).sup.2 ×DUTYCYCLE.sub.E(J) a processing element coupled to the at least one temperature sensing element including means for periodically reading the temperature condition measured by each temperature sensing element TEMP(J), means for identifying the lowest read temperature condition TEMP SMIN of all TEMP(J), and means for comparing the lowest read temperature condition TEMP SMIN to a desired temperature condition TEMP SET to generate a signal based upon the comparison, and a temperature controller coupled to the power controller and to the processing element including control means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse to each zone E(J) based upon the signal by varying AMP E (J) for all E(J) to maintain TEMP SMIN ≈TEMP SET .

Claim 19

A tissue ablation system comprising an ablating element comprising at least one structure supporting at least two zones for emitting ablating energy E(J), where J=2 to N, N being the total number of zones, at least one temperature sensing element supported in proximity with each zone E(J) for measuring a temperature condition localized with respect to the zone E(J), the localized temperature condition being designated TEMP(J), a power controller coupled to a source of ablating energy and to the zones E(J) including a switching element to convey ablating energy individually to each zone E(J) in a power pulse having a duty cycle DUTYCYCLE E (J) and an amplitude AMP E (J), AMP E (J) being set to be essentially the same for all E(J), wherein the power P E (J) delivered to each zone E(J) is expressed as follows: P.sub.E(J) ˜AMP.sub.E(J).sup.2 ×DUTYCYCLE.sub.E(J) a processing element coupled to the at least one temperature sensing element including means for periodically reading the temperature condition measured by each temperature sensing element TEMP(J), means for identifying the lowest read temperature condition TEMP SMIN of all TEMP(J), and means for comparing the lowest read temperature condition TEMP SMIN to a desired temperature condition TEMP SET to generate a signal based upon the comparison, and a temperature controller coupled to the power controller and to the processing element including control means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse to each zone E(J) based upon the signal by varying AMP E (J) for all E(J) to maintain TEMP SMIN ≈TEMP SET .

Claim 20

A tissue ablation system comprising an ablating element comprising at least one structure supporting at least two zones for emitting ablating energy E(J), where J=2 to N, N being the total number of zones, at least one temperature sensing element supported in proximity with each zone E(J) for measuring a temperature condition localized with respect to the zone E(J), the localized temperature condition being designated TEMP(J), a power controller coupled to a source of ablating energy and to the zones E(J) including a switching element to convey ablating energy individually to each zone E(J) in a power pulse having a duty cycle DUTYCYCLE E (J) and an amplitude AMP E (J), AMP E (J) being set to be essentially the same for all E(J), wherein the power P E (J) delivered to each zone E(J) is expressed as follows: P.sub.E(J) ˜AMP.sub.E(J).sup.2 ×DUTYCYCLE.sub.E(J) a processing element coupled to the at least one temperature sensing element including means for periodically reading the temperature condition measured by each temperature sensing element TEMP(J), means for identifying the lowest read temperature condition TEMP SMIN of all TEMP(J), and means for comparing the lowest read temperature condition TEMP SMIN to a desired temperature condition TEMP SET to generate a signal based upon the comparison, and a temperature controller coupled to the power controller and to the processing element including control means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse to each zone E(J) based upon the signal by varying AMP E (J) for all E(J) to maintain TEMP SMIN ≈TEMP SET while also varying the DUTYCYCLE E (J) of each zone E(J) where TEMP(J)>TEMP SMIN to maintain TEMP(J)≈TEMP SET for each such zone.

Claim 21

A tissue ablation system comprising an ablating element comprising at least one structure supporting at least two zones for emitting ablating energy E(J), where J=2 to N, N being the total number of zones, at least one temperature sensing element supported in proximity with each zone E(J) for measuring a temperature condition localized with respect to the zone E(J), the localized temperature condition being designated TEMP(J), a power controller coupled to a source of ablating energy and to the zones E(J) including a switching element to convey ablating energy individually to each zone E(J) in a power pulse having a duty cycle DUTYCYCLE E (J) and an amplitude AMP E (J), AMP E (J) being set to be essentially the same for all E(J), wherein the power P E (J) delivered to each zone E(J) is expressed as follows: P.sub.E(J) ˜AMP.sub.E(J).sup.2 ×DUTYCYCLE.sub.E(J) a processing element coupled to the at least one temperature sensing element including means for periodically reading the temperature condition measured by each temperature sensing element TEMP(J), means for identifying the lowest read temperature condition TEMP SMIN of all TEMP(J), and means for comparing the lowest read temperature condition TEMP SMIN to a desired temperature condition TEMP SET to generate a signal based upon the comparison, and a temperature controller coupled to the power controller and to the processing element including control means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulse to each zone E(J) based upon the signal by varying AMP E (J) for all E(J) to maintain TEMP SMIN ≈TEMP SET while also varying the DUTYCYCLE E (J) of each zone E(J) where TEMP(J)>TEMP SMIN to maintain TEMP(J)≈TEMP SET for each such zone.

Claim 22

A system according to claim 14 or 15 or 16 wherein the control means varies AMP E (J) by varying either voltage or current.

Claim 25

A system according to claim 18 wherein the processing element includes means for selecting the highest one of the measured temperatures.

Claim 28

A system according to claim 20 wherein the processing element includes means for selecting the highest one of the measured temperature.

Claim 29

A system according to claim 20 wherein the temperature controller includes means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulses by varying the amplitudes of the power pulses for all emitters based upon the signal to maintain the amplitudes of the power pulses essentially the same for all emitters.

Claim 30

A system according to claim 20 wherein the means for causing the power controller to vary the power pulses by varying amplitudes varies amplitudes by varying either voltage or current.

Claim 33

A system according to claim 24 wherein the temperature controller includes means for causing the power controller to individually turn off and turn on an energy emitter based upon the signal for that emitter.

Claim 34

A system according to claim 24 wherein the the processing element includes means for selecting the lowest one of the measured temperatures.

Claim 35

A system according to claim 24 wherein the processing element includes means for deriving a difference between the temperature measured by each temperature sensor and the selected one of the measured temperatures and compares the difference to a predetermined value to generate the signal.

Claim 36

A system according to claim 27 wherein the temperature controller includes means for causing the power controller to individually turn off an energy emitter when the difference for that emitter equals or exceeds the predetermined value and individually turn on the emitter when the difference for that emitter is less than the predetermined value.

Claim 37

A tissue ablation system comprising an ablating element comprising at least one structure supporting at least two zones for emitting ablating energy E(J), where J=2 to N, N being the total number of zones, at least one temperature sensing element supported in proximity with each zone E(J) for measuring a temperature condition localized with respect to the zone E(J), the localized temperature condition being designated TEMP(J), a power controller coupled to a source of ablating energy and to the zones E(J) including a switching element to convey ablating energy individually to each zone E(J) in a power pulse having a duty cycle DUTYCYCLE E (J) and an amplitude AMP E (J), wherein the power P E (J) delivered to each zone E(J) is expressed as follows: P.sub.E(J) ˜AMP.sub.E(J).sup.2 ×DUTYCYCLE.sub.E(J) a processing element coupled to the at least one temperature sensing element including means for periodically reading the temperature condition measured by each temperature sensing element TEMP(J), means for comparing each read temperature condition TEMP(J) to a prescribed low threshold temperature condition TEMP LOWTHRESH and a prescribed high threshold temperature condition TEMP HITHRESH , and a temperature controller coupled to the power controller and to the processing element for causing the power controller to turn off a given zone E(J) when TEMP(J) for that zone≧TEMP HITHRESH and for turn on the given zone E(J) when TEMP(J) for that zone<TEMP LOWTHRESH .

Claim 38

A tissue ablation system comprising an ablating element comprising at least one structure supporting at least two zones for emitting ablating energy E(J), where J=2 to N, N being the total number of zones, at least one temperature sensing element supported in proximity with each zone E(J) for measuring a temperature condition localized with respect to the zone E(J), the localized temperature condition being designated TEMP(J), a power controller coupled to a source of ablating energy and to the zones E(J) including a switching element to convey ablating energy individually to each zone E(J) in a power pulse having a duty cycle DUTYCYCLE E (J) and an amplitude AMP E (J), wherein the power P E (J) delivered to each zone E(J) is expressed as follows: P.sub.E(J) ˜AMP.sub.E(J).sup.2 ×DUTYCYCLE.sub.E(J) a processing element coupled to the at least one temperature sensing element including means for periodically reading the temperature condition measured by each temperature sensing element TEMP(J), means for comparing each read temperature condition TEMP(J) to a prescribed low threshold temperature condition TEMP LOWTHRESH and a prescribed high threshold temperature condition TEMP HITHRESH , and a temperature controller coupled to the power controller and to the processing element for causing the power controller to turn off a given zone E(J) when TEMP(J) for that zone≧TEMP HITHRESH and for turn on the given zone E(J) when TEMP(J) for that zone<TEMP LOWTHRESH .

Claim 39

A system according to claim 29 wherein the power controller includes means for establishing and maintaining essentially the same AMP E (J) for all E(J) during operation of the temperature controller.

Claim 40

A system according to claim 29 wherein the temperature controller includes means for causing the power controller to adjust AMP E (J) for at least one zone E(J) according to prescribed criteria.

Claim 41

A system according to claim 29 wherein the processing element further includes means for identifying the lowest read temperature condition TEMP SMIN of all TEMP(J), and means for comparing the lowest read temperature condition TEMP SMIN to a prescribed low temperature condition TEMP LOW to generate a signal based upon the comparison, and wherein the temperature controller includes means for causing the power controller to adjust AMP E (J) based upon the signal to maintain TEMP SMIN above TEMP LOW .

Claim 42

A system according to claim 29 wherein the temperature controller includes means for causing the power controller to adjust DUTYCYCLE E (J) for at least one zone E(J) based upon prescribed criteria.

Claim 55

A method according to claim 39 wherein the pulse power varying step includes individually varying the amplitude of the power pulse based upon the signal for that emitter, while maintaining the duty cycle of the power pulses essentially the same for all emitters.

Claim 56

A method according to claim 39 wherein the pulse power varying step includes individually varying the duty cycle of the emitter based upon the signal for that emitter, while maintaining the amplitude of the power pulses essentially the same for all emitters.

Claim 57

A method according to claim 39 wherein the pulse power varying step includes individually varying both the duty cycle and the amplitude of the power pulse for each energy emitter based upon the signal for that emitter.

Claim 58

A method according to claim 39 and further including the step of individually turning off an energy emitter when the temperature measured at the emitter equals or exceeds a predetermined amount and individually turning on the emitter when the temperature measured at the emitter is less than the predetermined amount.

Claim 61

A method according to claim 44 wherein the selecting step selects the highest one of the sensed temperatures.

Claim 62

A method according to claim 44 wherein the selecting step selects for each emitter a prediction of the hottest tissue temperature based upon the sensed temperatures at that emitter.

Claim 65

A method according to claim 47 wherein the controlling step includes the step of individually turning off and turning on an energy emitter based upon the signal for that emitter.

Claim 66

A method according to claim 47 wherein the selecting step selects the lowest one of the sensed temperatures.

Claim 77

A system according to claim 54 wherein the element includes means for individually varying the amplitude of the power pulse based upon the signal for that emitter, while maintaining the duty cycle of the power pulses essentially the same for all emitters.

Claim 78

A system according to claim 54 wherein the element includes means for individually varying the duty cycle of the emitter based upon the signal for that emitter, while maintaining the amplitude of the power pulses essentially the same for all emitters.

Claim 79

A system according to claim 54 wherein the element includes means for individually varying both the duty cycle and the amplitude of the power pulse for each energy emitter based upon the signal for that emitter.

Claim 80

A system according to claim 54 wherein the element includes means for individually turning off an energy emitter when the temperature measured at the emitter equals or exceeds a predetermined amount and individually turning on the emitter when the temperature measured at the emitter is less than the predetermined amount.

Claim 83

A system according to claim 59 wherein the means for selecting one of the sensed temperatures comprises means for selecting the highest one of the sensed temperatures.

Claim 84

A system according to claim 59 wherein the means for selecting one of the sensed temperatures comprises means for selecting for each emitter a prediction of the hottest tissue temperature based upon the sensed temperatures at that emitter.

Claim 87

A system according to claim 62 wherein the means for causing the power controller to individually control the conveyance of ablating energy comprises means for individually turning off and turning on an energy emitter based upon the signal for that emitter.

Claim 88

A system according to claim 62 wherein the means for selecting one of the sensed temperatures comprises means for selecting the lowest one of the sensed temperatures.