US6016452A — Dynamic heating method and radio frequency therma…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 182 words

A system for the radiofrequency hyperthermia treatment of prostatic tissue, which comprises: a transurethral applicator including: a housing; an elongated portion extending from the housing and dimensioned to be introduced within the urethral passage of a patient; at least three radiofrequency bipolar electrodes supported within the elongated portion and being deployable to penetrate a urethra wall defining the urethral passage and enter prostatic tissue to define a predetermined electrode arrangement therein; a deployment mechanism associated with the housing for deploying the at least three bipolar electrodes, the deployment mechanism including a first actuator connected to a first bipolar electrode and selectively movable to selectively deploy the first bipolar electrode and a second actuator connected to a second and a third bipolar electrode and selectively movable to selectively deploy the second and the third bipolar electrodes to control positioning of the second and third bipolar electrode relative to the first bipolar electrode; and a radiofrequency source connected to the three bipolar electrodes for supplying radiofrequency energy such that the predetermined electrode arrangement generates a three dimensional thermal energy pattern within the prostatic tissue.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 182 words

A system for the radiofrequency hyperthermia treatment of prostatic tissue, which comprises: a transurethral applicator including: a housing; an elongated portion extending from the housing and dimensioned to be introduced within the urethral passage of a patient; at least three radiofrequency bipolar electrodes supported within the elongated portion and being deployable to penetrate a urethra wall defining the urethral passage and enter prostatic tissue to define a predetermined electrode arrangement therein; a deployment mechanism associated with the housing for deploying the at least three bipolar electrodes, the deployment mechanism including a first actuator connected to a first bipolar electrode and selectively movable to selectively deploy the first bipolar electrode and a second actuator connected to a second and a third bipolar electrode and selectively movable to selectively deploy the second and the third bipolar electrodes to control positioning of the second and third bipolar electrode relative to the first bipolar electrode; and a radiofrequency source connected to the three bipolar electrodes for supplying radiofrequency energy such that the predetermined electrode arrangement generates a three dimensional thermal energy pattern within the prostatic tissue.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system according to claim 1 wherein the deployment mechanism is adapted to deploy the bipolar electrodes to define a predetermined electrode arrangement wherein the second and third bipolar electrodes are symmetrically arranged about the first bipolar electrode.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 52 words

The system according to claim 2, wherein the elongated portion of the applicator has a distal deployment tip portion associated therewith, the deployment tip portion defining deployment ports, configured and dimensioned to deploy the bipolar electrodes such that the first, second and third bipolar electrodes lie substantially within the same general plane.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

The system of claim 1, further including means for initially supplying said radiofrequency (RF) energy at frequency of less than one MHZ and then supplying said RF energy at a frequency in the range of about 13-40 MHz to ablate target tissue.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The system of claim 1, wherein said electrodes are provided with a lossy dielectric coating to influence current flow on the electrodes.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system according to claim 1 including a temperature sensor associated with a distal end portion of the elongated portion to monitor the temperature of the tissue adjacent the distal end portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

The system of claim 1, further including a balun for transforming impedance between a coaxial cable that supplies RF energy from said RF source, and impedance measurement circuitry coupled to said coaxial cable for measuring impedance of treatment tissue.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 179 words

The system according to claim 1, further including a control unit having a coaxial output providing RF energy to said electrodes, and a balun interconnecting said electrodes with said coaxial output, said control unit comprising: a processor system that monitors impedance of tissue in the area being treated; a directional coupler coupled between said radiofrequency source and said coaxial output for providing forward and reverse power to an interface that provides impedance information to said processor system; at least one switch for switching the output of said directional coupler between a first electrical path terminating in a short circuit, a second electrical path terminating in a test load, and a third electrical path terminating in an open circuit, to enable an impedance calibration to be performed; and said at least one switch being further capable of switching said directional coupler output to a fourth electrical path including said coaxial output and said balun, to provide RF energy to said electrodes and to enable said directional coupler to couple reverse power during treatment towards said interface for calibrated impedance monitoring.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 12 words

The system of claim 8, wherein said interface comprises a vector analyzer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 12 words

The system of claim 9, wherein said interface comprises a network analyzer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 8, further including a temperature sensor for monitoring temperature at the test load and providing corresponding information to said processor system.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system of claim 8, wherein said radiofrequency source provides RF energy at a frequency of about 40 MHZ or less.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 8, further comprising a detector for detecting an output signal level at said test load and providing corresponding information to said processor system.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 170 words

An apparatus for treating prostatic tissue comprising: a) a handle assembly; b) an elongate body extending distally from the handle assembly and having an axial bore extending at least partially therethrough defining a longitudinal axis; c) first, second, and third elongated probes supported within the elongate body and mounted for movement between respective retracted positions disposed within the axial bore and respective deployed positions projecting outwardly from a distal end portion of the elongate body; d) a first actuator associated with the handle assembly and operatively connected to the first probe for selectively moving the first probe between the retracted and deployed positions thereof independent of the second and third probes; e) a second actuator associated with the handle assembly and operatively connected to the second and third probes for selectively and conjunctively moving the second and third probes between the retracted and deployed positions thereof independent of the first probe; and f) means for operatively connecting the first, second and third probes to an external source of radiofrequency energy.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 170 words

An apparatus for treating prostatic tissue comprising: a) a handle assembly; b) an elongate body extending distally from the handle assembly and having an axial bore extending at least partially therethrough defining a longitudinal axis; c) first, second, and third elongated probes supported within the elongate body and mounted for movement between respective retracted positions disposed within the axial bore and respective deployed positions projecting outwardly from a distal end portion of the elongate body; d) a first actuator associated with the handle assembly and operatively connected to the first probe for selectively moving the first probe between the retracted and deployed positions thereof independent of the second and third probes; e) a second actuator associated with the handle assembly and operatively connected to the second and third probes for selectively and conjunctively moving the second and third probes between the retracted and deployed positions thereof independent of the first probe; and f) means for operatively connecting the first, second and third probes to an external source of radiofrequency energy.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 48 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein first, second and third guide channels are defined in a distal end portion of the elongated body in communication with the axial bore thereof for respectively directing the first second and third probes outwardly toward the respective deployed positions thereof.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the first, second and third probes are each configured as a bipolar electrode.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein each probe defines a distal radiating segment and wherein upon deployment of the first, second and third probes the distal radiating segments are oriented within the same geometric plane.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 107 words

A method for the hyperthermia treatment of prostatic tissue, comprising the steps of: inserting a transurethral applicator within the urethral passage of a patient, the applicator including at least first, second and third radiofrequency bipolar electrodes supported therein; deploying the bipolar electrodes from the applicator whereby the bipolar electrodes penetrate the urethral wall and enter prostatic tissue to define a predetermined electrode arrangement of the bipolar electrodes within the prostatic tissue, the second and third bipolar electrodes being deployed independent of the first bipolar electrode; supplying radiofrequency energy to the electrode arrangement whereby the electrode arrangement generates a three dimensional thermal energy pattern within the prostatic tissue.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 107 words

A method for the hyperthermia treatment of prostatic tissue, comprising the steps of: inserting a transurethral applicator within the urethral passage of a patient, the applicator including at least first, second and third radiofrequency bipolar electrodes supported therein; deploying the bipolar electrodes from the applicator whereby the bipolar electrodes penetrate the urethral wall and enter prostatic tissue to define a predetermined electrode arrangement of the bipolar electrodes within the prostatic tissue, the second and third bipolar electrodes being deployed independent of the first bipolar electrode; supplying radiofrequency energy to the electrode arrangement whereby the electrode arrangement generates a three dimensional thermal energy pattern within the prostatic tissue.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 50 words

the method according to claim 18, wherein the step of deploying includes deploying the three bipolar electrodes from the applicator to define a predetermined electrode arrangement characterized by having a first centrally disposed bipolar electrode and second and third bipolar electrodes symmetrically arranged about the first centrally disposed bipolar electrode.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of deploying includes deploying the three bipolar electrodes such that the first, second and third bipolar electrodes generally lie within the same place.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method according to claim 20, wherein the step of deploying includes deploying the three bipolar electrodes such that the second and third bipolar electrodes define an angle ranging from about 5° to 85° relative to the first bipolar electrode.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-01-17	2003-07-19	2004-01-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-01-17	2007-07-19	2008-01-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-01-17	2011-07-19	2012-01-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Dynamic heating method and radio frequency thermal treatment

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag