US6471698B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multiple electrode ablation apparatus
Assignee: Angiodynamics Inc
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Filing: 1999-08-25
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Granted: 2002-10-29
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Expires: 2019-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A tissue ablation apparatus includes a delivery catheter with distal and proximal ends. A handle is attached to the proximal end of the delivery catheter. At least partially positioned in the delivery catheter is an electrode deployment device. The electrode deployment devices includes a plurality of retractable electrodes. Each electrode has a non-deployed state when it is positioned in the delivery catheter. Additionally, each electrode has a distended deployed state when it is advanced out of the delivery catheter distal end. The deployed electrodes define an ablation volume. Each deployed electrode has a first section with a first radius of curvature. The first section is located near the distal end of the delivery catheter. A second section of the deployed electrode extends beyond the first section, ad has a second radius of curvature, or a substantially linear geometry.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart D. Edwards
- 👤 Ronald G. Lax
- 👤 Hugh Sharkey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1477; A61B18/1482; A61B18/18; A61B18/1815; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/40; A61N1/403; C; C22; C22C; C22C14/00; C22F; C22F1/00; C22F1/16; C22F1/18; C22F1/183; A61B18/1206; A61B18/1402; A61B18/1485; A61B18/1492; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00026; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00101; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00023; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00184; A61B2018/00196; A61B2018/00273; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00452; A61B2018/00476; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00642; A61B2018/00666; A61B2018/00678; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00708; A61B2018/00726; A61B2018/00744; A61B2018/00761; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00779; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00821; A61B2018/00827; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/00892; A61B2018/124; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/1253; A61B2018/126; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1425; A61B2018/143; A61B2018/1432; A61B2018/1435; A61B2018/1472; A61B18/16; A61B2018/162; A61B2018/1861; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0068; A61M25/007; B; B22; B22F; B22F2999/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A tissue ablation apparatus, comprising: an introducer having a distal portion and a proximal portion; an electrode device positionable within an interior of the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, the electrode device including at least a first RF electrode, a second RF electrode and a third RF electrode, each of the first, second and third RF electrodes having a tissue piercing distal end, a non-deployed state when positioned within the introducer and a deployed state when advanced from the distal portion of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes being deployable with curvature from the introducer distal portion and exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer; and a rigid electrode advancement member coupled to the electrode device to advance the first, second and third RF electrodes in and out of the introducer distal portion, where the electrodes exhibit at the selected tissue site a first curved section and a second curved section, and the advancement member being at least partly positionable in the introducer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A tissue ablation apparatus, comprising: an introducer having a distal portion and a proximal portion; an electrode device positionable within an interior of the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, the electrode device including at least a first RF electrode, a second RF electrode and a third RF electrode, each of the first, second and third RF electrodes having a tissue piercing distal end, a non-deployed state when positioned within the introducer and a deployed state when advanced from the distal portion of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes being deployable with curvature from the introducer distal portion and exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer; and a rigid electrode advancement member coupled to the electrode device to advance the first, second and third RF electrodes in and out of the introducer distal portion, where the electrodes exhibit at the selected tissue site a first curved section and a second curved section, and the advancement member being at least partly positionable in the introducer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: an obturator with a tissue piercing distal end, the obturator being postionable in the introducer as the obturator is advanced through tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second and third RF electrodes exhibits the changing direction of travel with at least two radii of curvature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second and third RF electrodes exhibits the changing direction of travel with at least one radius of curvature and a linear section of each deployed RF electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second and third RF electrodes exhibits the changing direction of travel with a single radius of curvature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rigid electrode advancement member includes a cam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the cam is at least partially positionable in the introducer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a handpiece coupled to the introducer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the rigid electrode advancement member is coupled to the handpiece.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the rigid electrode advancement member and the handpiece form an integral unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the handpiece and the introducer form an integral unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first RF electrode includes a hollow lumen configured to receive a fluidic medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: an insulator positioned in a surrounding relation to at least a portion of the introducer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: an insulator positioned in a surrounding relation to at least a portion of the first RF electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a sensor coupled to the first RF electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the sensor is a thermal sensor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a sensor coupled to the introducer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: an impedance monitor device coupled to the electrode device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising: a feedback control coupled to the sensor and to the first RF electrode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a controller; a microprocessor coupled to the controller; and a feedback control including circuitry and coupled to the electrode device, wherein RF energy is delivered to a tissue site, a measurement of a voltage and current of a tissue site are determined and the current adjusted according to the measurement of the voltage and current of the tissue site.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of deploying electrodes for defining an ablation volume, the method comprising: providing an ablation apparatus including an introducer and an electrode device positionable in a lumen of the introducer, the electrode device having at least a three RF electrodes including a first RF electrode a second RF and third RF electrode, the first and second RF electrodes exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer; positioning the introducer in a solid tissue mass to a selected tissue site; and advancing the first and second RF electrodes from the distal portion of the introducer to form a three-dimensional pattern at a treatment region; and passing radio frequency current amount the at least three RF electrodes or between the at least three RF electrodes and a return electrode.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of deploying electrodes for defining an ablation volume, the method comprising: providing an ablation apparatus including an introducer and an electrode device positionable in a lumen of the introducer, the electrode device having at least a three RF electrodes including a first RF electrode a second RF and third RF electrode, the first and second RF electrodes exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer; positioning the introducer in a solid tissue mass to a selected tissue site; and advancing the first and second RF electrodes from the distal portion of the introducer to form a three-dimensional pattern at a treatment region; and passing radio frequency current amount the at least three RF electrodes or between the at least three RF electrodes and a return electrode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the at least three RF electrodes are advanced symmetrically about an axis extending from the selected tissue site to the treatment region.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the at least three RF electrodes are evenly spaced from each other as they are advanced.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the at least three RF electrodes exhibit the changing direction of travel with at least two radii of curvature.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the at least three RF electrodes exhibit the changing direction of travel with at least one radius of curvature and a linear section.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the at least three RF electrodes exhibit the changing direction of travel with a single radius of curvature.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the introducer is advanced through tissue to the treatment region.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein the electrode device is positionable in the lumen of the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 21 , further comprising: providing an obturator with a tissue piercing distal end; and advancing the obturator through a lumen of the introducer to position the obturator at the selected tissue site.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein the obturator is positionable in the lumen of the introducer as the obturator is advanced through tissue to the selected tissue site.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein the introducer is positionable in a lumen of the obturator.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 30 , further comprising: removing the obturator from the lumen of the introducer; positioning the electrode device in the lumen of the introducer after the obturator is removed from the lumen of the introducer; and advancing the at least three RF electrodes from the introducer to the treatment region.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the electrode device includes a fourth RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal end.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth RF electrodes are advanced from the introducer to form the three-dimensional pattern at the treatment region.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 33 , wherein the electrode device includes fifth RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal end.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth and fifth RF electrodes are advanced from the introducer to form the three-dimensional pattern at the treatment region.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 35 , wherein the electrode device includes a sixth RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal end.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth RF electrodes are advanced from the introducer to form the three-dimensional pattern at the treatment region.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-10-28 | 2006-04-29 | 2006-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-28 | 2010-04-29 | 2010-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-28 | 2014-04-29 | 2014-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |