Systems and methods for treating tissue with radiofrequency energy
First Claim
1. A method of treating gastrointestinal reflux disease comprising:
- providing a treatment device having a plurality of electrodes, each of the plurality electrodes having an engagement feature to maintain distal tips of the plurality of electrodes in axial alignment when advanced from the treatment device, the treatment device further having a spacer with a central lumen to receive an electrode advancer to maintain centering of the electrode advancer within an outer tube of the treatment device during advancement;
applying non-ablative radiofrequency energy to the plurality of electrodes to thermally treat tissue below a tissue ablation threshold without causing tissue necrosis and create a plurality of tissue lesions along axially spaced tissue levels within the upper gastrointestinal tract;
monitoring tissue temperature throughout the procedure;
regulating power ensuring in response to the monitoring step that the tissue temperature does not exceed a predetermined value which would cause overheating of tissue which would cause tissue ablation and/or tissue necrosis; and
rotating the device and subsequently applying non-ablative radiofrequency energy, the plurality of electrodes remaining in axial alignment to prevent overheating of tissue which would cause tissue necrosis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for controlling operation of a radiofrequency treatment device to apply radiofrequency energy to tissue to treat tissue to create lesions without ablating the tissue. The system includes a device having flexible outer tube, an expandable basket having a plurality of arms movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position, a plurality of electrodes movable from a retracted position to an extended position to extend through the openings in the arms, and an advancer slidably disposed within the outer tube to move the electrodes. An elongated spacer is positioned within the outer tube, the spacer having a central lumen to receive the advancer and to maintain a central position of the advancer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of treating gastrointestinal reflux disease comprising:
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providing a treatment device having a plurality of electrodes, each of the plurality electrodes having an engagement feature to maintain distal tips of the plurality of electrodes in axial alignment when advanced from the treatment device, the treatment device further having a spacer with a central lumen to receive an electrode advancer to maintain centering of the electrode advancer within an outer tube of the treatment device during advancement; applying non-ablative radiofrequency energy to the plurality of electrodes to thermally treat tissue below a tissue ablation threshold without causing tissue necrosis and create a plurality of tissue lesions along axially spaced tissue levels within the upper gastrointestinal tract; monitoring tissue temperature throughout the procedure; regulating power ensuring in response to the monitoring step that the tissue temperature does not exceed a predetermined value which would cause overheating of tissue which would cause tissue ablation and/or tissue necrosis; and rotating the device and subsequently applying non-ablative radiofrequency energy, the plurality of electrodes remaining in axial alignment to prevent overheating of tissue which would cause tissue necrosis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of treating tissue by applying non-ablative radiofrequency energy comprising the steps of:
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a. providing a device having an electrode advancer, a spacer to receive the electrode advancer and a plurality of electrodes movable between a retracted position and an advanced position, the plurality of electrodes each having a penetrating tip and a structure to maintain an equidistant radial spacing and to maintain longitudinal alignment of each of the penetrating tips of the plurality of electrodes; b. inserting the device into a sphincter of a patient; c. advancing the plurality of electrodes to penetrate sphincter tissue at a first location, the plurality of electrodes are configured to be longitudinally aligned in the advanced position and further being equidistantly radially spaced in the advanced position; d. applying non-ablative radio frequency energy to the plurality of electrodes to apply the non-ablative radiofrequency energy to tissue in a first area of the penetrating tips of the plurality of electrodes without causing tissue necrosis or tissue ablation with a minimum distance maintained between regions of tissue treated by the plurality of electrodes; e. retracting the plurality of electrodes within the device; f. rotating the device to a second position; g. advancing the plurality of electrodes from the device so that the penetrating tips penetrate sphincter tissue at a second location, the penetrating tips of the plurality of electrodes being longitudinally aligned and maintained in an equidistant radial spacing in the advanced position; and h. applying non-ablative radiofrequency energy to the plurality of electrodes to apply the non-ablative radiofrequency energy to tissue in a second area of the penetrating tips of the plurality of electrodes without causing tissue necrosis or tissue ablation, such equidistant radial spacing and longitudinal alignment maintain the minimum distance between regions of tissue treated to avoid overlapping of tissue treatment area which could cause ablation of tissue and tissue necrosis. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification