Helical device and method for aiding the ablation and assessment of tissue

• US 20040002699A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Reed, David G., Ryan, Thomas P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,923,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06066 Needles, e.g. needle tip configurations making needles B21G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06076 helically or spirally coiled for sutures A61B2017/06171
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle

Abstract

A helical needle is attached to a surgical probe to aid in the insertion of the probe into a tissue mass. The tip of the helical needle penetrates the tissue mass in advance of the tip of the probe. The probe is rotated to push the helical shaft of the needle into the tissue mass in the direction of rotation. As the helical shaft advances into the tissue mass, the probe advances with it. Rotating the probe in the opposite direction causes the helical needle and probe to withdraw from the tissue mass. Rotation of the probe and needle is more effective in penetrating rubbery and calcified growths than the conventional method of pushing the probe, and it enables the precise placement of the probe. The helical needle also enables insertion of the probe in situations where an inconvenient angle of entry makes it difficult to push the probe along.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising

a surgical probe having a substantially straight shaft section and a distal end;

and

a helical needle having a distal end, the helical needle being affixed to the probe such that the distal end of the helical needle extends beyond the distal end of the probe.

2. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the surgical probe includes a source of thermal energy.

3. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the helical needle has a helical shaft section that encompasses the shaft section of the surgical probe.

4. The surgical device of claim 3 wherein the shaft section of the surgical probe has a diameter in the range of about 2 mm to about 5 mm.

5. The surgical device of claim 4, wherein the helical shaft section has the shape of a circular cylindrical helix, the helical shaft section of the helical needle and the shaft section of the surgical probe being aligned along a common axis.

6. The surgical device of claim 5, wherein the distal end of the helical needle is terminated by a sharp tip for puncturing tissue, the sharp tip being located on the common axis.

7. The surgical device of claim 3, wherein the helical needle has a proximal end including an attachment section, said attachment section being affixed to the shaft section of the surgical probe.

8. The surgical device of claim 3, wherein the helical shaft section of the helical needle has an exterior surface and at least one thermal sensor exposed at the exterior surface.

9. The surgical device of claim 3, wherein the helical needle has an interior channel and at least one thermal sensor within the interior channel.

10. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the helical needle is made of a rigid material.

11. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the helical needle is made of a resilient material.

12. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the helical needle is made of a shape-memory alloy.

13. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the surgical device has a proximal end and a driving means for selectively rotating the surgical device in a first rotational direction and in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, the driving means being located at the proximal end of the surgical device.

14. The surgical device of claim 13, wherein the driving means comprises a handle including two opposed turning tabs.

15. The surgical device of claim 13, wherein the driving device comprises a motorized device for rotating the surgical probe.

16. The surgical device of claim 13, wherein the driving device comprises a ratchet assembly having a ratchet gear interconnected with a movable handle, said ratchet assembly being adapted such that the ratchet gear is rotated by movement of the handle.

17. The surgical device of claim 16 wherein the ratchet assembly comprises

a ratchet having a first gear engagement tab for rotating the ratchet gear in the first rotational direction and a second gear engagement tab for rotating the ratchet gear in the second rotational direction;

a pawl having a first gear engagement tab for preventing the rotation of the ratchet gear in the second rotational direction and a second gear engagement tab for preventing the rotation of the ratchet gear in the first rotational direction, the pawl being movable independently of the ratchet;

a ratchet spring member having a first side piece and a second side piece, the first side piece and the second side piece being substantially parallel, the ratchet gear being positioned at a location intermediate between the first side piece and the second side piece; and

a reversing lever connected to the ratchet spring member such as to bias the first side panel toward the ratchet gear when the reversing lever is in a first position and bias the second side panel toward the ratchet gear when the reversing lever is in a second position, such that the first side panel acts on the pawl and ratchet gear when the reversing lever is in the first position, thereby engaging the first gear engagement tab of the pawl with the ratchet gear and the first gear engagement tab of the ratchet with the ratchet gear, and the second side panel acts on the pawl and ratchet gear when the reversing lever is in the second position thereby engaging the second gear engagement tab of the pawl with the ratchet gear and the second gear engagement tab of the ratchet with the ratchet gear.

18. A method for inserting a surgical probe into a tissue mass, the surgical probe having a substantially straight shaft section, a distal end and a helical needle affixed to the surgical probe, the helical needle having a distal end that extends beyond the distal end of the probe, the method comprising the steps of

puncturing the tissue mass with the distal end of the helical needle;

and

rotating the surgical device in a rotational direction such that the helical needle advances into the tissue mass in the rotational direction, thereby advancing the surgical probe in an axial direction.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the surgical probe has a proximal end and a driving means for selectively rotating the surgical probe in a first rotational direction and in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, the driving means being located at the proximal end of the surgical probe.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the driving means is calibrated for providing precise depth of penetration of the surgical probe.