Method and system for heating solid tissue

• US 20040147919A1
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Behl, Robert S., Kermit, Eben L., Lyons, Peter F., Nichols, Colin J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,001,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing

Abstract

Methods for heating tissue by delivering radio frequency energy through tissue electrodes comprise controlling energy delivery so that an abrupt increase in impedance between the electrodes and the tissue is observed, typically in the form of an abrupt decrease in power delivered to the electrodes. The power at which the impedance increases and/or the time required to induce such an increase in impedance, are relied on to determine acceptable ranges to achieve a maximum sustainable delivery of radio frequency energy to the tissue consistent with complete, rapid, and uniform heating of the tissue.

Claims

1. A method for heating a treatment region within solid tissue, said method comprising:

introducing at least one electrode to a target site within the treatment region;

energizing the electrode;

increasing the power of electrode energization to a elevated power level at which an abrupt increase in electrode-tissue interface impedance is observed;

reducing power sufficiently below said elevated level to permit the electrode-tissue interface impedance to decrease; and

reenergizing the electrode at a level below said elevated level.