Multiple antenna ablation apparatus and method with multiple sensor feedback

• US 20040260282A1
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rita Medical Systems Incorporated (AngioDynamics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gough, Edward J., Stein, Alan A.
• Application Number:
  US10/775,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260282A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• 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 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00101 using an array of thermosensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00273 Anchoring means for temporary attachment of a device to tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00279 deployable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 : upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 : switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00726 : Duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00744 : Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 : measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00827 : Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 : Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 : switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 : monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 : multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1435 : Spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 : for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/162 : located on the probe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/183 : characterised by the type of antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 : Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0279 : Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 : for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 : for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/04 : Radiators for near-field treatment

Abstract

An ablation apparatus includes an ablation energy source producing an electromagnetic energy output. A monopolar multiple antenna device is included and has a primary antenna with a longitudinal axis, a central lumen and a distal end, and a secondary antenna with a distal end. The secondary antenna is deployed from the primary antenna central lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis. The primary antenna and secondary antennas are each electromagnetically coupled to the electromagnetic energy source.

Claims

1. An ablation treatment apparatus, comprising:

an introducer having a distal portion and a proximal portion; and

at least one antenna positioned in the introducer as the introducer is introduced through tissue and exhibiting a changing direction of travel when deployed from the introducer at a selected tissue mass, said at least one antenna being operatively coupled to a microwave energy source; and

at least one thermal sensor coupled to at least one of (i) the introducer. or (ii) at least one of the at least one antennas.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a distal end of the at least one antenna is constructed to be structurally less rigid than the introducer, and the introducer is constructed to be rigid enough to be introduced through tissue.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a feedback control system operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the microwave energy source.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one antenna comprises at least two antennas, each of the antennas having an energy delivery surface to create an ablation volume between the energy delivery surfaces.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each antenna includes at least one thermal sensor to measure temperature.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one antenna comprises at least three antennas, each of the antennas having an energy delivery surface to create an ablation volume between the energy delivery surfaces.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an insulation sleeve positioned in a surrounding relationship around at least a portion of at least one of (i) the introducer, or (ii) the at least one antenna.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the insulation sleeve is adjustably moveable along an exterior of the introducer or the at least one antenna.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a ground pad electrode.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the introducer is hollow and coupled to an infusion medium source to receive an infusion medium.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a cooling element coupled to the introducer.

31. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the feedback control adjusts at least one of (i) a power level, (ii) a duty cycle, and (iii) an energy delivery in response to the temperature measured at the at least one sensor.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a display for displaying temperature values measured at the at least one sensor.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said introducer is an antenna operatively coupled to an energy source.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said introducer is coupled to a RF energy source.

35. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the introducer includes a tissue piercing distal end.

36. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a controller coupled to the energy source and at least one of (i) the at least one thermal sensor and (ii) the feedback control to adjust the energy supplied to the antennas in response to the temperature measured at the at least one sensor.

4-6. -6. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

13-14. -14. (canceled)

16-17. -17. (canceled)

20. A method for creating an ablation volume in a selected tissue mass, comprising:

providing an ablation device with an introducer at least one antenna with a distal end and being operatively coupled to a microwave energy source, and at least one thermal sensor coupled to at least one of (i) the introducer, or (ii) at least one of the at least one antennas;

inserting the introducer into the selected tissue mass with the at least one antenna distal end positioned in the introducer lumen;

advancing the at least one antenna distal end out of the introducer lumen and into the selected tissue mass;

delivering electromagnetic energy from the microwave energy source to the at least one antenna; and

creating an ablation volume in the selected tissue mass.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said at least one antenna comprises at least two antennas, each having an energy delivery surface, are advanced from the primary antenna, and an ablation volume is created between the two antennas energy delivery surfaces.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least two antennas are advanced out of a distal end of the introducer

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least two antennas are advanced out of separate ports formed in the introducer.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the introducer is operatively coupled to an energy source and has an energy delivery surface.

37. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

adjusting the energy supplied to the at least one antenna in response to a temperature measured at the at least one sensor.

25-29. -29. (canceled)