Apparatus with partially insulated needle for measuring tissue impedance
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use with a radio frequency generator and an indifferent electrode to treat tissue having a plurality of layers with respective thicknesses in a mammalian body comprising a needle having a distal portion and being adapted for coupling to the radio frequency generator and a layer of insulating material extending around the needle but exposing a length of the distal portion of the needle, the length of the exposed distal portion of the needle being sized as a function of the thicknesses of the plurality of layers of tissue to facilitate placement of the distal portion of the needle in the plurality of layers by monitoring impedance between the needle and the indifferent electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for use with a radio frequency generator and an indifferent electrode to treat tissue in a mammalian body includes a needle having a distal portion and being adapted for coupling to the radio frequency generator and a layer of insulating material extending around the needle but exposing a part of the distal portion of the needle. The exposed part of the needle is sized as a function of the thicknesses of the plurality of layers of tissue to facilitate placement of the distal portion of the needle in the plurality of layers by measuring impedance between the needle and the indifferent electrode.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. An apparatus for use with a radio frequency generator and an indifferent electrode to treat tissue having a plurality of layers with respective thicknesses in a mammalian body comprising a needle having a distal portion and being adapted for coupling to the radio frequency generator and a layer of insulating material extending around the needle but exposing a length of the distal portion of the needle, the length of the exposed distal portion of the needle being sized as a function of the thicknesses of the plurality of layers of tissue to facilitate placement of the distal portion of the needle in the plurality of layers by monitoring impedance between the needle and the indifferent electrode.
- 8. An apparatus for treating tissue of a mammalian body having a plurality of layers with respective thicknesses comprising a needle having proximal and distal portions, a radio frequency generator coupled to the proximal portion of the needle for supplying radio frequency energy to the needle, an indifferent electrode coupled to the radio frequency generator and adapted to couple to the mammalian body, a layer of insulating material extending around the distal portion of the needle but exposing part of the distal portion of the needle, the exposed part being sized as a function of the thicknesses of the plurality of layers of tissue to facilitate placement of the distal portion of the needle in the plurality of layers by monitoring impedance between the needle and the indifferent electrode.
- 12. A method for treating tissue having a plurality of layers in a mammalian body comprising providing a needle having a distal portion and a layer of insulating material extending around the distal portion but exposing part of the distal portion, coupling a return electrode to the mammalian body, extending the needle into the tissue, supplying radio frequency energy to the needle, measuring the impedance between the needle and the return electrode to determine if the exposed part of the distal portion of the needle is desirably placed in the plurality of layers and introducing a material through the needle into the tissue.
Specification