Ablation treatment apparatus
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Accused Products
Abstract
An RF treatment apparatus includes a catheter with a catheter lumen. A removable needle electrode is positioned in the catheter lumen in a fixed relationship to the catheter. The needle electrode includes a needle lumen and a needle electrode distal end. A removable introducer is slidably positioned in the needle lumen. The introducer includes an introducer distal end. A first sensor is positioned on a surface of the needle electrode or the insulator. An RF power source is coupled to the needle electrode and a return electrode. An insulator sleeve is slidably positioned around the electrode and includes a second sensor. Resources are associated with the electrodes, sensors as well as the RF power source for maintaining a selected power at the electrode independent of changes in current or voltage.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1-32. -32. (canceled)
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33. A probe system comprising:
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an introducer having a distal end and a proximal end;
at least one retractable electrode at least partly positioned in the introducer that is adapted to be inserted into tissue, is adapted to penetrate tissue, and is adapted to extend to a selected tissue site, said at least one retractable electrode having a non-deployed state when positioned in the introducer, being preformed to assume a curved shape when deployed, and being operatively connected to a microwave power source; and
wherein the at least one electrode is advanceable in and out of the distal most end of the introducer. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for creating an ablation volume in a selected tissue mass, comprising:
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providing an ablation device with an introducer having a lumen, at least one electrode with a distal end 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 electrodes;
inserting the introducer into the selected tissue mass with the at least one electrode distal end positioned in the introducer lumen;
advancing the at least one electrode distal end out of the introducer lumen and into the selected tissue mass, wherein the electrode has a preformed, curved shape;
delivering electromagnetic energy from the microwave energy source to the at least one electrode; and
creating an ablation volume in the selected tissue mass. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification