Portable therapy delivery device with a removable connector board

• US 20060270916A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Skwarek, Thomas R., Christopherson, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US11/414,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20060270916A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0202 with electronic control means or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0258 by means of electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

The disclosure describes a system that may be used to deliver a plurality of therapies using one portable device. The system includes connector board port that allows a connector board to be removably coupled to the connector board port. The connector board is secured within the delivery device to hide electrical components. In this manner, a variety of connector boards may be provided to allow the delivery device to provide multiple therapies and facilitate upgrades of the device. In addition, the therapy delivery device may include a touch screen user interface, a visual operation indicator, a signal generator, and a fluid pump. In one embodiment, generated signals may be delivered by a peripheral accessory connected to the generator through the connector board, and the generator may generate radio frequency (RF) energy for the purpose of prostate tissue ablation.

Claims

1. A portable system, the system comprising:

a device housing;

a processor within the device housing, wherein the processor controls a tissue ablation therapy;

a connector board port coupled to the processor; and

a connector board removably coupled to the connector board port, wherein the connector board comprises at least one accessory port.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a peripheral accessory coupled to at least one accessory port.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the peripheral accessory is at least one of an ablation device, a video camera, an ultrasound paddle, a communication antenna, or a battery recharging device.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a securing mechanism that secures the connector board to the connector board port within the device housing.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the connector board comprises:

a connector board processor;

a memory that provides instructions to the connector board processor;

a multiplexer that controls electrical signals between the connector board processor and at least one accessory port; and

a multi-pin connector that couples the connector board processor to the connector board port of the portable device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the connector board further comprises a communications device.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an energy source, wherein the energy source produces radio frequency energy.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of delivery channels, wherein each of the plurality of delivery channels use a portion of the generated radio frequency energy.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a tissue ablation device coupled to at least one accessory port, wherein the tissue ablation device transfers the radio frequency energy to a patient via an electrode of the tissue ablation device.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a fluid pump that provides a fluid to the patient via a fluid channel of the tissue ablation device.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a device identity sensor that recognizes a peripheral accessory coupled to the accessory port.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the device identity sensor signals the processor to enable at least one of a therapy, a test program, and a data transfer.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the device identity sensor signals the processor to load software associated with the recognized peripheral accessory or disable a previously used peripheral accessory.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a touch screen user interface surrounded by a screen housing attached to the device housing; and

a visual operation indicator disposed on an exterior surface of the screen housing, wherein the visual operation indicator comprises a plurality of lights.

15. A method comprising:

removably coupling a connector board to a connector board port within a device housing;

displaying operation information to a user via a user interface;

receiving a user input via the user interface; and

delivering tissue ablation energy via at least one accessory port of the coupled connector board.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising securing the connector board to the connector board port with a securing mechanism.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising removably coupling a peripheral accessory to the accessory port of the connector board.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising identifying the peripheral accessory.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising at least one of presenting therapy data and communicating with another device.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

coupling a multi-pin connector of the connector board to the connector board port;

storing instructions in a memory for performing the operation;

controlling the operation with a connector board processor; and

controlling electrical signals between the connector board processor and at least one accessory port.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein delivering tissue ablation energy comprises generating radio frequency energy with an energy source.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising delivering the radio frequency energy via a plurality of delivery channels, wherein each of the plurality of delivery channels use a portion of the generated radio frequency energy.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising transferring the radio frequency energy to a patient via an electrode of a tissue ablation device, wherein the tissue ablation device is coupled to at least one accessory port.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising pumping fluid to a patient through a fluid channel of the tissue ablation device.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising opening a screen housing from a device housing of a portable device, wherein the screen housing accepts the user interface, and wherein the user interface is a touch screen user interface.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

visually indicating a system power status via a visual operation indicator; and

visually indicating a therapy delivery status via the visual operation indicator, wherein the visual operation indicator emits light of a plurality of wavelengths.

27. A device comprising:

a connector board comprising;

a connector board processor;

a multi-pin connector electrically coupled to the connector board processor; and

at least one accessory port, wherein at least one accessory port accepts an ablation device;

a connector board port of a portable device, wherein the multi-pin connector removably couples to the connector board port; and

a securing mechanism that secures the connector board to the connector board port.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the connector board comprises:

a memory that provides instructions to the connector board processor; and

a signal multiplexer that controls electrical signals between the connector board processor and at least one accessory port.

29. The device of claim 27, further comprising a peripheral accessory coupled to at least one accessory port.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the peripheral accessory is at least one of a video camera, an ultrasound paddle, a communication antenna, or a battery recharging device.

31. The device of claim 27, further comprising a device identity sensor that recognizes the ablation device coupled to the accessory port.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the device identity sensor signals the processor to enable at least one of a therapy, a test program, and a data transfer.

33. The device of claim 31, wherein the device identity sensor signals the processor to either load software associated with the recognized ablation device or disable a previously used ablation device.

34. The device of claim 27, wherein the ablation device transfers radio frequency energy to a patient via an electrode of the ablation device.