Endoscopically Introducible Expandable Bipolar Probe
First Claim
1. An endoscopically introducible, multipolar probe, for engagement with and treatment of body tissue on the basis of tissue resistive conduction, said probe being sized and constructed for insertion into the body of a patient through a working channel of an endoscope, said channel having a transverse cross-section of a predetermined diameter, said probe comprisinga catheter shaft defining a fluid filling lumen,means at the distal end of said catheter shaft defining a collapsible fluid expandable chamber in fluid receiving relationship with said filling lumen,said catheter, with the chamber-defining wall in collapsed condition, being sized to pass through said predetermined channel of said endoscope,said chamber having an inflated diameter that is greater than the diameter of the transverse cross-section of said endoscope channel,said collapsible fluid expandable chamber covered with a plurality of electrodes in spaced apart relationship,said plurality of electrodes connectable via means to an external radio frequency electrical energy source,whereby said probe, when said chamber is deflated, can be inserted into said body through said endoscope and thereafter said chamber can be inflated with fluid to create an enlarged surface area, and said radio frequency electrical potential from said external power source applied to said electrodes on surface of said inflated chamber and said chamber extending beyond the end of said endoscope can be pressed against tissue to press said multipolar electrodes to said tissue to treat by local tissue resistive bipolar or multipolar cautery a larger area of tissue relative to the size of said working channel of said endoscope.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for treating tissue inside a patient'"'"'s body, the device includes an endoscopically introducible catheter shaft. An expandable chamber is mounted on the distal end of the catheter shaft. The chamber is defined by a flexible non-elastomeric wall. The chamber is associated with a first lumen defined by the catheter for fluid flow between the chamber and a fluid source outside of the patient'"'"'s body. The chamber is filled with fluid after placement in the patient'"'"'s body. When the expandable chamber is filled with fluid it has a diameter greater than the diameter of the transverse cross-section of the endoscope channel. According to the method, the endoscope is inserted into a patient'"'"'s body and is used to view the inside of the patient'"'"'s body, to determine the location of tissue to be treated. The catheter is inserted into the channel that passes through the endoscope. The wall of the expandable chamber is covered with electrodes connectable to an external radiofrequency electrical potential. The chamber is filled with fluid and is positioned at the location of tissue to be treated and the electrical potential is applied to the electrodes resulting in treatment of the area of the body by tissue resistive electrocautery.
101 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. An endoscopically introducible, multipolar probe, for engagement with and treatment of body tissue on the basis of tissue resistive conduction, said probe being sized and constructed for insertion into the body of a patient through a working channel of an endoscope, said channel having a transverse cross-section of a predetermined diameter, said probe comprising
a catheter shaft defining a fluid filling lumen, means at the distal end of said catheter shaft defining a collapsible fluid expandable chamber in fluid receiving relationship with said filling lumen, said catheter, with the chamber-defining wall in collapsed condition, being sized to pass through said predetermined channel of said endoscope, said chamber having an inflated diameter that is greater than the diameter of the transverse cross-section of said endoscope channel, said collapsible fluid expandable chamber covered with a plurality of electrodes in spaced apart relationship, said plurality of electrodes connectable via means to an external radio frequency electrical energy source, whereby said probe, when said chamber is deflated, can be inserted into said body through said endoscope and thereafter said chamber can be inflated with fluid to create an enlarged surface area, and said radio frequency electrical potential from said external power source applied to said electrodes on surface of said inflated chamber and said chamber extending beyond the end of said endoscope can be pressed against tissue to press said multipolar electrodes to said tissue to treat by local tissue resistive bipolar or multipolar cautery a larger area of tissue relative to the size of said working channel of said endoscope.
-
2. The endoscopically introducible probe of claim one wherein said wall of said collapsible fluid inflatable chamber comprises a foldable substantially non-elastomeric balloon.
-
3. The endoscopically introducible probe of claim one wherein said wall of said collapsible fluid inflatable chamber comprises an elastomeric balloon.
- 22. A method of treating tissue inside a patient'"'"'s body, comprising the steps of inserting an endoscope into a patient'"'"'s body, said endoscope having a working channel that passes through said endoscope and that terminates at an opening in a distal end of said endoscope, said channel having a transverse cross-section of a predetermined diameter, viewing the inside of the patient'"'"'s body through said endoscope, to determine the location of tissue to be treated, positioning a catheter shaft within said channel in a manner such that a portion of said catheter shaft extends beyond said opening in the distal end of said endoscope, an expandable chamber being mounted on said portion of said catheter shaft that extends beyond said opening in the distal end of said endoscope, said chamber being defined by a flexible wall, and said chamber having a plurality of electrodes on its surface filling said chamber with fluid, said chamber when filled with said fluid having a diameter greater than the diameter of the transverse cross-section of said endoscope channel, positioning said chamber in contact with said tissue to be treated, and applying pressure on said tissue with said inflated chamber to bring said electrodes into contact with said tissue by local tissue resistive bipolar or multipolar cautery treating a larger area of said tissue relative to the size of said working channel of said endoscope.
-
26. An endoscopically introducible probe for treatment of the tissues of the body by tissue resistive conduction comprising
a catheter shaft, sized to pass through the working channel of an endoscope, said working channel having a transverse cross-section of predetermined diameter, a collapsible and expandable chamber at the distal end of said catheter shaft, said chamber when collapsed having a diameter small enough to pass through the channel of said endoscope, said chamber when expanded having a diameter greater than said channel of said endoscope, said chamber covered on its surface with one or more electrodes connectable via means to a source of electrical energy potential, whereby said probe when said chamber is collapsed, can be inserted through said channel in said endoscope to the area of body to be treated, once said chamber is beyond the distal end of said endoscope, said chamber is expanded, an electrical potential is applied to said electrodes, and said chamber is then pressed on tissue to be treated, to thereby press said electrodes on tissue and by resistive tissue conduction treating a larger area of said tissue relative to the size of said channel of said endoscope.
Specification