TRANSURETHRAL NEEDLE ABLATION SYSTEM

• US 20080021445A1
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Christopherson, Mark, Elmouelhi, Ahmed, Swoyer, John, Sage, Shahn
• Granted Patent: US 8,152,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• 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 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing

Abstract

A one-piece, single-use disposable device for transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) of prostate tissue to alleviate BPH is disclosed. The device may include a flexible catheter tip including a rigid core and a flexible tip. The device may also include a single use lockout to help ensure that the device is used to perform only one ablation procedure on a single patient. The device may further include a simplified needle deployment mechanism and/or an automatic needle retraction mechanism.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

advancing a needle block to deploy at least one ablation needle to a selected needle depth in response to actuation of a lever;

advancing a sheath block to deploy an insulative sheath surrounding the at least one ablation needle to a first predetermined sheath depth in response to actuation of the lever;

releasing a connection between the needle block and the sheath block; and

retracting the sheath block after release of the connection, such that the sheath is retracted to a second predetermined sheath depth.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving a catch in an upward direction during the advancing of the needle block to allow for the advancing of the sheath block.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising moving the catch in a downward direction after the sheath block has advanced past the catch.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein retracting the sheath block further comprises retracting the sheath block until the sheath block is stopped by the catch such that the insulative sheath is retracted to the second predetermined sheath depth.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering ablation energy via the at least one ablation needle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein advancing the needle block further comprises actuating a needle push rod that deploys the at least one ablation needle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein advancing the sheath block further comprises actuating a sheath push rod that deploys the insulative sheath.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein releasing a connection further comprises releasing a snap fit that connects the needle block and the sheath block.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein advancing a needle block further comprises advancing the needle block until a selected face of a needle depth selector corresponding to the selected needle depth comes into contact with an extension of the lever.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein advancing the needle block further comprises engaging a lever engagement tooth with a ratchet corresponding to the selected needle depth.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a backward pulling force on the sheath block and the needle block to fully retract the at least one ablation needle and the insulative sheath within a transurethral catheter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein applying a backward pulling force further comprises releasing a catch that maintains the sheath block at the second predetermined sheath depth.

13. A method comprising:

advancing a needle block to deploy at least one ablation needle to a selected needle depth;

advancing a sheath block to deploy an insulative sheath surrounding the at least one ablation needle to a first predetermined sheath depth;

releasing a connection between the needle block and the sheath block;

retracting the sheath block after release of the connection, such that the sheath is retracted to a second predetermined sheath depth that is less than the first predetermined needle depth; and

delivering ablation energy to a prostrate of a patient via the at least one ablation needle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein advancing the needle block further comprises advancing the needle block to deploy at least one ablation needle to the selected needle depth in response to actuation of a lever.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein advancing the sheath block further comprises advancing the sheath block to deploy the insulative sheath surrounding the at least one ablation needle to the first predetermined sheath depth in response to actuation of a lever.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein releasing a connection further comprises releasing a snap fit that connects the needle block and the sheath block.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein releasing the snap fit further comprises pushing back a set of tabs positioned on the sheath block to release the snap-fit between the needle block and the sheath block.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein retracting the sheath block after release of the connection further comprises applying a backward pulling force on the sheath block to retract the sheath to the second predetermined sheath depth.

19. The method of claim 13, further including rotating a needle depth key having a plurality of uniquely radiused faces each corresponding to a different one of a plurality of available needle depths.

20. The method of claim 19, further including actuating a lever such that a lever extension contacts one of the plurality of faces that corresponds to the selected needle depth.