DEVICE FOR CIRCULATING HEATED FLUID

• US 20080097563A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minerva Surgical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Robson, David, Petrie, Aidan, Nelsen, Daniel, Marsella, Andrew W., Gordon, Joseph M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,226,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/105
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0023 disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4216 Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00059 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00636 Sensing and controlling the application of energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00648 using more than one sensed parameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00714 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00744 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/046 in liquid form

Abstract

A system for ablating tissue includes a reusable control unit including a processor monitoring and controlling ablation and a control interface receiving input to and output from the processor in combination with a disposable procedure set releasably connectable to the control unit to couple to the control interface for communication with the processor.

Claims

1. A system for ablating tissue, comprising:

a reusable control unit including a processor monitoring and controlling ablation and a control interface receiving input to and output from the processor; and

a disposable procedure set releasably connectable to the control unit to couple to the control interface for communication with the processor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the procedure set comprises a cartridge including a heat transfer unit and a pump.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the heat transfer unit transfers heat to the ablation fluid under control of the processor to bring the ablation fluid to a desired temperature and the pump applies pressure to the ablation fluid under control of the processor to maintain a pressure in the ablation fluid at a desired level.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface of the reusable control unit providing user commands to the processor and providing to the user feedback from the processor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the user interface further includes a memory module storing system use information and instructions executable by the user interface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a hardware based safety subsystem monitoring input from the control interface and inhibits ablation based on input from the control interface indicating that the system is operating outside an acceptable range for a safety parameter.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the safety subsystem inhibits ablation by preventing operation of the pump to supply additional ablation fluid while the system is operating outside the acceptable range for the safety parameter.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the safety subsystem inhibits ablation by preventing further heating of the ablation fluid while the system is operating outside the acceptable range for the safety parameter.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the safety parameter is a measured amount of fluid loss.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the safety parameter is a fluid pressure level.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the processor inhibits ablation when a pressure of the ablation fluid is one of less than 45 mmHG and greater than 55 mmHG.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein the cartridge is electrically coupled to the control unit when the procedure set is connected to the control unit.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein the procedure set further comprises a patient sheath releasably connectable to the cartridge.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the patient sheath includes a sealing film covering openings to patient sheath lumens and wherein the sealing film is punctured to couple to sheath to the cartridge.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein the pump includes an impeller magnetically coupled to a motor in the control unit.

16. The system of claim 2, wherein the control unit comprises a heating element coupled to the processor which, when the cartridge is connected to control unit, is adjacent to a heat transfer element of the cartridge.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the heating element comprises a plate actively heated by a heater within the control unit, wherein the plate is adjacent to the heat transfer element, a side of the heat transfer element adjacent to the plate being opposite a side of the heat transfer element which contacts the ablation fluid to isolate the heat transfer element from the ablation fluid.

18. The system of claim 2, wherein the cartridge comprises sensors for monitoring pressure and temperature of the fluid, the sensors being electrically coupled to the processor via the control interface.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the procedure controller is adapted to monitor signals of the pressure sensors to recognize absorption of fluid by the patient.

20. A control system for a hydro-thermal ablation procedure, comprising:

a reusable console including a processor monitoring and controlling the hydro-thermal ablation procedure;

a disposable cartridge selectively coupleable to the console, the cartridge including a plurality of sensors connectable to the processor, the sensors measuring properties of an ablation fluid;

a mechanical safety interlock of the processor inhibiting the hydro-thermal ablation procedure when commanded by the processor; and

an ablation fluid control system including a pump and a heater controlled by the processor.

21. The control system of claim 20, wherein the cartridge includes a plate a first side of which is in contact with the ablation fluid wherein, when the cartridge is coupled to the console, a second side of the plate is adjacent to a heat transfer member of the heating element.

22. The control system of claim 20, wherein the pump comprises an impeller in the disposable cartridge and a motor in the reusable console.

23. The control system of claim 20, wherein a first one of the sensors monitors a pressure of the ablation fluid and wherein the processor stops the pump when the monitored fluid pressure indicates a leak.

24. The control system of claim 20, wherein the processor controls a plunger element to add and remove fluid volume to maintain a desired fluid pressure.

25. The control system of claim 20, wherein the processor monitors the addition of fluid to recognize absorption of the fluid by the patient.