METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LESS INVASIVE SURGICAL PROCEDURES ON ANIMALS

• US 20090192507A1
• Filed: 01/24/2009
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward Luttich
• Original Assignee: Edward Luttich
• Inventors: Luttich, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00714 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and system for less invasive surgical procedures on animals. In accordance with various embodiments, electromagnetic energy is applied in a controlled application and projected into the tissue of an animal. The controlled application of the electromagnetic energy heats the targeted tissue causing cell necrosis, collagen shrinkage or scar tissue production, often without requiring a surgical incision.

Claims

1. A method for performing a surgical procedure on an animal, comprising:

determining a thermal mass of a target tissue to be treated;

applying focused energy at a pre-determined location within the target tissue to heat the target tissue to a pre-determined temperature for a pre-determined period of time based on the thermal mass to produce a heat plume within the target tissue to induce one or more of cell necrosis, collagen shrinkage and scar formation without damage to tissue surrounding the target tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the focused energy comprises:

inserting a probe comprising a needle having an insulating body, a proximal end, and a conductive distal end into the target tissue so that the conductive distal end is substantially centered within the target tissue, wherein the proximal end of the needle is in electrical communication with a power supply and a controller;

positioning an electrical conductor at a pre-determined separation from the probe to create a circuit across the target tissue; and

activating the power supply and controller for applying energy to the probe and the electrical conductor to form the heat plume across the target tissue.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising disposing a temperature sensor near the probe to measure a temperature within the target tissue, and selecting a time-temperature curve corresponding to tissue response of the target tissue.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the energy is radio frequency energy.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy is microwave energy.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the electrical conductor comprises a second needle having a conductive tip located proximate to the distal end of the probe so that energy is focused between the distal end of the probe and the conductive tip of the second needle.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the pre-determined distance between the needle and the second needle is fixed at a distance selected according to the desired size of the heat plume.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the second electrical conductor comprises a broad, flat electrode affixed proximate to the device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein cell necrosis is induced and the pre-determined power level heats the target tissue to a peak operating temperature within a range of about 50 to 110 degrees Celsius.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein collagen shrinkage is induced and the pre-determined power level heats the target tissue to a peak operating temperature within a range of about 60 to 75 degrees Celsius.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the controller includes a control algorithm module configured to implement a feedback loop, the feedback loop capable of continually sensing a temperature or a resistance level and causing the controller to increase the temperature or the resistance level until the peak operating level is obtained in the target tissue of the animal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, after inserting the probe into the target tissue, and prior to the step of activating the power supply and controller, performing a test comprising:

activating the power supply and control to apply a short series of pilot power levels;

measuring a rate of temperature change associated with each pilot power level; and

collecting the measured rate of temperature change associated with each pilot power level to estimate the thermal mass and energy loss rate associated with the target tissue.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of collecting further comprises calculating derivatives of the measured rate of temperature change to generate time-temperature curves.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the surgical procedure is neutering a male dog and the method further comprises palpating one of the dog'"'"'s testicles to determine the size prior to determining the thermal mass of the target tissue, and, prior to inserting the probe, selecting a needle having a needle length and conductive distal end length based upon the size of the testicle.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising repeating the procedure for the other testicle.

16. A method for performing a surgical procedure on an animal, comprising:

determining a size and thermal mass of a target tissue to be treated;

inserting a needle having an insulating body, a proximal end, and a first electrode at a distal end into the target tissue so that the electrode is substantially centered within the target tissue, wherein the proximal end of the needle is in electrical communication with a power supply and a controller;

positioning a second electrode at a distance from the needle to create a circuit across the target tissue; and

applying focused energy within the target tissue at two or more of a pre-determined power level, a pre-determined ramp rate, a pre-determined temperature and a pre-determined period of time based on the thermal mass and thermal losses of the target tissue to form a heat plume within the target tissue to induce one or more of cell necrosis, collagen shrinkage and scar formation without damage to tissue surrounding the target tissue.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the needle has a temperature sensor disposed therein.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the energy is radio frequency energy.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the second electrode comprises a second needle disposed at a fixed separation from the needle, wherein the fixed separation is selected based upon a desired volume of the heat plume to be generated within the target tissue.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein cell necrosis is induced and the pre-determined temperature is within a range of about 50 to 110 degrees Celsius.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein collagen shrinkage is induced and the pre-determined temperature is within a range of about 60 to 75 degrees Celsius.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the pre-determined ramp rate is in the range of about 0.1 to 8.0 degrees C. per second.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the surgical procedure is neutering a male dog and the method further comprises palpating one of the dog'"'"'s testicles to determine the size prior to determining the thermal mass of the target tissue, and, prior to inserting the probe, selecting a needle having a needle length and first and second electrode lengths based upon the size of the testicle.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising repeating the procedure for the other testicle.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the pre-determined temperature is in the range of 85 to 105 degrees C. and the pre-determined period of time is about 120 seconds or more.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the surgical procedure is bark reduction in a dog and the method further comprises inserting the probe into the dog'"'"'s neck so that the first and second electrodes are within the dog'"'"'s vocal cord, and wherein the pre-determined temperature is on the order of 70 degrees and the pre-determined period of time is about 30 seconds.

27. A system for performing a surgical procedure on an animal, comprising:

a probe comprising a housing and a needle with an insulating body extending from the housing, the needle having a proximal end, and a first electrode at a distal end for insertion into the target tissue so that the electrode is substantially centered within a target tissue;

a second electrode disposed in contact with the animal at a distance from the needle to create a circuit across the target tissue; and

a power supply in electrical communication with the proximal end of the needle, the power supply having controls for applying focused energy within the target tissue by selecting two or more of a pre-determined power level, a pre-determined ramp rate, a pre-determined temperature and a pre-determined period of time based on a thermal mass of the target tissue to form a heat plume within the target tissue to modify the target tissue by inducing one or more of cell necrosis, collagen shrinkage and scar formation without damage to tissue surrounding the target tissue.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the needle has a temperature sensor disposed therein.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the energy is radio frequency energy.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the second electrode comprises a second needle disposed at a fixed separation from the needle, wherein the fixed separation is selected based upon a desired volume of the heat plume to be generated within the target tissue.