Flexible Application Device for the High-Frequency Treatment of Biological Tissue

• US 20090204060A1
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Winter & Ibe GmbH (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Stein, Thomas, Fay, Markus, Roggan, Andre, Desinger, Kai
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/21
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• 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 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation

Abstract

The invention concerns a flexible application device (1) for the high-frequency therapy of biological tissue or hollow organs, including a tubular high-frequency catheter (5) with

• • a flexible shaft tube (6) having at least one lumen passing therethrough,
  • a head electrode (2) arranged at the distal end of the high-frequency catheter (5),
  • an electric line (9) with a connection (20) for a high-frequency generator (11), and
  • a connecting element (8) arranged at the proximal end of the shaft tube (6) between the shaft tube and the line (9).

An electrically conducting traction element (12) extends in the lumen between the head electrode (2) and the connecting element (8) and is fixedly connected to the head electrode (2) on the one hand and the connecting element (8) on the other hand in such a way and which is of such a tensile strength that all external forces which occur during a treatment and which act on the high-frequency catheter (5) can be transmitted to the connecting element (8) by way of the head electrode (2) and the traction element (12).

Claims

1. A flexible application device for the high-frequency therapy of biological tissue or hollow organs, including a tubular high-frequency catheter with

a flexible shaft tube shaving at least one lumen passing therethrough,

a head electrode arranged at the distal end of the high-frequency catheter

an electric line with a connection for a high-frequency generator and

a connecting element between the shaft tube and the line,

characterised by a traction element which extends in the lumen between the head electrode and the connecting element sand which is fixedly connected to the head electrode on the one hand and the connecting element on the other hand in such a way and the cross-sectional area of which and the tensile strength of which are such that all external forces which occur during a treatment and which act on the high-frequency catheter can be transmitted to the connecting element by way of the head electrode and the traction element, wherein the traction element is electrically conducting and is electrically conductingly connected both to the head electrode and also to the connection for a high-frequency generator.

2. An application device as set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the high-frequency catheter has an electrically insulating casing which encloses the lumen.

3. An application device as set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the traction element and the connection to the head electrode is of a tensile strength in the range of between 70 and 300 N.

4. An application device as set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the traction element comprises entirely or in parts stainless steel or a conducting metal alloy.

5. An application device as set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the traction element is an internally hollow tube.

6. An application device as set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the traction element is of a diameter in the range of between 0.2 and 0.8 mm, in particular being about 0.4 mm.

7. An application device as set forth in claims 1 characterised in that the traction element is a wire.

8. An application device as set forth in claim 17 characterised in that the traction element is a braided wire which has a large number of individual filaments.

9. An application device as set forth in claim 5 characterised in that the traction element is an internally hollow tube which comprises a fluid-tight plastic material which is sheathed by an electrically conducting wire mesh or into which an electrically conducting wire mesh is incorporated.

10. An application device as set forth in claim 9 characterised in that the head electrode comprises stainless steel or a conducting metal alloy at least in a connecting region of the traction element.

11. An application device as set forth in claims 1 through 10 characterised in that the shaft tube is of an outside diameter which approximately corresponds to the outside diameter of the head electrode vat the proximal end thereof.

12. An application device as set forth in of claim 11 characterised in that the high-frequency catheter has a second proximal electrode which is electrically insulated with respect to the head electrode and which is arranged in the proximity of the distal end of the high-frequency catheter in proximal relationship with the head electrode and is electrically conductingly connected by way of a second electrically conducting feed line to a second contact location in the connecting element.

13. An application device as set forth in claim 12 characterised in that the spacing of the proximal electrode from the head electrode in the longitudinal direction of the high-frequency catheter is between 5 and 20% of the overall electrode length (total of the lengths of the distal and proximal electrodes).

14. An application device as set forth in claim 13 characterised in that the shaft tube is of an outside diameter which approximately corresponds to the outside diameter of the proximal electrode and the largest diameter of the head electrodes.

15. An application device as set forth in claim 14 characterised in that the outside diameter is less than or equal to 3.5 mm.

16. An application device as set forth in claim 15 characterised in that the length of the shaft tube His between 300 and 3000 mm.

17. An application device as set forth in claim 16 characterised in that the length of the traction element is between 300 and 3000 mm.

18. An application device as set forth in claim 17 characterised in that the outside diameter of the head electrode at the proximal end thereof is the largest diameter of the head electrode.

19. An application device as set forth in claim 18 characterised in that the application device is designed for endoluminal or interstitial-endoscopic use.

20. An application device as set forth in claim 19 characterised in that the head electrode at the distal end is shaped in the manner of a trocar tip.

21. An application device as set forth in claim 19 characterised in that the head electrode at the distal end is hemispherical.

22. An application device as set forth in claim 19 characterised in that the head electrode at the distal end terminates in a conical configuration.

23. An application device as set forth in claim 5 characterised in that an internal lumen of the traction element and a hollow space of the high-frequency catheter, that extends along the traction element, are in fluid communication with each other in the region of the distal end of the high-frequency catheter and form a closed fluid guide system (counterflow principle).

24. An application device as set forth in claim 23 characterised in that the internal lumen of the traction element is provided in the distal region with at least one transverse bore through which liquid can pass into the hollow space between the traction element and a shaft tube and can flow back to the proximal end of the high-frequency catheters.

25. An application device as set forth in claim 22 characterised in that a non-conducting flexible flushing tube is arranged over the traction element and a hollow space of the high-frequency catheters, that extends along the flushing tube, are in fluid communication with each other in the region of the distal end of the high-frequency catheter and form a closed fluid guide system (counterflow principle).

26. An application device as set forth in claim 25 characterised in that the internal lumen of the flushing tube in the distal region has an opening through which fluid can pass into the hollow space between the traction element and a shaft tube and can flow back to the proximal end of the high-frequency catheter.

27. An application device as set forth in claim 22 characterised in that provided at the distal end of the high-frequency catheter or in the proximity thereof is at least one opening which leads outwardly from a hollow space extending from the proximal end of the shaft tube to the at least one opening between the traction element and the shaft tube and allows fluid to be guided through the hollow space to the at least one opening and to be allowed to issue there.

28. An application device as set forth in claim 5 characterised in that provided at the distal end of the high-frequency catheter For in the proximity thereof is at least one opening which leads outwardly from the internal lumen of the traction element and allows fluid to be guided to the at least one opening and to be allowed to issue there.

29. An application device as set forth in claim 28 characterised in that the openings are bores or slots in the electrodes.

30. A method of operating an application device as set forth in claim 29 characterised in that an electrically conducting fluid is used.

31. A method of operating an application device as set forth in claim 29 characterised in that a therapeutically effective medicament is used as the fluid.

32. A method of operating an application device as set forth in claim 29 characterised in that a toxic substance is used as the fluid.

33. A method of operating an application device as set forth in claim 29 characterised in that a mixture of electrically conducting, therapeutically effective and toxic substances is used as the fluid.