Moisture transport system for contact electrocoagulation

• US 20100036372A1
• Filed: 10/19/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfonso Lawrence Ramirez, Csaba Truckai, Hilario Estela, Russel Mahlon Sampson, Stephanie Squarcia
• Original Assignee: Cytyc Surgical Products II Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Truckai, Csaba, Squarcia, Stephanie, Sampson, Russel Mahlon, Ramirez, Alfonso Lawrence, Hilario, Estela
• Granted Patent: US 8,506,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4216 Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0409 Specification of type of protection measures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/04 Protection of tissue around surgical sites against effects of non-mechanical surgery, e.g. laser surgery protection of eyes against laser radiation A61F9/022
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0427 with removable and re-insertable liner tubes, e.g. for cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0463 combined with suction tubes, catheters or the like; Outside connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0481 through the cuff wall

Abstract

An apparatus and method for use in performing ablation or coagulation of organs and other tissue includes a metallized fabric electrode array which is substantially absorbent and/or permeable to moisture and gases such as steam and conformable to the body cavity. The array includes conductive regions separated by insulated regions arranged to produce ablation to a predetermined depth. Following placement of the ablation device into contact with the tissue to be ablated, an RF generator is used to deliver RF energy to the conductive regions and to thereby induce current flow from the electrodes to tissue to be ablated. As the current heats the tissue, moisture (such as steam or liquid) leaves the tissue causing the tissue to dehydrate. Suction may be applied to facilitate moisture removal. The moisture permeability and/or absorbency of the electrode carrying member allows the moisture to leave the ablation site so as to prevent the moisture from providing a path of conductivity for the current.

Claims

1. A method of ablating walls of a hollow body organ, comprising the steps of:

providing an ablation device comprising a tubular member and a mesh electrode array carried by the tubular member;

positioning the array within a hollow body organ surrounded by walls;

applying suction through the tubular member and the mesh array to pull interior surfaces of the walls into contact with the array; and

delivering ablation energy through the array to the walls while continuing to apply suction through the tubular member.

2. The method of claim 32, wherein the delivering step causes moisture to be released from the tissue, and wherein the method includes applying the suction during the delivering step to carry released moisture away from the walls and through the tubular member.

3. The method of claim 33, wherein the suction substantially prevents the released moisture from creating a layer of liquid which can provide an electrically conductive pathway between electrodes in the array.

4. The method of claim 32, wherein the body organ includes an opening, wherein the positioning step includes extending the tubular member through the opening, and wherein the method further comprises the step of substantially sealing the opening around the tubular member.

5. The method of claim 35, wherein the body organ is a uterus and wherein the opening is a cervical opening.

6. The method of claim 32, wherein the providing step further provides the array to comprise a bipolar array of electrodes and wherein the delivering step delivers RF energy to the bipolar array.

7. The method of claim 32, wherein the applying step causes the walls to at least partially collapse into contact with the array.