ENDOMETRIAL ABLATION DEVICES AND SYSTEMS
First Claim
1. A system for endometrial ablation comprising:
- a thin dielectric wall at least partially surrounding an interior chamber and havinga shape for positioning in a uterine cavity;
a gas source configured to deliver a non-conductive gas into the interior chamber;
a first polarity electrode exposed to the interior chamber;
a second polarity electrode external to the interior chamber for contacting patient tissue; and
a radiofrequency energy source coupled to the first and second polarity electrodes for providing a voltage sufficient to convert the non-conductive gas to a plasma and to capacitively couple current across the dielectric wall to endometrial tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for endometrial ablation. The systems include a handle and elongated introducer sleeve extending to an expandable working end having a fluid-tight interior chamber. A thin dielectric wall surrounds at least a portion of the interior chamber and has an external surface for contacting endometrial tissue. The thin dielectric wall surrounds a collapsible-expandable frame and receives an electrically non-conductive gas. First and second polarity electrodes are exposed to the interior and exterior of the chamber, respectively. A radiofrequency power source operatively connects to the electrode arrangement to apply a radiofrequency voltage across the first and second electrodes, wherein the voltage is sufficient to initiate ionization of the neutral gas into a conductive plasma within the interior chamber, and to capacitively couple the current in the plasma across the thin dielectric wall to ablate endometrial tissue engaged by the external surface of the dielectric structure.
151 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A system for endometrial ablation comprising:
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a thin dielectric wall at least partially surrounding an interior chamber and having a shape for positioning in a uterine cavity; a gas source configured to deliver a non-conductive gas into the interior chamber; a first polarity electrode exposed to the interior chamber; a second polarity electrode external to the interior chamber for contacting patient tissue; and a radiofrequency energy source coupled to the first and second polarity electrodes for providing a voltage sufficient to convert the non-conductive gas to a plasma and to capacitively couple current across the dielectric wall to endometrial tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An endometrial ablation device comprising:
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an elongated introducer having a handle end and a working end; an expandable dielectric wall carried at the working end, defining an interior chamber, and configured, when expanded, to contact endometrial tissue; a gas source for flowing a neutral gas into the interior chamber; and first and second polarity electrodes disposed internal and external to the interior chamber, respectively; wherein, when the dielectric wall is expanded to contact endometrial tissue, application of a radiofrequency voltage across the first and second polarity electrodes when a neutral gas is within the interior chamber causes a plasma to form and capacitively couple current across the dielectric wall to ablate endometrial tissue. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification