MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS AND TECHNIQUES FOR THERMALLY-MEDIATED THERAPIES

• US 20100160905A1
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tsunami MedTech, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tsunami MedTech, LLC
• Inventors: SHADDUCK, John H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,433,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• 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 18/042 using additional gas becoming plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00504 Tissue welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00955 thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/046 in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/048 in gaseous form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00

Abstract

A surgical instrument for thermally-mediated therapies in targeted tissue volumes and for causing thermal effects in polymer tissue-contacting members. In one embodiment, the instrument has a working end with an interior chamber that is supplied with a biocompatible liquid. An energy source causes a liquid-to-vapor phase change within the interior of the instrument. The vapor phase media then is ejected from the working surface of the instrument, and a controlled vapor-to-liquid phase change in an interface with tissue applies thermal energy substantially equal to the heat of vaporization to ablate tissue. The vapor-to-liquid phase transitions, or internal energy releases, can be provided about thin-film flexible structures for engaging body lumens and cavities. An exemplary embodiment can be used for shrinking, sealing, welding or creating lesions in tissue—while causing limited collateral thermal damage and while totally eliminating electrical current flow in the engaged tissue.

Claims

1. A surgical thermally-mediated therapy for treating tissue comprising causing a controlled vapor-to-liquid phase state change of a selected media in a tissue site by causing a sufficient amount of energy to conduct through the selected media when contained within an instrument such that the selected media increases in volume causing pressurized ejection of the selected media from the instrument into the tissue site thereby applying thermal energy substantially equal to the heat of vaporization of the media to said tissue site.