Electro-thermotherapy of tissue using penetrating microelectrode array

• US 20100198216A1
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Palanker, Daniel V.
• Granted Patent: US 9,254,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation

Abstract

Electrosurgical therapy is provided with an electrode array configured to ablate tissue during insertion of the electrode array into tissue being treated. Once the electrode array is fully inserted, deep heating of the treated tissue can be performed by applying an additional waveform to the tissue with the electrode array. Optionally, the electrical waveform can be varied continuously during insertion of the electrode array to control the extent of coagulation at the side walls and at the bottom of the channels produced by tissue ablation.

Claims

1. Apparatus for electrosurgery, the apparatus comprising:

an array of two or more protruding treatment electrodes; and

an electrical source connected to said array of protruding treatment electrodes;

wherein said electrical source is configured such that said protruding treatment electrodes are energized by an electrosurgical waveform during insertion of said protruding treatment electrodes into said tissue, and such that plasma-mediated interactions at said protruding treatment electrodes ablate part of said tissue during said insertion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to provide an additional waveform to said array of treatment electrodes for deep tissue heating after insertion of said array of treatment electrodes is complete.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to vary the electrosurgical waveform continuously during insertion of said array of treatment electrodes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said treatment electrodes are needles having a length in a range 0.1 mm to 2 mm and having a diameter in a range from 0.03 mm to 0.5 mm.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein sides of said needles are partially or completely insulated.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said plasma-mediated interactions occur at tips of said needles.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more return electrodes.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said one or more return electrodes comprise a pad electrode at a treatment site.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said one or more return electrodes comprise a return electrode disposed peripherally to said array of protruding treatment electrodes.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said one or more return electrodes comprise an array of protruding return electrode mingled with said array of protruding treatment electrodes.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said array of protruding treatment electrodes is one-dimensional or two-dimensional.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to provide skin treatment.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to provide a pulse repetition rate of said electrosurgical waveform of 10 kHz or less.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to provide a pulse duration of said electrosurgical waveform of 10 μ

s to 1000 μ

s.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said apparatus is configured to provide a pulse duration of said electrosurgical waveform of 20 μ

s to 200 μ

s.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to simultaneously energize electrodes in said array of protruding treatment electrodes.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to sequentially energize electrodes in said array of protruding treatment electrodes.

18. A method for electrosurgery, the method comprising:

providing an array of two or more protruding treatment electrodes;

inserting said protruding treatment electrodes into tissue while said protruding treatment electrodes are energized by an electrosurgical waveform such that plasma-mediated interactions at said protruding treatment electrodes ablate part of said tissue while said protruding treatment electrodes are being inserted into said tissue.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing an additional electrosurgical waveform to said array of treatment electrodes for deep tissue heating after insertion of said array of treatment electrodes is complete.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said electrosurgical waveform is varied continuously during said inserting.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said tissue is skin tissue.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein a pulse repetition rate of said electrosurgical waveform is 10 kHz or less.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein a pulse duration of said electrosurgical waveform is in a range from 10 μ

s to 1000 μ

s.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein a pulse duration of said electrosurgical waveform is in a range from 20 μ

s to 200 μ

s.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein said treatment electrodes are energized simultaneously.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein said treatment electrodes are energized sequentially.