ELECTRICAL ABLATION DEVICES

• US 20110098704A1
• Filed: 10/28/2009
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Vakharia, Omar J., Long, Gary L., Plescia, David N.
• Application Number:
  US12/607,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20110098704A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• 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 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/08 Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation

Abstract

An electrical ablation apparatus comprises first and second electrodes. Each electrode comprises a first end configured to couple an energy source and a second end configured to couple to a tissue treatment region. An energy source is coupled to the first and second electrodes. At least one electrode is movable between a first position and a second position. A first necrotic zone having a first shape is created when the electrodes are energized in the first position and a second necrotic zone having a second shape is created when the electrodes are energized in the second position. At least one electrode may be pre-formed with a radius.

Claims

1. An electrical ablation apparatus, comprising:

first and second electrodes, each electrode comprising a first end configured to couple to an energy source and a second end configured to couple to a tissue treatment region;

wherein the first electrode is movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the second electrode;

wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to induce a zone of cell necrosis in a first shape when the first electrode is in the first position; and

wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to induce a zone of necrosis in a second shape when the first electrode is in the second position.

2. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a third electrode;

a first lumen configured to receive the first electrode;

a second lumen configured to receive the second electrode; and

a third lumen configured to receive the third electrode.

3. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first electrode is pre-formed with a radius and rotatable within the first lumen and the third electrode is pre-formed with a radius and rotatable with the third lumen.

4. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first, second, and third lumens each have a distal end comprising a cutting edge.

5. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an elongate sheath; and

a sleeve at least partially surrounding the elongate sheath, wherein the sleeve comprises the second electrode.

6. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first electrode is deployable from a distal end of the elongate sheath and pre-formed with a radius.

7. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first electrode is rotatable within the elongate sheath.

8. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first elongate sheath;

a second elongate sheath; and

third and fourth electrodes, each electrode comprising a first end configured to couple to the energy source and a second end configured to couple to the tissue treatment region;

wherein the first and second electrodes are deployable from the first elongate sheath and the third and fourth electrodes are deployable from the second elongate sheath.

9. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first and third electrodes each are pre-formed with a radius.

10. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first elongate sheath and the second elongate sheath are substantially parallel.

11. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid nozzle configured to deploy a fluid to bore a path in the tissue treatment region using a fluid, wherein the first electrode is configured to couple to the fluid in the path.

12. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 11, wherein the fluid nozzle is movable.

13. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of fluid nozzles.

14. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an elongate shaft, wherein the first electrode is slidably engaged with the elongate sheath.

15. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second electrode comprises a distal electrode and a proximal electrode each disposed along the elongate shaft.

16. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first electrode is disposed on the elongate shaft intermediate the distal electrode and the proximal electrode.

17. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a first insulator disposed on the elongate shaft intermediate the distal electrode and the first electrode; and

a second insulator disposed on the elongate shaft intermediate the first electrode and the proximal electrode.

18. An electrical ablation system, comprising:

first and second electrodes, each electrode comprising a first end configured to couple to an energy source and a second end configured to couple to a tissue treatment region, wherein the first electrode is movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the second electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to induce a zone of cell necrosis in a first shape when the first electrode is in the first position, and wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to induce a zone of necrosis in a second shape when the first electrode is in the second position;

a first lumen configured to receive the first electrode;

a second lumen configured to receive the second electrode;

an alignment guide defining a passageway, wherein the passageway is configured to receive the first and second lumens; and

a handle coupled to the first and second lumens, wherein the handle is configured to rotatably move the first electrode from the first position to the second position.

19. The electrical ablation system of claim 18, wherein the alignment guide comprises a plurality of position indicators positioned proximate to the passageway.

20. An electrical ablation apparatus, comprising:

first and second electrodes, each electrode comprising a first end configured to couple to an energy source and a second end configured to couple to a tissue treatment region;

wherein the first electrode is movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the second electrode;

wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to induce a zone of cell necrosis in a first shape when the first electrode is in the first position;

wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to induce a zone of necrosis in a second shape when the first electrode is in the second position; and

wherein a distance between the first and second electrodes is adjustable by rotating at least one of the first and second electrodes about a central axis of the at least one of the first and second electrodes.