ULTRASOUND ABLATION APPARATUS WITH DISCRETE STAGGERED ABLATION ZONES
First Claim
1. An ablation apparatus comprising an ultrasonic transducer which includes:
- a piezoelectric element having a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis, an inner surface facing inwardly toward the longitudinal axis, and an outer surface facing outwardly away from the longitudinal axis;
a plurality of external electrodes disposed on the outer surface of the piezoelectric element; and
at least one internal electrode disposed on the inner surface of the piezoelectric element;
wherein the at least one internal electrode provides corresponding internal electrode portions that are disposed opposite the plurality of external electrodes with respect to the piezoelectric element, the external electrodes and the at least one internal electrode to be energized to apply an electric field across the piezoelectric element between the external electrodes and the corresponding internal electrode portions, so as to produce ultrasonic ablation zones extending from the energized external electrodes outwardly away from the longitudinal axis; and
wherein the ultrasonic ablation zones of the external electrodes are distributed in a staggered configuration so as to span one or more open arc segments around the longitudinal axis, and the ultrasound ablation zones of all the external electrodes projected longitudinally onto any lateral plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis span a substantially closed loop around the longitudinal axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ablation apparatus comprises an ultrasonic transducer which includes a piezoelectric element having a cylindrical shape; a plurality of external electrodes disposed on the outer surface of the piezoelectric element; and at least one internal electrode disposed on the inner surface of the piezoelectric element. The at least one internal electrode provides corresponding internal electrode portions that are disposed opposite the external electrodes with respect to the piezoelectric element, the external electrodes and the at least one internal electrode to be energized to apply an electric field across the piezoelectric element. The ultrasonic ablation zones of the external electrodes are distributed in a staggered configuration so as to span one or more open arc segments around the longitudinal axis, and the ultrasound ablation zones of all external electrodes projected longitudinally onto any lateral plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis span a substantially closed loop around the longitudinal axis.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ablation apparatus comprising an ultrasonic transducer which includes:
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a piezoelectric element having a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis, an inner surface facing inwardly toward the longitudinal axis, and an outer surface facing outwardly away from the longitudinal axis; a plurality of external electrodes disposed on the outer surface of the piezoelectric element; and at least one internal electrode disposed on the inner surface of the piezoelectric element; wherein the at least one internal electrode provides corresponding internal electrode portions that are disposed opposite the plurality of external electrodes with respect to the piezoelectric element, the external electrodes and the at least one internal electrode to be energized to apply an electric field across the piezoelectric element between the external electrodes and the corresponding internal electrode portions, so as to produce ultrasonic ablation zones extending from the energized external electrodes outwardly away from the longitudinal axis; and wherein the ultrasonic ablation zones of the external electrodes are distributed in a staggered configuration so as to span one or more open arc segments around the longitudinal axis, and the ultrasound ablation zones of all the external electrodes projected longitudinally onto any lateral plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis span a substantially closed loop around the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An ablation apparatus comprising a body have an axis and an ultrasonic transducer connected to the body, the ultrasonic transducer including:
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a piezoelectric element coupled to the body, the piezoelectric element having a hollow interior, an inner surface facing the hollow interior, and an outer surface facing outwardly away from the hollow interior; a plurality of external electrodes disposed on the outer surface of the piezoelectric element; and at least one internal electrode disposed on the inner surface of the piezoelectric element; wherein the at least one internal electrode provides corresponding internal electrode portions that correspond to the plurality of external electrodes, the external electrodes and the at least one internal electrode to be energized to apply an electric field across the piezoelectric element between the external electrodes and the corresponding internal electrode portions, so as to produce ultrasonic ablation zones extending from the energized external electrodes outwardly away from the hollow interior; and wherein the ultrasonic ablation zones of the external electrodes are distributed in a staggered configuration so as to span one or more open arc segments around the axis of the body, and the ultrasound ablation zones of all the external electrodes projected longitudinally onto any lateral plane which is perpendicular to the axis of the body span a substantially closed loop around the axis of the body. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification