METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COAGULATING AND/OR CONSTRICTING HOLLOW ANATOMICAL STRUCTURES

• US 20110144642A1
• Filed: 11/01/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Mirizzi, Michael S., Jones, Christopher Scott, Zikorus, Arthur W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,083,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00095 high, i.e. heat conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/126 for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/123 using a flexible balloon containing the thermal element
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1072 having balloons with two or more compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters

Abstract

An energy delivering probe is used for thermally coagulating and/or constricting hollow anatomical structures (HAS) including, but not limited to, blood vessels such as perforator veins. The probe includes a shaft and at least two electrodes where at least one of the electrodes has a generally spherical or toroidal geometry.

Claims

1-77. -77. (canceled)

78. A method of constricting a hollow anatomical structure (HAS), the method comprising:

employing a bipolar electrode probe, the probe comprising;

an elongate shaft having an elongate axis, a proximal shaft end and a distal shaft end;

a first electrode disposed near the distal shaft end;

a second electrode spaced axially from the first electrode and located distal of the first electrode along the elongate axis, the second electrode having a smaller radial profile than the first electrode such that the second electrode does not extend as far radially from the elongate axis as the first electrode; and

an electrical connector near the proximal end of the shaft for connecting the first and second electrodes to opposite poles of an electrosurgical power supply;

inserting the distal shaft end, including the first and second electrodes, into a lumen of the HAS; and

applying energy to the HAS with the electrodes to thereby constrict the HAS.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein the HAS comprises a perforator vein.

80. The method of claim 78, wherein the shaft is flexible.

81. The method of claim 78, wherein applying energy to the HAS heats the HAS.

82. The method of claim 81, further comprising monitoring temperature in a vicinity of the electrodes.

83. The method of claim 82, further comprising modulating power supplied to the electrodes in response to the temperature.

84. The method of claim 78, wherein at least the second electrode is tapered at a leading end.

85. The method of claim 78, wherein inserting the distal shaft end into the HAS lumen comprises introducing the probe through an introducer cannula.

86. The method of claim 78, wherein inserting the distal shaft end into the HAS lumen comprises introducing the probe over a guidewire.

87. The method of claim 78, wherein the second electrode is generally spherical or toroidal.

88. A method of constricting a hollow anatomical structure (HAS), the method comprising:

employing a bipolar electrode probe, the probe comprising;

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first electrode disposed near the shaft distal end; and

a second electrode spaced axially from the first electrode and located distally of the first electrode, the second electrode having a larger maximum cross section, in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the probe, than does the first electrode;

inserting the distal shaft end, including the first and second electrodes, into a lumen of the HAS; and

applying energy to the HAS with the electrodes to thereby constrict the HAS.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the HAS comprises a perforator vein.

90. The method of claim 88, wherein the shaft is flexible.

91. The method of claim 88, wherein applying energy to the HAS heats the HAS.

92. The method of claim 91, further comprising monitoring temperature in a vicinity of the electrodes.

93. The method of claim 92, further comprising modulating power supplied to the electrodes in response to the temperature.

94. The method of claim 88, wherein at least the second electrode is tapered at a leading end.

95. The method of claim 88, wherein inserting the distal shaft end into the HAS lumen comprises introducing the probe through an introducer cannula.

96. The method of claim 88, wherein inserting the distal shaft end into the HAS lumen comprises introducing the probe over a guidewire.

97. The method of claim 88, wherein the second electrode is generally spherical or toroidal.