Ablation Devices with Adjustable Radiating Section Lengths, Electrosurgical Systems Including Same, and Methods of Adjusting Ablation Fields Using Same

• US 20110238055A1
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Vivant Medical, Inc. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Kim, Steven, Rossetto, Francesca, Prakash, Mani N., Bonn, Kenlyn S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,039,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0013 non-sticking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1838 Dipole antennas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter

Abstract

An energy applicator for directing energy to tissue includes a feedline and a radiating section operably coupled to the feed line, wherein the radiating section has a length. The energy applicator also includes a length adjustment member adapted to allow for selective adjustment of the length of the radiating section. The length adjustment member includes a first pivot element and a first tensioning element coupled to the first pivot element.

Claims

1. An energy applicator for directing energy to tissue, comprising;

a feedline;

a radiating section operably coupled to the feedline, wherein the radiating section has a length; and

a length adjustment member adapted to allow for selective adjustment of the length of the radiating section, the length adjustment member including a first pivot element and a first tensioning element coupled to the first pivot element.

2. The energy applicator of claim 1, wherein the length adjustment member further includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the inner sleeve, wherein the first tensioning element is operably associated with the outer sleeve.

3. The energy applicator of claim 2, wherein the outer sleeve includes a sleeve body defining a chamber, the chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the inner sleeve.

4. The energy applicator of claim 3, further comprising a biasing member configured to fit within the chamber.

5. The energy applicator of claim 1, wherein the first pivot element is operably coupled to a first actuator to allow for automatic adjustment of an ablation field radiated into tissue by adjusting the length of the radiating section using the length adjustment member.

6. The energy applicator of claim 1, further comprising an outer conductor having a distal end spaced apart by a gap distance from a proximal end of the radiating section to define a feed point therebetween.

7. The energy applicator of claim 6, further comprising a gap adjustment member disposed proximal to the length adjustment member, the gap adjustment member adapted to allow for selective adjustment of the gap distance of the feed point.

8. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

a generator; and

an ablation device including;

a feedline;

a radiating section operably coupled to the feedline, wherein the radiating section has a length; and

a radiation field adjustment member adapted to allow for selective adjustment of the ablation field radiated about the radiating section into tissue, the radiation field adjustment member including an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the inner sleeve.

9. The electrosurgical system of claim 8, wherein the inner sleeve further includes a hollow body and an end cap adapted to close an open end of the hollow body.

10. The electrosurgical system of claim 9, wherein the end cap includes an aperture defined therein configured to allow passage of a proximal end of an inner conductor therethrough.

11. The electrosurgical system of claim 8, wherein the outer sleeve includes a sleeve body defining a chamber, the chamber configured to receive at least a portion of the inner sleeve.

12. The electrosurgical system of claim 11, wherein the outer sleeve is operably associated with a first pivot element.

13. The electrosurgical system of claim 12, wherein the first pivot element is operably coupled to a first actuator to allow for automatic adjustment of an ablation field radiated into tissue by adjusting the length of the radiating section using the length adjustment member.

14. The electrosurgical system of claim 11, further comprising a first biasing member configured to fit within the chamber.

15. The electrosurgical system of claim 14, wherein the first biasing member includes an interior open space configured to allow the inner conductor to extend distally from an outer surface of the end cap into the chamber.

16. The electrosurgical system of claim 8, wherein the length adjustment member further includes a first pivot element and a first tensioning element coupled to the first pivot element, wherein the first tensioning element is operably associated with the outer sleeve.

17. The electrosurgical system of claim 16, wherein the generator includes a processor and wherein the radiation field adjustment member further includes a first actuator electrically coupled to the processor, the first actuator operable coupled to the first pivot element, the processor adapted to control the first actuator to turn the first pivot element in at least one of a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction.

18. A method of adjusting an ablation field radiating into tissue, comprising the steps of:

providing an energy applicator including a distal radiating section having a length, the distal radiating section including a length adjustment member adapted to allow for selective adjustment of the length of the radiating section, the length adjustment member operably associated with a first pivot element;

positioning the energy applicator in tissue;

transmitting energy from an energy source through the distal radiating section to generate an ablation field radiating into tissue; and

rotating the first pivot element in at least one of a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction to adjust the length of the radiating section, thereby adjusting the ablation field radiating into tissue.

19. The method of adjusting an ablation field radiating into tissue of claim 18, wherein rotating the first pivot element in the first rotational direction shortens the length of the radiating section.

20. The method of adjusting an ablation field radiating into tissue of claim 18, wherein rotating the first pivot element in the second rotational direction lengthens the length of the distal radiating section.