RF Tissue Modulation Devices and Methods of Using the Same

• US 20110276113A1
• Filed: 04/12/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trice Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trice Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Cybulski, James S.
• Application Number:
  US13/085,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20110276113A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/101
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/042 using additional gas becoming plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00208 actively driven, e.g. by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00922 by switching or controlling the treatment energy directly within the hand-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1213 creating an arc
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/122 ionizing, with corona
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1266 with DC current output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1273 including multiple generators in one device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/372 Details of monitor hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras

Abstract

Minimally invasive RF tissue modulation devices are provided. In some aspects, the devices include a hand-held control unit and an elongated member. The hand-held control unit includes an electrical energy source and the elongated member has a proximal end operably coupling to the hand-held control unit. The RF tissue modulation device is configured to generate a plasma at a distal end plasma generator for a therapeutic duration. In some aspects, RF tissue modulation devices are provided and include an adapter that operably couples to a hand-held medical device. The adapter generates RF energy for delivery to a plasma generator on an elongated member. Methods of delivering the RF energy to the internal target tissue site are also provided.

Claims

1. A minimally invasive RF tissue modulation device, the device comprising:

(a) a hand-held control unit comprising an electrical energy source; and

(b) an elongated member having a proximal end operably coupled to the hand-held control unit and a minimally-dimensioned distal end comprising a plasma generator;

wherein the device is configured to generate a plasma at the plasma generator for a therapeutic duration.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a voltage converter, a charge accumulator and an RF signal generator collectively operably coupling the electrical energy source to the plasma generator.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the RF signal generator comprises a power amplifier and an RF clock source.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the voltage converter is configured to receive a first signal from the charge accumulator and to output a second signal to the RF signal generator.

8. The device according to claim 3, wherein the charge accumulator is configured to receive a first signal from the voltage converter and to output a second signal to the RF signal generator.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical energy source comprises one or more batteries.

10. The device according to claim 2, wherein the voltage converter is a DC to DC converter.

11. The device according to claim 2, wherein the charge accumulator comprises a single capacitor.

12. The device according to claim 2, wherein the charge accumulator comprises a set of two or more capacitor pairs.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the device comprises a demultiplexer configured to produce a modulated signal output from the set.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein each capacitor pair of the set is coupled to the demultiplexer by a transistor.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the transistor is a bipolar junction transistor.

17. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a band pass filter.

18. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a tuner.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the therapeutic duration is 1 second or longer.

21. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to have a minimum recharge period between plasma generation.

23. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plasma generator is configured to produce a plasma arc between a first conductive member positioned inside of the distal end of the elongated member and an outer surface of the elongated member.

32. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated member is configured to be detachable from the hand-held control unit.

33. A method of delivering RF energy to an internal target tissue site of a subject, the method comprising:

(a) positioning the distal end of an elongated member of a device according to claim 1 at the internal target tissue site of a subject; and

(b) generating a plasma from the plasma generator to deliver RF energy to the internal target tissue site of the subject.

4-5. -5. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

24-31. -31. (canceled)

34-37. -37. (canceled)

38. An adapter comprising:

an electrical energy source; and

a voltage converter;

a charge accumulator; and

an RF signal generator.

39-76. -76. (canceled)