RADIO FREQUENCY ABLATION DEVICE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF TISSUE MASSES
First Claim
1. An ablation instrument, comprising:
- (a) an elongated cannula having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said cannula defining an internal lumen within said cannula and said cannula defining a cannula axis;
(b) at least one conductor extending along at least a portion of the length of said lumen, said conductor having a proximal portion proximate the proximal portion of said cannula, and a distal portion proximate the distal portion of said cannula;
(c) a plurality of ablation stylets each having a proximal portion and a distal portion, each of said stylets coupled at the respective proximal portion of each of said stylets to the distal portion of said conductor, said stylets comprising a resiliently deflectable material said conductor together with said stylets being mounted for axial movement along at least a portion of said conductor and stylets, said ablation stylets having a substantially straight configuration in the absence of the application of external forces;
(d) a head positioned proximate to the distal portion of said cannula, said head being secured proximate the distal portion of said cannula, said head having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and said distal portion of said head comprising a head end; and
(e) deflection surfaces positioned between said head end and said proximal portion of said cannula, said deflection surface being positioned closer to said head end, the deflection surfaces each being configured and positioned, in response to axial movement of said stylets, to deflect at least some of said stylets laterally and only outwardly along paths which extend away from said cannula axis causing said stylets to exit said deflection surfaces and move along substantially straight external paths external to said cannula and head, deflection by said deflection surfaces achieving most of the deflection in the path of the stylets.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The inventive ablation element comprises an elongated cannula having a proximal end and a distal end. The cannula defines an internal lumen within the cannula and a cannula axis. A plurality of conductors contained within the lumen, each of the conductors has a proximal end proximate the proximal end of the cannula, and a distal end proximate the distal end of the cannula. A plurality of ablation stylets each has a proximal end and a distal end, and each coupled at the respective proximal end of the stylet to the distal end of a respective conductor, the stylets comprise a deflectable material, the conductors together with their respective stylets being mounted for axial movement. A trocar point defined proximate the distal end of the cannula.
64 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An ablation instrument, comprising:
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(a) an elongated cannula having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said cannula defining an internal lumen within said cannula and said cannula defining a cannula axis; (b) at least one conductor extending along at least a portion of the length of said lumen, said conductor having a proximal portion proximate the proximal portion of said cannula, and a distal portion proximate the distal portion of said cannula; (c) a plurality of ablation stylets each having a proximal portion and a distal portion, each of said stylets coupled at the respective proximal portion of each of said stylets to the distal portion of said conductor, said stylets comprising a resiliently deflectable material said conductor together with said stylets being mounted for axial movement along at least a portion of said conductor and stylets, said ablation stylets having a substantially straight configuration in the absence of the application of external forces; (d) a head positioned proximate to the distal portion of said cannula, said head being secured proximate the distal portion of said cannula, said head having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and said distal portion of said head comprising a head end; and (e) deflection surfaces positioned between said head end and said proximal portion of said cannula, said deflection surface being positioned closer to said head end, the deflection surfaces each being configured and positioned, in response to axial movement of said stylets, to deflect at least some of said stylets laterally and only outwardly along paths which extend away from said cannula axis causing said stylets to exit said deflection surfaces and move along substantially straight external paths external to said cannula and head, deflection by said deflection surfaces achieving most of the deflection in the path of the stylets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14)
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12. An ablation element, comprising:
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(a) an elongated cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, said cannula defining an internal lumen within said cannula and a cannula axis; (b) a conductor contained within said lumen, said conductor having a proximal end proximate the proximal end of said cannula, and a distal end proximate the distal end of said cannula; (c) a plurality of ablation stylets each having a proximal end and a distal end, and each coupled to the conductor, said stylets comprising a deflectable material said conductor together with said stylets being mounted for axial movement; (d) a stylet mechanical drive member coupled to said ablation stylets; (e) a front end proximate the distal end of said cannula; (f) an anchor mounted for movement between an internal position disposed substantially within said trocar surface and an anchoring position extending laterally and/or rearwardly away from said front end and from said trocar surface through points external of said lumen; and (g) an anchor drive member separate from said stylet mechanical drive member, said anchor drive member disposed within said lumen and coupled to said anchor to drive said anchor between said internal position and said anchoring position, wherein said anchor comprises at least two pointed members mounted for movement in directions which have vector components which extend away from the axis of said cannula and away from each other. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An ablation element, comprising:
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(a) an elongated cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, said cannula defining an internal lumen within said cannula and a cannula axis; (b) a conductor contained within said lumen, said conductor having a proximal end, and a distal end proximate the distal end of said cannula; (c) a plurality of ablation stylets each having a proximal end and a distal end, and each coupled to said conductor, said stylets comprising a resiliently deflectable material said conductors together with their respective stylets being mounted for axial movement; (d) a head member defined proximate the distal end of said cannula; and (e) a deflection surface comprising a bending surface and a counter surface, positioned between said head member and said proximal end of said cannula, the bending surface being configured and positioned to deflect, in response to axial movement of said stylets in a direction from said proximal end of said cannula to said distal end of said cannula, at least some of said stylets laterally with respect to said cannula axis in different directions along substantially straight paths, said paths defining an ablation volume, the region of contact between a particular one of said stylets and said bending surface being separated from the region of contact between said particular one of said stylets and said counter surface.
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Specification