Vacuum Ablation Apparatus and Method
First Claim
1. A method for electrically ablating a target tissue, comprising:
- positioning a probe assembly in or near the target tissue to be ablated, wherein the probe assembly comprises a probe having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface; and
a deployable structure having an inner surface, wherein at least a portion of the deployable structure surrounds at least a portion of the outer surface of the probe;
positioning the deployable structure near the target tissue;
applying suction to at least a portion of the probe assembly; and
applying electrical energy to the probe to electrically ablate the tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Ablation devices and associated methods are provided for use in ablating a target tissue, such as a cystic lesion. The ablation apparatus includes an integral or connected elongate probe and a deployable structure that is axially slidable along the outer surface of the electrode. The electrode can be disposed at the probe'"'"'s distal end region for ablating tissue when the electrode(s) are activated to create an ablated margin of tissue at least partially surrounding the target tissue. Suction can be applied with a vacuum source operably connected to the proximal end region of the deployable structure. A target tissue, such as a cystic lesion, can be drawn against the surface of the electrical probe.
59 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for electrically ablating a target tissue, comprising:
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positioning a probe assembly in or near the target tissue to be ablated, wherein the probe assembly comprises a probe having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer surface; and
a deployable structure having an inner surface, wherein at least a portion of the deployable structure surrounds at least a portion of the outer surface of the probe;positioning the deployable structure near the target tissue; applying suction to at least a portion of the probe assembly; and applying electrical energy to the probe to electrically ablate the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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21. A method for electrically ablating a target tissue, comprising:
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positioning a probe in or near a tissue to be ablated, wherein the probe comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least one opening is positioned at the distal end of the probe, and wherein at least one electrode is aligned with the at least one opening; applying suction at the at least one opening of the positioned probe to draw at least a portion of the tissue to be ablated into contact with the at least one opening of the probe; and applying electrical energy through the at least one electrode to electrically ablate the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. A probe assembly comprising a probe having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer surface, and a tissue contacting surface, wherein the tissue contacting surface comprises a deployable structure, wherein at least a portion of the deployable structure surrounds at least a portion of the outer surface of the probe, wherein the deployable structure is configured to be fixed to the outer surface of the probe and the tissue.
Specification