METHODS AND DEVICES FOR HEATING FLUID IN FLUID ENHANCED ABLATION THERAPY
First Claim
1. An ablation device, comprising:
- an elongate body havingproximal and distal ends,an inner lumen extending through the elongate body, andat least one outlet port formed in the elongate body configured to deliver fluid to tissue surrounding the elongate body;
at least one wire extending through the inner lumen, the at least one wire being configured to heat fluid flowing through the inner lumen; and
at least one spacer disposed within the inner lumen, the at least one wire extending through the at least one spacer such that the at least one spacer is effective to maintain an adjacent portion of the at least one wire in a substantially fixed geometric relationship with the inner lumen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for efficiently and reproducibly heating fluid for use in fluid enhanced ablation are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an ablation device is provided having an elongate body, at least one wire extending through an inner lumen of the elongate body, and at least one spacer disposed within the inner lumen. The at least one wire extends through the at least one spacer such that the at least one spacer is effective to maintain an adjacent portion of the at least one wire in a substantially fixed geometric relationship with the inner lumen, thereby preventing electrical shorts and providing for the consistent and uniform heating of fluid flowing through the inner lumen of the elongate body.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An ablation device, comprising:
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an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending through the elongate body, and at least one outlet port formed in the elongate body configured to deliver fluid to tissue surrounding the elongate body; at least one wire extending through the inner lumen, the at least one wire being configured to heat fluid flowing through the inner lumen; and at least one spacer disposed within the inner lumen, the at least one wire extending through the at least one spacer such that the at least one spacer is effective to maintain an adjacent portion of the at least one wire in a substantially fixed geometric relationship with the inner lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of ablating tissue, comprising:
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inserting an elongate body into a tissue mass; delivering fluid through an inner lumen of the elongate body, the fluid flowing through at least one outlet port in the elongate body and into the tissue mass; and delivering energy through at least one wire extending through the inner lumen to heat the fluid within the lumen to a predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for manufacturing a plurality of ablation devices, comprising:
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forming a first ablation device by positioning a first heating assembly within a first elongate body, the first heating assembly having at least one wire extending through at least one spacer; and forming a second ablation device by positioning a second heating assembly within a second elongate body, the second heating assembly having at least one wire extending through at least one spacer; wherein an electrical resistance of the first heating assembly is substantially identical to an electrical resistance of the second heating assembly.
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27. An ablation device, comprising:
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an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending through the elongate body, and at least one outlet port formed in the elongate body configured to deliver fluid to tissue surrounding the elongate body; a heating assembly comprising at least two wires extending through the inner lumen, the at least two wires being configured to heat fluid flowing through the inner lumen; and at least one spacer disposed within the inner lumen, the at least two wires extending through the at least one spacer such that the at least one spacer is effective to maintain the at least two wires in a substantially fixed geometric relationship with each other. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification