METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR TISSUE TREATMENT

• US 20130006228A1
• Filed: 09/11/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel J. Balbierz, Robert M. Pearson, Theododre C. Johnson
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Balbierz, Robert M. Pearson, Theododre C. Johnson
• Inventors: Balbierz, Daniel J., Pearson, Robert M., Johnson, Theododre C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,540,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00654 with individual control of each of a plurality of energy emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1273 including multiple generators in one device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/128 generating two or more frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1497 Electrodes covering only part of the probe circumference
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application are devices for localized delivery of energy and methods of using such devices, particularly for therapeutic treatment of biological tissues. The disclosed methods may involve positioning and deploying the energy delivery members in a target site, and delivering energy through the energy delivery members. The disclosed devices may also be used to create a tissue tract within a biological tissue and to ablate the tissue tract.

Claims

1. A method of ablating a tissue tract, comprising:

providing an energy delivery member configured for insertion into a target tissue;

inserting the delivery member into a target tissue;

forming a tissue tract at least partially positioned in the target tissue using the delivery member;

moving the delivery member along the formed tissue tract; and

using the energy delivery member to deliver energy to the tissue tract to ablate at least a portion of the formed tissue tract.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises withdrawing the delivery member during the step of moving the delivery member.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises advancing the delivery member during the step of moving the delivery member.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises withdrawing the delivery member along the formed tissue tract while ablating the formed tissue tract.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises delivering electrical energy in the form of electrical pulses sufficient to electroporate substantially all tumor reds along the formed tract while leaving tissue surrounding the tumor cells substantially unchanged.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises delivering radiofrequency energy during the step of delivering energy.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises delivering microwave energy during the step of delivering energy.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises delivering laser energy during the step of delivering energy.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises selectively delivering varying amounts of energy to different portions of the tissue tract during the step of delivering energy.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises ablating substantially all tumor cells that are present along the tissue tract.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises delivering energy in the form of electrical energy in a monopolar mode during the step of delivery energy.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises delivering energy in the form of electrical energy in a bipolar mode during the step of delivering energy.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises monitoring and altering the delivery of the energy to the tissue tract during the step of delivering energy to ensure that no living malignant tissue is re-seeded along the tract upon withdrawal of the energy delivery device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises continuously withdrawing the energy delivery device along the tissue tract during ablation of the tissue tract.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises delivering a fluid to the tissue tract.

16. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises removing aspirated tissue from the tissue tract.