Radio frequency surgical tool and method

• US 5,019,076 A
• Filed: 12/07/1989
• Issued: 05/28/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arun-Angelo Patil, William S. Yamanashi
• Original Assignee: Arun-Angelo Patil, William S. Yamanashi
• Inventors: Yamanashi, William S., Patil, Arun-Angelo
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/449,110
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 606/33, 606/41, 606/45, 606/49, 128/804, 128/422, 128/1.5
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0066 without feedback, i.e. open loop control

Abstract

A surgical tool and method of surgical treatment involving a radio frequency source (e.g., 13.0 to 28.0 MHz) creating an electromagnetic field in the vicinity of tissue to be surgically treated and a grounded, tuned, electromagnetic field focusing probe that focuses the electromagnetic field energy at the tip of the probe, thus instantaneously vaporizing, cutting and cauterizing the tissue in contact with the probe tip. Such a surgical tool is capable of creating a virtually bloodless, micro-thin incision as well as selectively coagulating body fluids (e.g., blood) and as such, is particularly useful in neuro, oncological and vascular surgery.

Claims

1. A method of surgical treatment comprising the steps of:

(a) creating an electromagnetic field in the vicinity of tissue to be surgically treated; and

(b) touching the tissue to be surgically treated with the exposed metal tip of a grounded electric current tunable electromagnetic field focusing probe such as to instantaneously vaporize the tissue being contacted by the metal tip and producing simultaneously a cutting and cauterizing effect.

2. A method of surgical treatment comprising the steps of:

(a) creating an electromagnetic field in the vicinity of tissue to be surgically treated;

(b) touching the tissue to be surgically treated with the exposed metal tip of a grounded electric current tunable electromagnetic field focusing probe such as to instantaneously vaporize the tissue being contacted by the metal tip and producing simultaneously a cutting and cauterizing effect; and

(c) removing the vaporized tissue from the region of the surgical treatment by applying a vacuum near the metal tip of said grounded electromagnetic field focusing probe.

3. A surgical tool comprising:

(a) a radio frequency source means for creating an electromagnetic field in the vicinity of tissue to be surgically treated; and

(b) an electromagnetic field focusing probe means having a tip focusing the radio frequency energy produced by said radio frequency source means at the region of the tissue making contact with the tip of said electromagnetic field focusing probe means such that the tissue being contacted is instantaneously vaporized, producing simultaneously a cutting and/or cauterizing effect, said probe means being a conductive metal probe covered with an insulating sheath wherein the tip of the conductive metal probe is exposed at one end such as to allow the tip to make contact with the tissue to be surgically treated and wherein the other end of the conductive metal probe is electrically grounded;

(d) a current monitor means for measuring the electrical current induced in the conductive metal probe; and

(e) a vacuum tube means adjacent to said conductive metal probe and terminating near the tip of said conductive metal probe such as to remove vaporized tissue during use of said surgical tool.

4. A surgical tool comprising:

a radio frequency source means for creating an electromagnetic field in the vicinity of tissue to be surgically treated, wherein said radio frequency source means comprises;

(a) a signal generator means for producing an oscillating electrical signal of a pre-selected frequency;

(b) an amplifier means connected to said signal generating means for amplifying the oscillating electrical signal;

(c) a meter means for monitoring the amplified oscillating electrical signal output;

(d) an inductive applicator means;

(e) an impedance matching means for adjusting the impedance of said amplified oscillating electrical signal output to said inductive applicator means, for inducing the electromagnetic field in the vicinity of the tissue to be surgically treated;

(f) an electromagnetic field focusing probe means, having a tip for focusing the radio frequency energy produced by said radio frequency source means at the region of the tissue making contact with the tip of said electromagnetic field focusing probe means such that the tissue being contacted is instantaneously vaporized, producing simultaneously a cutting and/or cauterizing effect, said probe means being a conductive metal probe covered with an insulating sheath wherein the tip of the conductive metal probe is exposed at one end such that as to allow the tip to make contact with the tissue to be surgically treated and wherein the other end of the conductive metal probe is electrically grounded and including in series between the said tip and said ground;

(1) a current monitor means for measuring the electrical current induced in the conductive metal probe during use of said surgical tool, and

(2) a tuner circuit means for adjusting and optimizing the inducted electrical current passing through said conductive metal probe; and

said tool further including

(g) a vacuum tube means adjacent to said conductive metal probe and terminating near the tip of said conductive metal probe such as to remove vaporized tissue during use of said surgical tool.

5. A surgical tool comprising the combination of:

(a) a radio frequency source means for creating an electromagnetic energy field in the vicinity of tissue to be surgically treated; and

(b) a separate electromagnetic field focusing insulated conductive metal probe means having an uninsulated and exposed tip as a focusing means at the region of the tissue making contact with the tip of said probe means, the diameter and length of said exposed tip such that the tissue being contacted is instantaneously vaporized, producing simultaneously, a substantially bloodless cutting and/or cauterizing effect;

means for adjusting the optimizing the energy passing through said probe means; and

said probe means further including a current monitor means for measuring the electrical current induced in the conductive metal probe means during use of said surgical tool.

6. A surgical tool of claim 5 including a vacuum means adjacent to said conductive metal probe means and terminating near said tip of said conductive metal probe means to remove vaporized tissue during use of said surgical tool.

7. A surgical tool comprising the combination of:

(a) a radio frequency source means for creating an electromagnetic energy field in the vicinity of tissue to be surgically treated; and

(b) a separate electromagnetic field focusing insulated conductive metal probe means having an uninsulated and exposed tip as a focusing means at the region of the tissue making contact with the tip of said probe means, the diameter and length of said exposed tip such that the tissue being contacted is instantaneously vaporized, producing simultaneously, a substantially bloodless cutting and/or cauterizing effect, said probe means being grounded and including in series between said tip and said ground;

(1) a tuner circuit means for adjusting and optimizing the energy passing through said probe means; and

(2) a current monitor means for measuring the electrical current induced in the conductive means probe means during use of said surgical tool.

8. The surgical tool of claim 7 wherein said exposed tip of said conductive metal probe means is a stainless steel needle.

9. The surgical tool of claim 7 including a vacuum tube means adjacent to said probe means and terminating near said tip of said probe means to remove vaporized tissue during use of said surgical tool.

10. A surgical tool of claim 7 wherein said conductive metal probe means is of size to be insertable intravenously.

11. A surgical tool of claim 7 wherein said radio frequency source means further comprises:

(a) a signal generator means for producing an oscillating electrical signal of a pre-selected frequency;

(b) an amplifier means connected to said signal generating means for amplifying the oscillating electrical signal;

(c) a meter means for monitoring the amplified oscillating electrical signal output;

(d) an inductive applicator means for inducing the electromagnetic field in the vicinity of the tissue to be surgically treated; and

(e) an impedance matching means for adjusting the impedance between said amplifier means and said inductive applicator means.

12. The surgical tool of claim 11 including

(f) means to adjust said frequency to effect said surgical treatment.

13. The surgical tool of claim 12 wherein said frequency is within the range of 13.0 to 28.0 MHz.

14. The surgical tool of claim 11 wherein said exposed tip of said conductive metal probe means is a stainless steel needle.

15. The surgical tool of claim 11 including a vacuum tube means adjacent to said probe means and terminating near said tip of said probe means to remove vaporized tissue during use of said surgical tool.

16. A surgical tool of claim 11 wherein said conductive metal probe means is of size to be insertable intravenously.

20. A surgical tool of claim 7 wherein said probe means is of size to be insertable intravenously.

17. A tool for surgical use in vaporizing artheroschlerotic plaque in animal and human patients comprising:

an electromagnetic field focusing insulated conductive metal probe means capable of insertion intravenously, said probe means having an exposed heatable tip means for receiving radio frequency (RF) waves, while said heatable tip means is intravenously positioned adjacent said plaque, to raise the temperature of said heatable tip means sufficient to vaporize said plaque;

a ground wire electrically connected to said heatable tip means and adapted to be connected to an electrical ground external of said patient into which said probe means is inserted; and

means separate and removed from the probe means for transmitting RF waves toward said patient, said heatable tip means when grounded by said ground wire acting to focus said RF waves to instantaneously raise the temperature of said heatable tip means.

18. The surgical tool of claim 17 wherein said exposed heatable tip means of said probe means is a stainless steel needle.

19. The surgical tool of claim 17 including a vacuum tube means adjacent said conductive metal probe means which terminates near said heatable tip means so as to remove vaporized plaque during use of said tool.

21. The tool of claim 17 wherein said means for transmitting said RF waves includes:

(a) a signal generator means for producing an oscillating electrical signal of a pre-selected frequency;

(b) an amplifier means connected to said signal generating means for amplifying the oscillating electrical signal;

(c) a meter means for monitoring the amplified oscillating electrical signal output;

(d) an inductive applicator means, for inducing the electromagnetic field in the vicinity of the tissue to be surgically treated;

(e) impedance matching means for adjusting the impedance between said inductive applicator means and said amplified oscillating electrical signal output; and

(f) means to select said frequency; and

wherein said metal probe means includes in series between each end;

(1) a current monitor means for measuring the electrical current induced in the conductive metal probe means during use of said tool, and

(2) a tuner circuit means to adjust and optimize the induced electrical current passing through said conductive metal probe means.

22. The surgical tool of claim 21 wherein said exposed heatable tip means of said conductive metal probe means is a stainless steel needle.

23. The surgical tool of claim 21 including a vacuum tube means adjacent said conductive metal probe means which terminates near said heatable tip means so as to remove vaporized plaque during use of said tool.

24. A surgical tool of claim 21 wherein said conductive metal probe means is of size to be insertable intravenously.