Method and apparatus for endometrial ablation
First Claim
1. An endometrial ablation apparatus for selectively destroying the endometrial lining of a body organ, said apparatus comprising:
- an electroconductive, expandable electrode means for effecting electrical contact with said endometrial lining to be destroyed, said expandable electrode means containing an electrically non-conductive expansion medium for extending said electrode means to provide said effected electrical contact with said organ;
a radio frequency power means connected to said expandable electrode means at a frequency greater than 250 kHz for selectively providing current to said electrode means to heat said endometrial lining to a uniform temperature of between 45°
C. to 90°
C.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endometrial ablation apparatus and method wherein an RF current having a frequency of between 250 kHz and 100 MHz is passed through the entire surface of an endometrium in order to provide heating of the endometrium. An electroconductive expandable member such as a balloon is used as the medium for passing the current and causing the heating of the endometrium. The temperature of the endometrium is raised to a temperature between 45° C. and 90° C. and preferably not above 70° for a time sufficient to destroy the cells of the lining while maintaining the average temperature of the myometrium at a temperature below approximately 42° C. The expandable balloon is connected to a power source which provides the radio frequency power having the desired characteristics to selectively heat the endometrial lining to the desired temperature. The balloon can be constructed with an electroconductive elastomer such as a mixture of polymeric elastomer and electroconductive particles or can be a non-extensible bladder having a shape and a size, in its fully expanded form, which will extend the organ and effect contact with the endometrial lining to be destroyed. The electroconductive member may consist of a plurality of electrode area segments having a thermistor associated with each electrode segment whereby the temperature from each of said plurality of segments is monitored and controlled by a feedback arrangement from the thermistors.
737 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An endometrial ablation apparatus for selectively destroying the endometrial lining of a body organ, said apparatus comprising:
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an electroconductive, expandable electrode means for effecting electrical contact with said endometrial lining to be destroyed, said expandable electrode means containing an electrically non-conductive expansion medium for extending said electrode means to provide said effected electrical contact with said organ; a radio frequency power means connected to said expandable electrode means at a frequency greater than 250 kHz for selectively providing current to said electrode means to heat said endometrial lining to a uniform temperature of between 45°
C. to 90°
C. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An endometrial ablation apparatus for selectively destroying the endometrial lining of a body organ, said apparatus comprising:
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an electroconductive, expandable electrode means for effecting electrical contact with said endometrial lining to be destroyed, said expandable electrode means containing an electrically non-conductive expansion medium for extending said electrode means to provide said effected electrical contact with said organ, said expandable electrode means being a non-extensible bladder provided with a plurality of separate electrodes; and a radio frequency power means connected to said expandable electrode means at a frequency greater than 250 kHz for selectively providing current to said electrode means to heat said endometrial lining to a uniform temperature of between 45°
C. to 90°
C., said radio frequency power means having an output. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. An electrically conductive expandable electrode assembly for providing electrical contact with an endometrial lining of a uterus for the purpose of destroying said endometrial lining, said assembly comprising:
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an expandable bladder having an-inner surface and an outer surface, one of said inner and said outer surface being provided with a plurality of separate electrodes and the other of said inner and outer surface being provided with a plurality of thermistors corresponding to each of said plurality of electrodes; each of said plurality of electrodes further comprising a plurality of holes with one of said plurality of holes of each electrode extending through said bladder from said outside surface to said inside surface and said extended holes providing electrical continuity between said electrodes and said other surface; said other surface further including a plurality of power leads, each lead being electrically connected to a corresponding one of said electrodes, said leads each extending from one extremity of said bladder to a respective one of said extended holes, each said power lead also extending to a respective one of said thermistors, whereby the relationship between the plurality of holes in each of said electrodes and said power leads provides for uniform heating on a surface of each of the respective electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An ablation method for selectively destroying the lining of a body organ having a supporting mass under the lining, said method comprising the steps of:
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passing a radio frequency current having a frequency of at least 250 kHz from an expandable member conforming to the lining and filled with an electrically non-conductive medium, wherein said current is passed through a portion of the lining to resistively heat in a single operation the lining to a temperature within a range from 45°
C. to 90°
C. for a time sufficient to destroy the cells of the lining while maintaining an average temperature of the supporting mass at a temperature below approximately 42°
C.;monitoring the temperature of the lining and reducing said current when said monitored temperature exceeds a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification