Body cavity ablation apparatus and model

• US 5,713,942 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Vesta Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Stern, Roger A., Sullivan, Vincent N., Marion, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US08/484,089
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/46, 606/47, 606/49, 607/98, 607/99, 607/108, 607/113, 607/124, 607/156
• US Class Current: 607/98
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00092 using thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00101 using an array of thermosensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4216 Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00065 porous
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00113 with foam
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00654 with individual control of each of a plurality of energy emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00815 measured by a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 : monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1465 : Deformable electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 : using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/162 : located on the probe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 : for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 : Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 : for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia

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.

Claims

1. An ablation apparatus for selectively destroying tissue of a hollow body organ, said apparatus comprising

an expandable electrode structure;

a hand-held applicator connected to the electrode structure;

a sheath covering the electrode structure and movable relative to the electrode structure to expose the electrode structure;

wherein the expandable electrode structure includes an expandable balloon,

a plurality of electrodes on the surface of the balloon, and

a plurality of temperature sensors mounted on a surface of the balloon, each temperature sensor being secured in proximity to an electrode.

2. An ablation apparatus for selectively destroying tissue of a hollow body organ, said apparatus comprising

an expandable electrode structure;

a hand-held applicator connected to the electrode structure;

a sheath covering the electrode structure and movable relative to the electrode structure to expose the electrode structure;

wherein the expandable electrode structure includes an expandable balloon;

at least one electrode on a surface of the balloon;

wherein the hand-held applicator includes a handle and a main tube extending from a distal end of the handle, the balloon being connected to a distal end of the main tube;

a guide tube extending within the balloon and the main tube between a guide tube inlet of the applicator and a distal end that is sealingly secured to an opening in a wall of the balloon; and

an optical viewing lumen in the main tube.