Multiple antenna ablation apparatus and method with cooling element

• US 5,735,847 A
• Filed: 12/19/1995
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ZoMed International, Inc.
• Inventors: Gough, Edward J., Stein, Alan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US08/576,435
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 606/45-50, 606/13-15, 607/100-102, 607/122, 607/154, 607/156, 128/642
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00101 using an array of thermosensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00273 Anchoring means for temporary attachment of a device to tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 : switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00726 : Duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00744 : Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 : 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 2018/00827 : Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 : Voltage
• 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 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 : multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1435 : Spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 : for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/162 : located on the probe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 : Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0279 : Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 : for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 : for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/04 : Radiators for near-field treatment

Abstract

An ablation apparatus includes a multiple antenna device coupled to an electromagnetic energy source that produces an electromagnetic energy ablation output. The multiple antenna device includes a primary antenna with a lumen and a longitudinal axis, and a secondary antenna deployable from the lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis. At least a distal end of each secondary antenna is structurally less rigid than the primary antenna, and the primary antenna is sufficiently rigid to be introduced through tissue. At least one cable coupling the multiple antenna device to the energy source. A cooling element is coupled to the primary antenna. A variety of energy sources can be used including RF, microwave and laser.

Claims

1. An ablation apparatus, comprising:

a multiple antenna device configured to be coupled to an energy source, the multiple antenna device including a primary antenna with a lumen and a longitudinal axis and a distal end sufficiently sharp to pierce tissue, and a secondary antenna at least partially positioned in the secondary antenna including a distal portion configured to be deployed from the lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein at least a part of a deployed secondary antenna distal portion has at least one radius of curvature;

at least one cable configured to be coupled to the multiple antenna device; and

a cooling element coupled to the primary antenna.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary antenna has an energy delivery surface with a length that is at least 20% of a length of an energy delivery surface of the secondary antenna.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary antenna has an energy delivery surface with a length that is at least one-third of a length of an energy delivery surface of the secondary antenna.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary antenna has an energy delivery surface with a length that is at least one-half of a length of an energy delivery surface of the secondary antenna.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein two secondary antennas are provided and laterally deployed from the primary antenna, each of the primary and secondary antennas having an energy delivery surface to create an ablation volume between the energy delivery surfaces.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein three secondary antennas are provided and laterally deployed from the primary antenna, each of the primary and secondary antennas having an energy delivery surface to create an ablation volume between the energy delivery surfaces.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an insulation sleeve positioned in a surrounding relationship around at least a portion of an exterior of the primary antenna.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the insulation sleeve is adjustably moveable along an exterior of the primary antenna.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an insulation sleeve positioned in a surrounding relationship around at least a portion of an exterior of the secondary antenna.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the insulation sleeve is adjustably moveable along an exterior of the secondary antenna.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a ground pad electrode and the primary and secondary antennas operate in a monopolar mode.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary antennas are RF antennas.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling element cools the primary antenna substantially only where the primary antenna has an ablation energy delivery surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling element comprises:

a structure positioned in an interior of the primary antenna including at least one channel configured to receive a cooling medium.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the cooling medium is recirculated through the channel.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the primary antenna is open.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the primary antenna is closed.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling element is positioned in an interior of the primary antenna.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling element is positioned at an exterior surface of the primary antenna.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooling element is positioned within a wall defining the primary antenna.

21. A method for creating an ablation volume in a selected tissue mass, comprising:

providing an ablation device with a primary antenna, one or more deployable secondary antennas at least partially housed in a primary antenna lumen formed in the primary antenna, a cooling element coupled to the primary antenna and an energy source coupled to the antennas to deliver electromagnetic energy, the primary antenna including a distal end sufficiently sharp to pierce tissue and at least a portion of a deployed distal portion of the secondary antennas is configured to have at least one radius of curvature;

inserting the primary antenna into the selected tissue mass;

advancing at least one secondary antenna into the selected tissue mass from the primary antenna lumen in a lateral direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the primary antenna;

cooling an energy delivery service of the primary antenna;

delivering electromagnetic energy from one of the primary antenna energy delivery surface, a secondary antenna energy delivery surface or both to the selected tissue mass; and

creating an ablation volume in the selected tissue mass.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein two secondary antennas, each having an energy delivery surface, are advanced from the primary antenna, and an ablation volume is created between the two secondary antennas energy delivery surfaces and the primary electrode energy delivery surface.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the two secondary antennas are advanced out of a distal end of the primary antenna.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the two secondary antennas are advanced out of separate ports formed in the primary antenna.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the two secondary antennas are advanced from the primary antenna and define a plane.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein three secondary antennas are advanced from the primary antenna.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein each of the three secondary antennas and the primary antenna has an energy delivery surface, and an ablation volume is formed between the energy delivery surfaces of the antennas.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the primary electrode has an energy delivery surface that is at least equal to 20% or more of an energy delivery surface of the secondary antenna.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the primary electrode has an energy delivery surface that is at least equal to one-third or more of an energy delivery surface of the secondary antenna.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the primary electrode has an energy delivery surface that is at least equal to one-half or more of an energy delivery surface of the secondary antenna.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the primary and secondary antennas are operated in a mono-polar mode.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the ablation device is operated in a bipolar mode.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein the ablation device is operated in a bipolar mode.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein an energy delivery surface of the primary antenna is cooled sufficiently to prevent the energy delivery surface from impeding out while electromagnetic energy is delivered to the selected tissue mass.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein an energy delivery surface of the primary antenna is cooled sufficiently and the selected tissue mass between the energy delivery surface of the primary antenna and an energy delivery surface of the secondary antenna is ablated without the primary antenna impeding out.

36. An ablation apparatus, comprising:

an introducer including a lumen, a distal portion and a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue, the introducer having a distal portion and an energy delivery device coupled to an energy source;

a temperature monitoring device at least partially positioned in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through the tissue, the temperature monitoring device including the distal portion at least partially deployable from the introducer at a selected tissue site, wherein at least part of the temperature monitoring device distal portion has at least one radius of curvature when deployed from the introducer;

a cooling element coupled to the introducer; and

a cable coupling the energy source to the energy delivery device.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the temperature monitoring device; and

a feedback control system coupled to the energy source and the sensor, wherein the feedback control system is responsive to a detected characteristic from the sensor and provides a delivery of energy output from the energy source to the energy delivery device.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the sensor is positioned at the distal portion of the temperature monitoring device.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the energy delivery device is an RF electrode and the energy source is an RF energy source.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the RF electrode; and

a feedback control system coupled to the RF energy source and the sensor, wherein the feedback control system is responsive to a detected characteristic from the sensor and provides a delivery of energy output from the RF energy source to the RF electrode.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the sensor is a thermal sensor.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the sensor is an impedance sensor.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, further including

a second RF electrode at least partially positioned in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, the second RF electrode including a distal portion configured to be coupled to the RF energy source and deployable from the introducer at a selected tissue site, wherein at least a part of the second RF electrode distal portion has at least one radius of curvature when deployed from the introducer.

44. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the energy delivery device is a laser energy delivery device and the energy source is a laser.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the laser energy delivery device; and

a feedback control system coupled to the laser and the sensor, wherein the feedback control system is responsive to a detected characteristic from the sensor and provides a delivery of energy output from the laser to the laser energy delivery device.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the sensor is a thermal sensor.

47. The apparatus of claim 44, further including

a second laser energy delivery device at least partially positioned in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, the second laser energy delivery device including a distal portion configured to be coupled to the laser and deployable from the introducer at a selected tissue site, wherein at least a part of the second laser energy delivery device distal portion has at least one radius of curvature when deployed from the introducer.

48. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the energy delivery device is a microwave antenna and the energy source is a microwave source.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the microwave antenna; and

a feedback control system coupled to the microwave source and the sensor, wherein the feedback control system is responsive to a detected characteristic from the sensor and provides a delivery of energy output from the microwave source to the microwave antenna.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the sensor is a thermal sensor.

51. The apparatus of claim 48, further including

a second microwave antenna at least partially positioned in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, the second microwave antenna including a distal portion configured to be coupled to the microwave source and deployable from the introducer at a selected tissue site, wherein at least a part of the second microwave antenna distal portion has at least one radius of curvature when deployed from the introducer.