Precision placement of ablation apparatus

• US 5,743,904 A
• Filed: 06/07/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Somnus Medical Technologies, Inc. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Edwards, Stuart D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US08/660,539
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 606/27-50, 607/96-101, 607/119, 607/122, 607/134
• US Class Current: 606/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• 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 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00296 mounted on an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00814 Surgery of the tongue, e.g. glossoplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• 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 2018/00101 low, i.e. thermally insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00261 arranged in a line
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00327 : Ear, nose or throat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00636 : Sensing and controlling the application of energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 : using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 : upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 : switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00744 : Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00773 : Sensed parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00886 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 : combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 : transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/003 : using a spray or a foam
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 : Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 : being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/045 : specially adapted for treatment inside the body

Claims

1. A system for positioning a distal end of an ablation catheter at a desired position within an oral cavity of a patient comprising:

a baseplate shaped to be immobilized relative to teeth of the patient, the baseplate including a slot through which the catheter can be introduced into the oral cavity;

an ablation catheter inserted passed through the slot adapted to be passed into the oral cavity; and

a position indicator for indicating the position of the catheter distal end within the oral cavity based on a relative position of the catheter distal end to the baseplate.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system further includes a composition which in combination with the baseplate forms a dental fixture molded to the patient'"'"'s teeth.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the position indicator is attached to the baseplate.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the position indicator is attached to the catheter.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the baseplate further includes a window through which an optical view of the oral cavity can be obtained.

6. A method for positioning a distal end of an ablation catheter at a desired position within an oral cavity of a patient comprising:

introducing a baseplate shaped to be immobilized relative to teeth of the patient into the oral cavity, the baseplate including a slot through which the ablation catheter can be introduced into the oral cavity;

adding a composition to the baseplate to form a dental fixture molded to the patient'"'"'s teeth; and

introducing a distal end of the ablation catheter through the slot into the oral cavity, one of the baseplate and catheter including a position indicator which indicates the position of the ablation catheter distal end within the oral cavity based on a relative position of the catheter distal end to the baseplate.