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Medical probe device and method

  • US 5,800,378 A
  • Filed: 03/20/1996
  • Issued: 09/01/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A medical probe device for treating by radio frequency ablation a target volume in tissue of a prostate of a body of a human male having a bladder with a base with a urethra formed by a urethral wall extending into the base of the bladder with the tissue of the prostate surrounding the urethra near the base of the bladder comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities and having a passageway extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity along a longitudinal axis, the elongate probe member having a length so that when the distal extremity is disposed in the urethra in the vicinity of the prostate the proximal extremity is outside of the urethra, handle means coupled to the proximal extremity of the elongate probe member for introducing the distal extremity of the elongate probe member into the urethra, a stylet slidably mounted in the passageway in the elongate probe member and having a distal extremity, the distal extremity of the stylet being movable between a retracted position in which the distal extremity of the stylet is disposed within the passageway and an extended position disposed outwardly from the distal extremity of the elongate probe member, the stylet having a length so that the distal extremity of the stylet extends through the urethral wall into the tissue of the prostate when in the extended position, means including a radio frequency generator coupled to the stylet for supplying radio frequency energy to the stylet and a grounding plate in contact with the body and electrically coupled to the radio frequency generator, the stylet including a conductive radio frequency electrode and a layer of insulating material coaxially disposed on the conductive electrode so that a distal portion of the conductive electrode is free of insulation and exposed in the tissue of the prostate for causing ablation of tissue in the target volume of the prostate when radio frequency energy is supplied to the conductive electrode while the layer of insulating material extends through the urethral wall and protects the urethral wall from radio frequency energy supplied to the conductive electrode.

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