Apparatus for volumetric tissue ablation
First Claim
1. A probe system for penetrating a plurality of electrodes into solid tissue, said probe system comprising:
- an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end;
means for introducing the elongate member through solid tissue; and
at least two solid-tissue-penetrating electrode elements having distal ends reciprocatably attached to the elongate member so that said electrode elements may be advanced into tissue after said elongate member has been introduced through solid tissue to a target site within the tissue, wherein the distal ends of at least some of the electrode elements are shaped so that they assume an outwardly everted configuration as they are axially extended beyond the distal end of the elongate member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A volumetric tissue ablation apparatus includes a probe having a plurality of wires journaled through a catheter with a proximal end connected to the active terminal of a generator and a distal end projecting from a distal end of the catheter. The probe wire distal ends are arranged in an array with the distal ends located generally radially and uniformly spaced apart from the catheter distal end. A conductor connected to the return terminal of the generator is located relative to the probe wire array to form a closed electrical circuit through tissue to be ablated. Preferably, the probe wire array includes 10 wires, each formed in an arch from the catheter distal end. The conductor can be either a conventional ground plate upon which the tissue is supported, or a conductor wire extending through the probe and electrically insulated from the probe wires.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A probe system for penetrating a plurality of electrodes into solid tissue, said probe system comprising:
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an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; means for introducing the elongate member through solid tissue; and at least two solid-tissue-penetrating electrode elements having distal ends reciprocatably attached to the elongate member so that said electrode elements may be advanced into tissue after said elongate member has been introduced through solid tissue to a target site within the tissue, wherein the distal ends of at least some of the electrode elements are shaped so that they assume an outwardly everted configuration as they are axially extended beyond the distal end of the elongate member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A probe system for penetrating a plurality of electrodes into solid tissue, said probe system comprising:
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an elongate member having a proximal end and a distal end; and at least three solid-tissue-penetrating wires reciprocatably attached to the elongate member, wherein said wires have shaped distal ends which assume a radially constrained configuration when the wires are axially retracted within said lumen and which assume an outwardly everted configuration when the wires are axially extended in a distal direction from the elongate member. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification