Method for volumetric tissue ablation
First Claim
1. A method for creating a lesion within tissue, comprising the steps of:
- connecting proximal ends of a plurality of electrically conductive wires having distal ends to an electrical generator active terminal;
connecting a proximal end of a conductor to a return terminal on the generator;
piercing a body of tissue with the distal ends of the plurality of at least three wires to form the distal ends into an array in a predetermined location in the tissue, wherein the wires define a three-dimensional ablation volume surrounding a tissue mass therebetween;
contacting a distal end of the conductor with the body of tissue to form a closed electrical circuit through the tissue; and
operating the generator to create a lesion of predetermined size and shape within the tissue mass at the location of the array.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
538 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for creating a lesion within tissue, comprising the steps of:
-
connecting proximal ends of a plurality of electrically conductive wires having distal ends to an electrical generator active terminal; connecting a proximal end of a conductor to a return terminal on the generator; piercing a body of tissue with the distal ends of the plurality of at least three wires to form the distal ends into an array in a predetermined location in the tissue, wherein the wires define a three-dimensional ablation volume surrounding a tissue mass therebetween; contacting a distal end of the conductor with the body of tissue to form a closed electrical circuit through the tissue; and operating the generator to create a lesion of predetermined size and shape within the tissue mass at the location of the array. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A method for treating a treatment region within solid tissue of a patient with radio frequency current, said method comprising:
-
introducing at least three electrodes through tissue to a site proximate a treatment region; advancing said at least three electrodes from the site into the solid tissue proximate the treatment region, wherein the at least three electrodes define a three-dimensional ablation volume surrounding a tissue mass therebetween; and establishing radio frequency current flow among the at least three electrodes or between said three electrodes and another electrode to treat the tissue mass. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for treating a treatment region within solid tissue of a patient with radio frequency current, said method comprising:
-
advancing at least three electrodes into the solid tissue from a site adjacent the treatment region, wherein the electrodes assume a three-dimensional pattern in the treatment region, wherein the distal tips of the electrodes are aligned generally in parallel to each other to define a three-dimensional treatment volume therebetween; and establishing radio frequency current flow among the at least three electrodes or between said at least three electrodes and a common electrode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification