Tumor ablation apparatus

• US 5,928,229 A
• Filed: 10/30/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rita Medical Systems Incorporated (AngioDynamics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gough, Edward J., Stein, Alan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US08/961,325
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 606/45-50, 607/100-102, 607/115, 607/116, 607/128, 604/21, 604/22
• 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 has a multiple antenna device with a primary antenna and a secondary antenna positionable in a lumen of the primary antenna. The secondary antenna is at least partially deployable from the primary antenna in a lateral direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the primary antenna with at least one radius of curvature. A distal end of the primary antenna is sufficiently sharp to pierce tissue. The primary and secondary antennas are configured to provide a selectable geometric ablation of a selected tissue mass. An insulation sleeve is positioned on an exterior of the primary antenna. One or more cables are coupled to the multiple antenna device.

Claims

1. An ablation treatment apparatus, comprising:

a multiple antenna device including a primary antenna with a longitudinal axis, and a secondary antenna positionable in a lumen of the primary antenna and deployable at least partially in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis with at least one radius of curvature, wherein a distal end of the primary antenna is sufficiently sharp to pierce tissue, and the primary and secondary antennas are configured to provide a selectable geometric ablation of a selected tissue mass;

an insulation sleeve positioned on an exterior of the primary antenna; and

one or more cables coupled to the multiple antenna device.

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

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary antennas are microwave antennas.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multiple antenna device includes at least two secondary antennas which are each independently laterally deployed along a different point along the longitudinal axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the multiple antenna device includes a number of secondary antennas that are all at least partially retractable into the primary antenna following an ablation and permit repositioning of the primary antenna.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the primary antenna is capable of rotational movement about its longitudinal axis following retraction of the secondary antennas into the primary antenna following an ablation.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured to be switched between bipolar and monopolar operation.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes two secondary antennas positioned in the same plane.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes two secondary antennas that are deployed from the primary antenna in two different planes.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in a monopolar mode.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in a bipolar mode.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the primary or secondary antennas is hollow and adapted to receive an infusion medium from an infusion source to introduce the infusion medium into a selected tissue mass.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the infusion medium is a therapeutic agent.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the infusion medium is a conductivity enhancement medium.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the infusion medium includes a chemotherapeutic agent.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an energy source;

one or more sensors coupled to the energy source and positioned at one of an interior or an exterior of the primary or secondary antennas to detect one of impedance or temperature; and

a sensor feedback apparatus coupled to the sensors for maintaining a tissue adjacent to one of the primary or secondary antennas at a desired temperature.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more sensors positioned at one of an interior or an exterior of the primary or secondary antennas to detect one of impedance or temperature; and

resources connected with the sensors, the antennas and an energy source, the resources providing an output for delivering and maintaining a selected energy at the antennas.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the resources provide an output that maintains a selected energy at the antennas for a selected length of time.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein each of the primary and secondary antennas is independently connected to the resources, and the resources generate an independent output for each antenna.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary antenna is hollow and includes at least one aperture formed along the longitudinal axis of the primary antenna to laterally deploy at least one secondary antenna.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary antenna is hollow and includes first and second apertures formed along the longitudinal axis of the primary antenna to laterally deploy a first and a second secondary antenna out of the first and second apertures.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensor coupled to one of the primary antenna or the secondary antenna.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the secondary antenna is configured to measure impedance.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an impedance measurement device advanceable from the primary antenna.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulation sleeve is in a surrounding relationship to the primary antenna, and a distal end of the insulation sleeve includes an aperture for introducing the secondary antenna.