Cell necrosis apparatus

• US 5,980,517 A
• Filed: 03/25/1998
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rita Medical Systems Incorporated (AngioDynamics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gough, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US09/047,845
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 606/45-50, 607/100-102, 604/21, 604/22
• US Class Current: 606/41
• 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 2017/00101 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 2018/00744 : Fluid flow
• 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 2018/1425 : 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 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

A cell necrosis apparatus has a flexible introducer including a lumen and a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue. An energy delivery device is positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue. The energy delivery device includes a first RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion and a second RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second RF electrodes are deployable with curvature from the introducer at a selected tissue site in a lateral direction away from the periphery of the introducer.

Claims

1. A cell necrosis apparatus, comprising:

an introducer with a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue; and

an energy delivery device including a first RF electrode, a second RF electrode and a third RF electrode, each of the RF electrodes having a tissue piercing distal end, the first and second RF electrodes being positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue and deployable with curvature in an expanded state from the introducer, and the third RF electrode being positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue and deployable from the introducer in an expanded state with less curvature than the first or second RF electrodes, wherein in the expanded state a majority of the third RF electrode deployed in tissue has an energy delivery surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third electrode is deployable from the introducer substantially without curvature.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an RF electrode advancement member coupled to the first, second and third RF electrodes and configured to advance the first, second and third RF electrodes through tissue.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the introducer is configured to receive a fluidic medium.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first RF electrode includes a hollow lumen configured to receive a fluidic medium.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second RF electrode includes a hollow lumen configured to receive a fluidic medium.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an insulator positioned in a surrounding relation to at least a portion of the introducer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an insulator positioned in a surrounding relation to at least a portion of the first RF electrode.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

an insulator positioned in a surrounding relation to at least a portion of the second RF electrode and an insulator positioned in a surrounding relation to at least a portion of the third RF electrode.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the first RF electrode.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor is a thermal sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the introducer.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first RF electrode is formed of a shaped memory alloy.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first RF electrode is formed of stainless steel.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second RF electrodes are deployable to surround a selected tissue site.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first and second RF electrodes are deployable to surround a tumor.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a feedback control coupled to the sensor and to the first RF electrode.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an impedance measurement apparatus coupled to the first RF electrode.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the impedance measurement apparatus comprises:

a controller;

a microprocessor coupled to the controller; and

a feedback control including circuitry, wherein RF energy is delivered to a tissue site, a measurement of a voltage and current of a tissue site are determined and the current adjusted according to the measurement of the voltage and current of the tissue site.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the introducer is a flexible introducer.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the introducer is an energy delivery device.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a distal portion of the introducer is an RF electrode.

23. A cell necrosis apparatus, comprising:

an introducer including a lumen and a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue;

an energy delivery device including at least a first RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion, a second RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion and a third RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion, the first, second and third RF electrodes being positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue and deployable in an expanded state with curvature from the introducer at a selected tissue site, the third RF electrode being deployed from the introducer with less curvature than the first or second RF electrodes and the first and second RF electrodes exhibiting at least a first and a second radius of curvature when positioned at the selected tissue site wherein in the expanded state a majority of the third RF electrode deployed in tissue has an energy delivery surface; and

a groundpad electrode coupled to the first and second RF electrodes.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

a first sensor coupled to the groundpad electrode.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

an RF electrode advancement member coupled to the first and second RF electrodes and configured to advance the first and second RF electrodes through tissue.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the introducer is configured to receive a fluidic medium.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first RF electrode includes a hollow lumen configured to receive a fluidic medium.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

an insulator positioned in a surrounding relation to at least a portion of the introducer.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

an insulator positioned in a surrounding relation to at least a portion of the first RF electrode.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

an insulator positioned in a surrounding relation to at least a portion of the second RF electrode and an insulator positioned in a surrounding relation to at least a portion of the first and second RF electrodes.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

a second sensor coupled to the first RF electrode.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the second sensor is a thermal sensor.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:

a third sensor coupled to the introducer.

34. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first RF electrode is formed of a shaped memory alloy.

35. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first RF electrode is formed of stainless steel.

36. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first and second RF electrodes are deployable to surround a selected tissue site.

37. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

a feedback control coupled to the first sensor and the first RF electrode.

38. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

an impedance measurement apparatus coupled to the first RF electrode.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the impedance measurement apparatus comprises:

a controller;

a microprocessor coupled to the controller; and

a feedback control including circuitry, wherein RF energy is delivered to a tissue site, a measurement of a voltage and current of a tissue site are determined and the current adjusted according to the measurement of the voltage and current of the tissue site.

40. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the introducer is a flexible introducer.

41. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the introducer is an energy delivery device.

42. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein a distal portion of the introducer is an RF electrode.