Tissue ablation apparatus and device for use therein and method
First Claim
1. A tissue ablation apparatus for minimally invasive treatment for disorders of the upper airway by the treatment of soft tissues in the upper airway comprising a hand-held device adapted to be held by the human hand, means for delivering radio frequency energy to the hand-held device, the hand-held device comprising a housing having a handle portion adapted to be grapsed by the human hand and a probe portion, at least one guide tube mounted in the probe portion and having a bore extending therethrough, a carrier block slidably mounted in the housing relative to the guide tube, a needle assembly mounted in the carrier block assembly movable with the carrier block assembly, the needle assembly extending distally of the carrier block and being slidably disposed in the at least one guide tube, a slider mounted on the housing exterior of the housing for slidable movement longitudinally of the housing and adapted to be grasped by the thumb of the hand holding the housing and means connecting the slider to the carrier block whereby when the slider is moved distally, the carrier block with the needle assembly is moved in the guide tube distally of the guide tube for entrance into the soft tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tissue ablation apparatus for minimally invasive treatment for disorders of the upper airway by the treatment of soft tissues in the upper airway comprising a hand-held device adapted to be held by the human hand. Radio frequency energy is delivered to the hand-held device. The hand-held device comprises a housing having a handle portion adapted to be grasped by the human hand and a probe portion. At least one guide tube is mounted in the probe portion and has a bore extending therethrough. A carrier block is slidably mounted in the housing relative to the guide tube. At least one needle assembly is mounted in the carrier block assembly and is movable with the carrier block assembly. The at least one needle assembly extends distally of the carrier block and is slidably disposed in the at least one guide tube. A slider is mounted on the housing exterior of the housing for slidable movement longitudinally of the housing and is adapted to be grasped by the thumb of the hand holding the housing. The slider is connected to the carrier block whereby when the slider is moved distally, the carrier block with the needle assembly is moved in the guide tube distally of the guide tube for entrance into the soft tissue.
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Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A tissue ablation apparatus for minimally invasive treatment for disorders of the upper airway by the treatment of soft tissues in the upper airway comprising a hand-held device adapted to be held by the human hand, means for delivering radio frequency energy to the hand-held device, the hand-held device comprising a housing having a handle portion adapted to be grapsed by the human hand and a probe portion, at least one guide tube mounted in the probe portion and having a bore extending therethrough, a carrier block slidably mounted in the housing relative to the guide tube, a needle assembly mounted in the carrier block assembly movable with the carrier block assembly, the needle assembly extending distally of the carrier block and being slidably disposed in the at least one guide tube, a slider mounted on the housing exterior of the housing for slidable movement longitudinally of the housing and adapted to be grasped by the thumb of the hand holding the housing and means connecting the slider to the carrier block whereby when the slider is moved distally, the carrier block with the needle assembly is moved in the guide tube distally of the guide tube for entrance into the soft tissue.
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14. A method for minimally invasive treatment of the treatment of soft tissues in the upper airway of a patient by the treatment of soft tissues in the airway by the use of a hand-held device adapted to be held by the human hand and having a needle assembly movably carried thereby and with the needle assembly comprising a needle and an insulating layer carried by the needle, means for delivering radio frequency energy to the hand-held device, comprising advancing the hand-held device to that it is in proximity to the soft tissue to be treated, advancing the needle into the soft tissue for a distance of approximately 10 microns and wherein the needle extends free of the insulating layer for a distance of 5-10μ
- in the tissue and supplying radio frequency energy to the needle assembly to cause ablation of the tissue and withdrawing the needle assembly from the tissue after it has been treated and removing the hand-held device from the soft tissue.
- View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
Specification