Multiple electrode ablation apparatus
DCFirst Claim
1. A tissue ablation apparatus, comprising:
- an introducer having a distal portion and a proximal portion;
an electrode device positionable within an interior of the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, the electrode device including at least a first RF electrode, a second RF electrode and a third RF electrode, each of the first, second and third RF electrodes having a tissue piercing distal end, a non-deployed state when positioned within the introducer and a deployed state when advanced from the distal portion of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes being deployable with curvature from the introducer distal portion and including a section that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer;
an electrode advancement and retraction member coupled to the electrode device to advance the first, second and third RF electrodes in and out of the introducer distal portion.
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Abstract
A tissue ablation apparatus includes a delivery catheter with distal and proximal ends. A handle is attached to the proximal end of the delivery catheter. At least partially positioned in the delivery catheter is an electrode deployment device. The electrode deployment devices includes a plurality of retractable electrodes. Each electrode has a non-deployed state when it is positioned in the delivery catheter. Additionally, each electrode has a distended deployed state when it is advanced out of the delivery catheter distal end. The deployed electrodes define an ablation volume. Each deployed electrode has a first section with a first radius of curvature. The first section is located near the distal end of the delivery catheter. A second section of the deployed electrode extends beyond the first section, ad has a second radius of curvature, or a substantially linear geometry.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A tissue ablation apparatus, comprising:
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an introducer having a distal portion and a proximal portion; an electrode device positionable within an interior of the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, the electrode device including at least a first RF electrode, a second RF electrode and a third RF electrode, each of the first, second and third RF electrodes having a tissue piercing distal end, a non-deployed state when positioned within the introducer and a deployed state when advanced from the distal portion of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes being deployable with curvature from the introducer distal portion and including a section that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer; an electrode advancement and retraction member coupled to the electrode device to advance the first, second and third RF electrodes in and out of the introducer distal portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of deploying electrodes for defining an ablation volume, the method comprising:
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providing an ablation apparatus including at least a first RF electrode, a second RF electrode and an introducer with a proximal portion and a distal portion, each of the RF electrodes having a tissue piercing distal end and configured to be advanceable from the introducer distal with curvature from a non-deployed state when positioned within the introducer to a deployed state when advanced from the introducer distal portion, each of the RF electrodes including a section that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the introducer in the deployed state, the first and second RF electrodes exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of electrode deployed from the introducer; positioning the introducer in a solid tissue mass to a selected tissue site; and advancing the first and second RF electrodes from the distal portion of the introducer to the deployed state. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A tissue ablation apparatus, comprising:
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an introducer having a distal portion, a distal end at a distal most position of the distal portion, an introducer aperture formed at the distal end and a proximal portion; an electrode device positionable within an interior of the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, the electrode device including at least a first RF electrode, a second RF electrode and a third RF electrode, each of the first, second and third RF electrodes having a tissue piercing distal end, a non-deployed state when positioned within the introducer and a deployed state when advanced from the distal end of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes being deployable with cuvature from the introducer distal end and including a section that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer; and an electrode advancement and retraction member coupled to the electrode device, the electrode advancement and retraction member advancing and retracting the RF electrodes in and out of the introducer distal end.
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38. A tissue ablation apparatus, comprising:
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an introducer having a distal portion, a distal end and a proximal portion; an electrode device positionable within an interior of the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, the electrode device including at least a first RF electrode, a second RF electrode and a third RF electrode, each of the first, second and third RF electrodes having a non-deployed state when positioned within the introducer and a deployed state when advanced from the distal end of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes being deployable with curvature from the introducer distal end to define an ablation volume, the first, second and third RF electrodes exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer; and an electrode advancement and retraction member coupled to the electrode device, the electrode advancement and retraction member advancing and retracting the RF electrodes in and out of the introducer distal end. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A tissue ablation apparatus, comprising:
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a rigid introducer having a distal portion and a proximal portion; an electrode device positionable within an interior of the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, the electrode device including at least a first RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal end and a second RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal end, each of the first and second RF electrodes having a non-deployed state when positioned within the introducer and a deployed state when advanced from the distal portion of the introducer, the first and second RF electrodes being deployable with curvature from the introducer distal portion, the first and second RF electrodes exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer; and an electrode advancement and retraction member coupled to the electrode device, the electrode advancement and retraction member advancing and retracting the RF electrodes in and out of the introducer distal portion.
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41. A tissue ablation apparatus, comprising:
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an introducer having a distal portion and a proximal portion; an electrode device positionable within an interior of the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, the electrode device including at least a first RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal end, a second RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal end and an electrode coupling, each of the first and second RF electrodes having a non-deployed state when positioned within the introducer and a deployed state when advanced from the distal portion of the introducer, the first and second RF electrodes being deployable with curvature from the introducer distal portion, the first and second RF electrodes exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer; and an electrode advancement and retraction member coupled to the electrode device, the electrode advancement and retraction member advancing and retracting the RF electrodes in and out of the introducer distal end, wherein the electrode device is physically coupled to the electrode advancement and retraction member. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. A tissue ablation apparatus, comprising:
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an introducer having a distal portion and a proximal portion; an obturator with a tissue piercing distal end, the obturator being positionable in an interior of the introducer as the obturator is advanced through tissue; an electrode device positionable within the interior of the introducer, the electrode device including at least a first RF electrode, a second RF electrode and a third RF electrode, each of the first, second and third RF electrodes having a tissue piercing distal end, a non-deployed state when positioned within the introducer and a deployed state when advanced from the distal portion of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes being deployable with curvature from the introducer distal portion and including a section that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer; and an electrode advancement and retraction member coupled to the electrode device to advance the first, second and third RF electrodes in and out of the introducer distal portion.
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46. A tissue ablation apparatus, comprising:
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an introducer having a distal portion and a proximal portion; an obturator with a tissue piercing distal end, the obturator being positionable in an interior of the introducer as the obturator is advanced through tissue; an electrode device positionable within the interior of the introducer, the electrode device including an electrode housing and at least a first RF electrode, a second RF electrode and a third RF electrode positionable in the electrode housing, each of the first, second and third RF electrodes having a tissue piercing distal end, a non-deployed state when positioned within the electrode housing and a deployed state when advanced from the distal portion of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes being deployable with curvature from the introducer distal portion and including a section that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer; and an electrode advancement and retraction member coupled to the electrode device to advance the first, second and third RF electrodes in and out of the introducer distal portion.
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Specification