Catheter for delivery of energy to a surgical site

• US 6,258,086 B1
• Filed: 03/19/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NeuroTherm, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Oratec Interventions Incorporated
• Inventors: Saal, Jeff A., Sharkey, Hugh R., Saal, Joel, Ashley, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddy, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/272,806
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 606/27, 606/41-50, 607/117, 607/118, 607/122, 600/585, 604/95.05, 604/528, 604/530, 604/531, 604/510
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3203 Fluid jet cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• 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 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0011 piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 : alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00261 : Discectomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 : Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 : Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 : with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00455 : Orientation indicators, e.g. recess on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 : shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22044 : with a pointed tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22049 : Means for locking the guide wire in the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22082 : after introduction of a substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22087 : photodynamic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 : flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320008 : Scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 : Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32113 : with extendable or retractable guard or blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3445 : used as instrument channel for multiple instruments catheters A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 : Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 : with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00267 : having a basket shaped structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00434 : Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0044 : Spinal cord
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 : Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00625 : Vaporization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00654 : with individual control of each of a plurality of energy emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : 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 2018/046 : in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1266 : with DC current output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1405 : Electrodes having a specific shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 : Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1435 : Spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 : for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 : using light other than laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0454 : by reflection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 : for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3937 : Visible markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 : with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 : with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 : Aspiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 : Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 : Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30677 : Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products, e.g. antibiotics, into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0298 : with a section for heating and a section for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0063 : having means, e.g. stylets, mandrils, rods or wires to reinforce or adjust temporarily the stiffness, column strength or pushability of catheters which are already inserted into the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0064 : which become stiffer or softer when heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0163 : Looped catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0144 : having flexible regions as a result of inner reinforcement means, e.g. struts or rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0155 : with hydraulic or pneumatic means, e.g. balloons or inflatable compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0158 : with magnetic or electrical means, e.g. by using piezo materials, electroactive polymers, magnetic materials or by heating of shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 : for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 : Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals

Abstract

A catheter for delivering energy to a surgical site is disclosed. The catheter includes at a proximal end a handle and at a distal end a probe. The catheter includes at least one energy delivery device and an activation element. The at least one energy delivery device is located at the distal end of the catheter to deliver energy to portions of the surgical site. The activation element is located at the distal end of the catheter, to transition the probe from a linear to a multi-dimensional shape, within the surgical site. Methods for deploying the probe from the linear to multi-dimensional shape are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device for delivering energy to an intervertebral disc comprising:

a catheter consisting of a single elongated unitary body, the catheter comprising

a handle at a proximal end of the catheter and a probe at a distal end of the catheter,

at least one energy delivery device located at the distal end of the catheter to deliver energy to portions of the intervertebral disc, and

an activation element located at the distal end of the catheter which predisposes the catheter body to adopt an arcuate shape within the intervertebral disc.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the activation element comprises:

a resilient material which in a relaxed state effects an arcuate shape and which upon introduction of external stress assumes a substantially linear shape.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising:

an introducer defining along a longitudinal axis a lumen dimensioned to apply external stress to the resilient material.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the activation element comprises:

at least two materials exhibiting differential coefficients of thermal expansion and the at least two materials joined to one another wherein at a first temperature the at least two materials assume a substantially linear shape and at a second temperature the at least two materials assume an arcuate shape.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the activation element comprises:

a material with a temperature dependent shape memory wherein at a first temperature the material assumes a substantially linear shape and at a second temperature the material assumes an arcuate shape.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the material comprises nickel-titanium.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the activation element comprises:

a mandrel with a longitudinal axis, and the mandrel including a differential bending ability in two orthogonal axis which are orthogonal to the longitudinal axis; and

a tension member joined to the mandrel at a distal end thereof, and coextensive with the longitudinal axis of the mandrel along a length thereof, and the mandrel responsive to tension applied to the tension member, to effect a transition of the mandrel from a substantially linear shape to an arcuate shape.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the activation element comprises:

at least two side members extending axially along a longitudinal axis of the probe and rigidly affixed at first ends thereof to the probe, and the at least two side members moveable from a first position proximate to the longitudinal axis of the probe to a second position radially displaced about the longitudinal axis of the probe.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least two side members comprise:

a resilient material which in a relaxed state effects an arcuate shape and which upon introduction of external stress assumes a substantially linear shape.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising:

an introducer defining along a longitudinal axis a lumen dimensioned to apply external stress to the resilient material.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least two side members comprise:

at least two materials exhibiting differential coefficients of thermal expansion and at least two materials joined to one another wherein at a first temperature the at least two materials assume a substantially linear shape and at a second temperature the at least two materials assume an arcuate shape.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least two side members comprise:

a material with a temperature dependent shape memory wherein at a first temperature the material assumes a substantially linear shape and at a second temperature the material assumes an arcuate shape adapted to abut at least a portion of the inner wall of.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the material comprises nickel-titanium.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least two side members comprise;

a resilient material which in a relaxed state effects a linear shape and which upon introduction of a compressive force between the first ends of the at least two side members and second ends thereof assumes a substantially arcuate shape; and

a draw member coupled to the handle for applying the compressive force to the resilient material, to effect a transition of the at least two side members from a substantially linear shape to an arcuate shape.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the energy delivery element further comprises;

a core parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe; and

electrical couplings for applying electrical power of an opposing polarity to respectively said at least two side members and said core.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery element further comprises;

at least one resistive coil located within the probe at a distal end thereof; and

electrical couplings for applying electrical power to said at least one resistive coil.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery element includes a thermal energy delivery element.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said thermal energy delivery element comprises at least one of a resistive heating element and at least one radio frequency electrode.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the thermal energy delivery element comprises:

a substrate fastened to the distal end of the catheter; and

a heating element fabricated on said substrate by a photo-etching.

20. A catheter for delivering energy to an intervertebral disc, and said catheter including at a proximal end a handle and at a distal end a probe and said intervertebral disc having a nucleus pulposus, an annulus fibrosus, and an inner wall of said annulus fibrosus, said nucleus pulposus having a first diameter in a disc plane between opposing sections of said inner wall, and said catheter comprising:

at least one energy delivery device located at the distal end of the catheter to deliver energy to portions of the intervertebral disc; and

an activation element located at the distal end of the catheter, to transition the probe from a linear to a multi-dimensional shape, within the intervertebral disc,

wherein the activation element comprises;

a mandrel with a longitudinal axis, and the mandrel including a differential bending ability in two orthogonal axis which are orthogonal to the longitudinal axis; and

a piezo-electric material joined to the mandrel along a length thereof, and the piezoelectric material responsive to an electrical stimulus to vary at least one dimension thereof, to effect a transition of the mandrel from a substantially linear shape to an arcuate shape.