Integrated tissue heating and cooling apparatus
First Claim
1. A device for association with an electrode structure which, in use, is deployed in a tissue region, the device comprisinga housing, a generator integrated in the housing to generate energy capable of heating tissue and adapted to be coupled to the electrode structure to apply the energy to the tissue region, a pumping mechanism integrated in the housing and adapted to be attached to tubing to dispense cooling fluid from a source to the tissue region, a controller integrated in the housing and coupled to the generator and the pumping mechanism, to enable control of the generator in supplying energy to the electrode structure to raise tissue temperature in the tissue region, in concert with operation of the pumping mechanism in supplying cooling fluid to the tissue region to control the tissue temperature, a control panel on the housing supporting a consolidation of command input devices coupled to the controller, the command input devices including at least one generator control input for receiving from an operator an operating parameter affecting operation of the generator and at least one pump control input for receiving from an operator an operating parameter affecting operation of the pumping mechanism, and a display screen and an operating system coupled to the display screen to show an animated visual image indicating operation of the generator and an animated visual image indicating operation of the pumping mechanism.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods integrate the control of an energy generator, to supply energy to an electrode structure to heat a tissue region, and the control of a pumping mechanism, to supply cooling fluid to control tissue temperature in the region.
943 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A device for association with an electrode structure which, in use, is deployed in a tissue region, the device comprising
a housing, a generator integrated in the housing to generate energy capable of heating tissue and adapted to be coupled to the electrode structure to apply the energy to the tissue region, a pumping mechanism integrated in the housing and adapted to be attached to tubing to dispense cooling fluid from a source to the tissue region, a controller integrated in the housing and coupled to the generator and the pumping mechanism, to enable control of the generator in supplying energy to the electrode structure to raise tissue temperature in the tissue region, in concert with operation of the pumping mechanism in supplying cooling fluid to the tissue region to control the tissue temperature, a control panel on the housing supporting a consolidation of command input devices coupled to the controller, the command input devices including at least one generator control input for receiving from an operator an operating parameter affecting operation of the generator and at least one pump control input for receiving from an operator an operating parameter affecting operation of the pumping mechanism, and a display screen and an operating system coupled to the display screen to show an animated visual image indicating operation of the generator and an animated visual image indicating operation of the pumping mechanism.
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4. A device for association with an electrode structure which, in use, is deployed in a tissue region, the device comprising
a housing, a generator integrated in the housing to generate energy capable of heating tissue and adapted to be coupled to the electrode structure to apply the energy to the tissue region, a pumping mechanism integrated in the housing and adapted to be attached to tubing to dispense cooling fluid from a source to the tissue region, a controller integrated in the housing and coupled to the generator and the pumping mechanism, to enable control of the generator in supplying energy to the electrode structure to raise tissue temperature in the tissue region, in concert with operation of the pumping mechanism in supplying cooling fluid to the tissue region to control the tissue temperature, a control panel on the housing supporting a consolidation of command input devices coupled to the controller, the command input devices including at least one generator control input for receiving from an operator an operating parameter affecting operation of the generator and at least one pump control input for receiving from an operator an operating parameter affecting operation of the pumping mechanism, and a display screen coupled to the controller, the controller including an operating system that generates a first image on the display screen that represents an operating condition of the generator, the operating system also generating a second image on the display screen concurrently with the first image that represents an operating condition of the pumping mechanism.
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26. A device for association with an electrode structure which, in use, is deployed in a tissue region and which includes an electrode having a distal end that, in use, penetrates tissue in the tissue region, the device comprising
a housing, a generator integrated in the housing to generate energy capable of heating tissue and adapted to be coupled to the electrode structure to apply the energy to the tissue region, a pumping mechanism integrated in the housing and adapted to be attached to tubing to dispense cooling fluid from a source to the tissue region, a controller integrated in the housing and including a first temperature sensor adapted to be carried by the electrode structure to monitor surface tissue temperature and a second temperature sensor adapted to be carried by the distal end of the electrode to monitor subsurface tissue temperature, the controller also including an input adapted to be attached to the first and second temperature sensors, and a function responsive to monitored surface tissue temperature, or monitored subsurface tissue temperature, or both, to control operation of the generator in concert with operation of the pumping mechanism, to thereby enable command of the generator and the pumping mechanism to controllably heat tissue in the tissue region, a control panel on the housing supporting a consolidation of command input devices coupled to the controller, the command input devices including at least one generator control input for receiving from an operator an operating parameter affecting operation of the generator and at least one pump control input for receiving from an operator an operating parameter affecting operation of the pumping mechanism, and a display screen coupled to the controller, the controller including an operating system that generates a first image on the display screen that represents an operating condition of the generator, the operating system also generating a second image on the display screen concurrently with the first image that represents an operating condition of the pumping mechanism.
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44. A device for association with an electrode structure which, in use, is deployed in a tissue region, the device comprising
a housing, a generator integrated in the housing to generate energy capable of heating tissue and adapted to be coupled to the electrode structure to apply the energy to the tissue region, a pumping mechanism integrated in the housing and adapted to be attached to tubing to dispense cooling fluid from a source to the tissue region, and a controller integrated in the housing and coupled to the generator and the pumping mechanism, the controller including an ON input to command application of energy to the electrode structure and a function that, in response to the ON input, commences operation of the pumping mechanism for a prescribed time period while delaying operation of the generator until the prescribed time period lapses, a control panel on the housing supporting a consolidation of command input devices coupled to the controller, the command input devices including at least one generator control input for receiving from an operator an operating parameter affecting operation of the generator and at least one pump control input for receiving from an operator an operating parameter affecting operation of the pumping mechanism, and a display screen coupled to the controller, the controller including an operating system that generates a first image on the display screen that represents an operating condition of the generator, the operating system also generating a second image on the display screen concurrently with the first image that represents an operating condition of the pumping mechanism.
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45. A device for association with an electrode structure which, in use, is deployed in a tissue region, the device comprising
a housing, a generator integrated in the housing to generate energy capable of heating tissue and adapted to be coupled to the electrode structure to apply the energy to the tissue region, a pumping mechanism integrated in the housing and adapted to be attached to tubing to dispense cooling fluid from a source to the tissue region, and a controller integrated in the housing and coupled to the generator and the pumping mechanism, the controller including an OFF input to command termination of the application of energy to the electrode structure and a function that, in response to the OFF input, operates the pumping mechanism for a prescribed time period after the supply of energy is terminated, a control panel on the housing supporting a consolidation of command input devices coupled to the controller, the command input devices including at least one generator control input for receiving from an operator an operating parameter affecting operation of the generator and at least one pump control input for receiving from an operator an operating parameter affecting operation of the pumping mechanism, and a display screen coupled to the controller, the controller including an operating system that generates a first image on the display screen that represents an operating condition of the generator, the operating system also generating a second image on the display screen concurrently with the first image that represents an operating condition of the pumping mechanism.
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48. A device for association with an electrode structure which, in use, is deployed in a tissue region, the device comprising
a housing, a generator integrated in the housing to generate energy capable of heating tissue and adapted to be coupled to the electrode structure to apply the energy to the tissue region, a pumping mechanism integrated in the housing and adapted to be attached to tubing to dispense cooling fluid from a source to the tissue region, and a controller integrated in the housing and coupled to the generator and the pumping mechanism, the controller including an ON input to command application of energy to the electrode structure in concert with operation of the pumping mechanism and an OFF input to command termination of the application of energy to the electrode structure, the controller further including a display screen and an operating system coupled to the display screen to generate, after the ON input, an ON image comprising a time record of changes in at least one operating condition over time during operation of the generator and the pumping mechanism and, after the OFF input, a PAUSE image that preserves the time record.
Specification