Systems and methods for selective electrosurgical treatment of body structures
First Claim
1. A method for selectively treating body structures at a target comprising:
- positioning an electrode terminal in close proximity with a tissue structure adjacent to nerves fibers enclosed within an outer sheath so that the electrode terminal is brought into at least partial contact or close proximity with the tissue structure and the outer sheath; and
applying high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and a return electrode;
during the applying step, removing at least a portion of the tissue structure in situ with the high frequency voltage without causing damage to the nerve fibers within the outer sheath.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within a patient'"'"'s. The present invention positions an electrosurgical instrument, such as a probe or catheter, in close proximity to a first body structure adjacent to a second body structure so that one or more electrode terminal(s) are brought into at least partial contact or close proximity with the first and second body structures. High frequency voltage is then applied between the electrode terminal(s) and one or more return electrode(s) to cut, remove, ablate, contract, coagulate, vaporize, desiccate or otherwise modify the first body structure without clinically damaging the second body structure. The first body structure is typically soft tissue, such as sinus, mucosal, spinal, or brain tissue, and the second body structure typically comprises a structure either having different electrical or molecular properties than soft tissue, such as bone, cartilage, adipose tissue, nerves and the like. The present invention provides a method for automatically discriminating between the two body structures such that the soft tissue is removed or otherwise modified, while the second structure (e.g., a nerve) is left relatively unaffected by the procedure.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for selectively treating body structures at a target comprising:
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positioning an electrode terminal in close proximity with a tissue structure adjacent to nerves fibers enclosed within an outer sheath so that the electrode terminal is brought into at least partial contact or close proximity with the tissue structure and the outer sheath; and
applying high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and a return electrode;
during the applying step, removing at least a portion of the tissue structure in situ with the high frequency voltage without causing damage to the nerve fibers within the outer sheath. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for selectively applying electrical energy to a body structure at a target site, the apparatus comprising:
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an electrosurgical probe having a shaft with a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and an electrode terminal disposed near the distal end portion;
a connector near the proximal end portion of the shaft for electrically coupling the electrode terminal to a high frequency power supply;
a return electrode adapted to be electrically coupled to the high frequency power supply; and
means for applying sufficient high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and the return electrode to remove at least a portion of a tissue structure in situ without causing damage to nerve fibers adjacent to the tissue structure. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification