Track ablation device and methods of use

• US 6,355,033 B1
• Filed: 07/16/1999
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Vivant Medical, Inc. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Bush, M. Elizabeth, Moorman, Jack W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US09/356,077
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 600/562, 600/572, 606/33, 606/34, 606/35, 606/44, 606/46, 607/96, 607/98, 607/99, 607/100, 607/101, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0233 Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0275 with sample notch, e.g. on the side of inner stylet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/183 characterised by the type of antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1846 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3937 Visible markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints

Abstract

A modular biopsy, ablation and track coagulation needle apparatus is disclosed that allows the biopsy needle to be inserted into the delivery needle and removed when not needed, and that allows an inner ablation needle to be introduced and coaxially engaged with the delivery needle to more effectively biopsy a tumor, ablate it and coagulate the track through ablation while reducing blood loss and track seeding. The ablation needle and biopsy needle are adapted to in situ assembly with the delivery needle. In a preferred embodiment, the ablation needle, when engaged with the delivery needle forms a coaxial connector adapted to electrically couple to an ablating source. Methods for biopsying and ablating tumors using the device and coagulating the track upon device removal are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of ablating abnormalities in a tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a system for ablation of tissue comprising;

an elongated delivery needle made of a conducting material, said delivery needle having an open proximal end and an open distal end with a lumen extending therebetween, said delivery needle having a first connector, said delivery needle extending longitudinally from said first connector to said open distal end a first predetermined distance;

an ablation needle comprising a center conductor circumferentially surrounded by a dielectric material, said ablation needle further comprising a second connector, said ablation needle extending longitudinally a second predetermined distance from the second connector to a distal end wherein said second predetermined distance is greater than said first predetermined distance whereby said ablation needle forms a distal projection extending beyond the distal end of said delivery needle when the first and second connectors are connected, said distal projection forming a microwave antenna, and wherein the ablation needle and the delivery needle form a coaxial transmission line when the first and second connectors are connected wherein said coaxial transmission line electrically couples to said microwave antenna;

a plurality of first markings on a surface of said delivery needle wherein said first markings are spaced apart approximately an effective antenna length of said microwave antenna; and

a microwave energy source, wherein said coaxial transmission line is adapted to electrically couple to said microwave energy source;

introducing the distal end of the delivery needle into a tissue sample in a predetermined area;

inserting the distal end of the ablating needle into the lumen of the delivery needle through said open proximal end of said delivery needle;

advancing the ablating needle until said first and second connectors are adjacent one another;

connecting said first and second connectors whereby said coaxial transmission line is formed;

coupling said microwave energy source to said coaxial transmission line;

ablating the tissue in the predetermined site by delivering microwave energy to said microwave antenna through said coaxial transmission line;

partially withdrawing said delivery needle after said ablating step a distance approximately equal to the effective antenna length as indicated by observing at least one of the first markings; and

ablating the insertion track left by the partial withdrawal of said delivery needle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the delivery needle is percutaneously introduced into the tissue sample and said step of observing at least one of the first markings occurs as the at least one of the first markings exits a skin of a patient.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the delivery needle is laporoscopically introduced into the tissue sample and said step of observing at least one of the first markings occurs as the at least one of the first markings exits a cannula.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing step further comprises providing a second marking on a surface of said delivery needle, said second marking located approximately adjacent a proximal edge of an antenna radiation pattern of said microwave antenna, said method further comprising the steps of:

repeating said steps of partially withdrawing and ablating the insertion track so long as the second marking is within an organ containing the abnormality; and

observing the position of the second marking wherein if a partial withdrawing step were to withdraw the second marking outside an edge of the organ containing the abnormality, the partial withdrawal is stopped such that the second marking is approximately aligned with the edge of the organ whereupon a final ablation of the insertion track is performed.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of observing the second marking is performed by MRI.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of observing the second marking is performed by ultrasound imaging.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of observing the second marking is performed by fluoroscopic imaging.

8. A method of ablating abnormalities in a tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a system for ablation of tissue comprising;

a thermotherapy interstitial ablation device;

a plurality of first markings on said ablation device wherein said first markings are spaced apart approximately an effective ablation length of said ablation device; and

an ablation energy source, wherein said ablation device is adapted to couple to said ablation energy source;

introducing a distal end of the ablation device into a tissue sample in a predetermined area;

coupling said ablation energy source to said ablation device;

ablating the tissue in the predetermined site by delivering energy to said ablation device;

partially withdrawing said ablation device after said ablating step a distance approximately equal to the effective ablation length as indicated by observing at least one of the first markings; and

ablating the insertion track left by the partial withdrawal of said ablation device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said providing step further comprises providing a second marking on said ablation device, said second marking located approximately adjacent a proximal edge of the effective ablation length, said method further comprising the steps of:

repeating said steps of partially withdrawing and ablating the insertion track so long as the second marking is within an organ containing the abnormality; and

observing the position of the second marking wherein if a partial withdrawing step were to withdraw the second marking outside an edge of the organ containing the abnormality, the partial withdrawal is stopped such that the second marking is approximately aligned with the edge of the organ whereupon a final ablation of the insertion track is performed.