Vacuum-assisted securing apparatus for a microwave ablation instrument

• US 6,364,876 B1
• Filed: 09/20/1999
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maquet Cardiovascular LLC (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: AFX, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Berube, Dany, Ormsby, Theodore C., Matheny, Robert, Erb, Lyndall, Woodard, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ruddy, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/398,723
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 604/35, 604/176, 600/387, 607/149, 607/154, 607/155, 607/156, 607/101, 607/122, 606/33, 606/34, 606/41, 606/46
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• 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 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00363 Epicardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1437 whereby the windings of the spiral touch each other such as to create a continuous surface

Abstract

A securing apparatus for selectively securing an ablating element of an ablation instrument proximate to a targeted region of a biological tissue. The securing apparatus includes a support base affixed to the ablation instrument relative the ablating element, and having a support face adapted to seat against the biological tissue proximate to the ablation element. The support base further defines a passage having one end communicably coupled to a vacuum source and an opposite end terminating at an orifice at the support face. The support face together with the biological tissue forms a hermetic seal thereagainst during operation of the vacuum source to secure the ablation instrument thereagainst. Essentially, the hermetic seal and the vacuum source cooperate to form a vacuum force sufficient to retain the ablation device against the biological tissue.

Claims

1. A securing apparatus for selectively securing an ablating element of an ablation instrument proximate to a targeted region of a biological tissue comprising:

a support base adapted to affix to said ablation instrument relative said ablating element, and having a support face adapted to seat against the biological tissue proximate to the ablation element, said support face defining a window portion configured to cooperate with the ablating element of the ablation instrument to direct a majority of an ablating field of the ablating element generally in a predetermined direction, said support base further defining a passage having one end communicably coupled to a vacuum source and an opposite end terminating at the support face at a proximal orifice positioned on a proximal end of said window portion, and at a distal orifice positioned on a distal end of said window portion;

wherein

said support face forms a hermetic seal against the biological tissue during operation of said vacuum source to secure the ablation instrument thereagainst.

2. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including

a fastening member configured to couple the support base to the ablation instrument.

3. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein

the support face is dimensioned to vertically align the ablation element against the targeted tissue.

4. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein

the hermetic seal and said vacuum source cooperate to form a vacuum force sufficient to retain said ablation device against said biological tissue.

5. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein

the support face is deformable to substantially conform to the shape of the biological tissue.

6. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein

the support face forms suction cup.

7. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein

the support base is disposed proximate a distal end of the ablating element.

8. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein

the support base is disposed proximate a proximal end of the ablating element.

9. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein

said orifice includes a plurality of orifices spaced apart peripherally about said window portion.

10. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein

said proximal and distal orifices are about 1 mm to about 2 mm in diameter.

11. A securing apparatus for selectively securing an ablating element of an ablation instrument proximate to a targeted region of a biological tissue comprising:

a support base adapted to couple to the ablation instrument, and defining a window portion configured to cooperate with the ablating element to direct a majority of an ablating field of the ablating element generally in a predetermined direction, said support base further defining a passage terminating at a support face of the support base at a proximal orifice positioned on a proximal end of said window portion, and at a distal orifice positioned on a distal end of said window portion;

a vacuum line in fluid communication with the passage; and

a vacuum source operatively coupled to the vacuum line, and formed to generate a vacuum force sufficient to hermetically seal the support member against the biological tissue to secure the ablation instrument thereto.

12. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein

the support face is dimensioned to vertically align the ablation element against the targeted tissue.

13. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein

the support face is deformable to substantially conform to the shape of the biological tissue.

14. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein

said orifice includes a plurality of orifices spaced apart peripherally about said window portion.

15. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein

said proximal and distal orifices are about 1 mm to about 2 mm in diameter.

16. A microwave ablation instrument for ablating biological tissue, comprising:

a transmission line having a proximal portion suitable for connection to an electromagnetic energy source;

an antenna coupled to the transmission line for generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation; and

a shield assembly coupled to the antenna to substantially shield a surrounding area of the antenna from the electric field radially generated therefrom while permitting a majority of the field to be directed generally in a predetermined direction, said shield assembly including;

a support base having a support face adapted to seat against the biological tissue proximate to the antenna, and defining a passage having one end coupled to a vacuum source and an opposite end terminating at an orifice at the support face;

wherein

said support face forms a hermetic seal against the biological tissue during operation of said vacuum source to secure the ablation instrument thereto.

17. A microwave ablation instrument as defined in claim 16, wherein

the transmission line is suitable for transmission of microwave energy at frequencies in the range of approximately 800 to 6000 megahertz.

18. A microwave ablation instrument as defined in claim 16, wherein

the antenna generates an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation in a radial direction.

19. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein

the support face is dimensioned to vertically align the ablation element against the targeted tissue.

20. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein

the support face is deformable to substantially conform to the shape of the biological tissue.

21. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein

said support face defines a window portion cooperating with the ablating element to direct a majority of an ablating field of the ablating element generally in a predetermined direction.

22. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein

said orifice includes a proximal orifice positioned on a proximal end of said window portion, and a distal orifice positioned on a distal end of said window portion.

23. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 22, wherein

said orifice includes a plurality of orifices spaced apart peripherally about said window portion.

24. A securing apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein

said proximal and distal orifices are about 1 mm to about 2 mm in diameter.