Radio frequency ablation apparatus with remotely articulating and self-locking electrode wand
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A radio frequency ablation apparatus comprising:
- a wand having a distal end and a proximal end;
an electrode adjacent said distal end of said wand;
a handle connected to said proximal end of said wand, and having a chamber inside said handle;
an electrical connector mounted on said handle and electrically connected to said electrode;
a wheel mounted in said handle, said wheel having a driving portion thereon, said wheel being contained within said chamber, and a window opening into said chamber through said handle, said wheel being partially exposed through said window;
a threaded shaft connected to said driving portion and movable longitudinally thereby; and
a wire coupling said threaded shaft and said distal end of said wand.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radio frequency ablation apparatus having an application wand which is articulating and self-locking in a selected configuration. The wand has a handle having a thumb wheel apparatus. A threaded bore extends coaxially through the thumb wheel. A threaded tube received in the threaded bore translates a wire which extends to the distal end of the wand. At the distal end of the wand, the wire passes over a bendable section in the wand. Pushing or pulling the wire bends the distal tip through a range of angles on both sides of a neutral linear position. The distal tip remains self-locked in a selected position when the thumb screw is not turned.
165 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A radio frequency ablation apparatus comprising:
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a wand having a distal end and a proximal end;
an electrode adjacent said distal end of said wand;
a handle connected to said proximal end of said wand, and having a chamber inside said handle;
an electrical connector mounted on said handle and electrically connected to said electrode;
a wheel mounted in said handle, said wheel having a driving portion thereon, said wheel being contained within said chamber, and a window opening into said chamber through said handle, said wheel being partially exposed through said window;
a threaded shaft connected to said driving portion and movable longitudinally thereby; and
a wire coupling said threaded shaft and said distal end of said wand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
a tube coupled a long an outer surface of said wand, said tube slidingly housing said wire. -
3. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 2 further comprising
a bendable section of said wand proximal to said distal end of said wand. -
4. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 3 wherein said tube extends immediately proximally of said bendable section and said wire extends distally of said bendable section.
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5. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 4 wherein said bendable section consists of a reduced part of said wand adjacent said wire.
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6. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 4 wherein said bendable section consists of an elastomeric segment.
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7. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 4 wherein said bendable section consists of a rotating joint.
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8. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 4 wherein said bendable section consists of a coiled spring.
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9. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 1 further comprising
a bearing coupled to said wheel, and a bearing surface within said handle, said bearing surface supporting said bearing. -
10. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 9 wherein said bearing comprises a cylinder and said bearing surface comprises a cylindrical chamber, said cylinder being slidingly received in said cylindrical chamber.
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11. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 1 further comprising
a pin extending from said threaded shaft and slidingly received in a slot in said handle. -
12. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pivoting attachment connecting said wire to said distal end of said wand.
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13. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 1 wherein said driving portion comprises a threaded bore and said shaft is a threaded shaft is received in said bore.
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14. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 1 wherein said driving portion comprises a worm gear and said shaft is a threaded shaft coupled to said gear.
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15. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 1 wherein said driving portion comprises a pinion gear and said shaft is a rack coupled to said gear.
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16. A medical catheter comprising:
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a wand having a distal end and a proximal end;
a handle connected to said proximal end of said wand and having a chamber within said handle;
a wheel mounted within said chamber in said handle, said wheel having a driving portion thereon, and said handle having a window opening into said chamber through said handle, said wheel being partially exposed through said window; and
a stylet, said stylet having a shaft connected to said driving portion; and
a wire coupling said shaft and said distal end of said wand. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
a tube coupled along an outer surface of said wand, said tube slidingly housing said wire. -
18. The medical catheter of claim 17 further comprising
a bendable section of said wand proximal to said distal end of said wand. -
19. The medical catheter of claim 18 wherein said tube extends immediately proximally of said bendable section and said wire extends distally of said bendable section.
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20. The medical catheter of claim 19 wherein said bendable section consists of a reduced part of said wand adjacent said wire.
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21. The medical catheter of claim 19 wherein said bendable section consists of an elastomeric segment.
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22. The medical catheter of claim 19 wherein said bendable section consists of a rotating joint.
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23. The medical catheter of claim 19 wherein said bendable section consists of a coiled spring.
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24. The medical catheter of claim 16 further comprising
a bearing coupled to said wheel, and a bearing surface within said handle, said bearing surface supporting said bearing. -
25. The medical catheter of claim 24 wherein said bearing comprises a cylinder and said bearing surface comprises a cylindrical chamber, said cylinder being slidingly received in said cylindrical chamber.
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26. The medical catheter of claim 16 further comprising
a pin extending from said stylet and slidingly received in a slot in said handle. -
27. The medical catheter of claim 16 further comprising a pivoting attachment connecting said wire to said distal end of said wand.
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28. The medical catheter of claim 16 wherein said driving portion comprises a threaded bore and said shaft is a threaded shaft is received in said bore.
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29. The medical catheter of claim 16 wherein said driving portion comprises a worm gear and said shaft is a threaded shaft coupled to said gear.
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30. The medical catheter of claim 16 wherein said driving portion comprises a pinion gear and said shaft is a rack coupled to said gear.
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31. A radio frequency ablation apparatus comprising:
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a radio frequency power source;
a wand having a distal end and a proximal end;
an electrode adjacent said distal end of said wand;
a handle connected to said proximal end of said wand, and having a chamber in said handle;
an electrical conductor electrically connecting said radio frequency power source to said electrode;
a wheel mounted in said handle, said wheel having a driving portion thereon, said wheel being contained within said chamber in said handle, and a window opening into said chamber through said handle, said wheel being partially exposed through said window; and
a stylet, said stylet having a shaft connected to said driving portion; and
a wire coupling said shaft and said distal end of said wand. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
a bearing coupled to said wheel, and a bearing surface within said handle, said bearing surface supporting said bearing. -
40. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 39 wherein said bearing comprises a cylinder and said bearing surface comprises a cylindrical chamber, said cylinder being slidingly received in said cylindrical chamber.
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41. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 31 further comprising
a pin extending from said stylet and slidingly received in a slot in said handle. -
42. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 31 further comprising a pivoting attachment connecting said wire to said distal end of said wand.
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43. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 31 wherein said driving portion comprises a threaded bore and said shaft is a threaded shaft received in said bore.
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44. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 31 wherein said driving portion comprises a worm gear and said shaft is a threaded shaft coupled to said gear.
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45. The radio frequency ablation apparatus of claim 31 wherein said driving portion comprises a pinion gear and said shaft is a rack coupled to said gear.
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Specification