Surgical apparatus for positioning a diagnostic or therapeutic element within the body

• US 6,425,895 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2000
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EP Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: EP Technologies Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Swanson, David K., Snyder, Edward J., Fleischman, Sidney D., Whayne, James G., Jenkins, Thomas R., Thompson, Russell B., Koblish, Josef V.
• Primary Examiner(s): COHEN, LEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/644,847
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41-50, 607/99
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2911 rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00101 low, i.e. thermally insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00136 with polymer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00148 with metal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0016 Energy applicators arranged in a two- or three dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0091 Handpieces of the surgical instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00946 slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00952 rotatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 : monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 : Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/142 : at least partly surrounding the target, e.g. concave, curved or in the form of a cave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 : Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 : Transvascular endocardial electrode systems

Abstract

A surgical method and apparatus for positioning a diagnostic or therapeutic element within the body. The apparatus may be catheter-based or a probe including a relatively short shaft.

Claims

1. A surgical device, comprising:

a relatively short shaft defining a distal end and a proximal end; and

a malleable energy emitting device support section associated with the distal end of the relatively short shaft; and

at least two longitudinally spaced energy emitting devices associated with the malleable energy emitting device support section.

2. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the relatively short shaft is rigid.

3. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the relatively short shaft is malleable.

4. A surgical device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the relatively short shaft and the malleable energy emitting device support section define different bending properties.

5. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the relatively short shaft is between approximately 4 and approximately 18 inches in length.

6. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the relatively short shaft is between approximately 6 and approximately 8 inches in length.

7. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the malleable energy emitting device support section includes a malleable mandrel.

8. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the malleable energy emitting device support section includes a malleable hypotube.

9. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the malleable energy emitting device support section is between approximately 1 and approximately 10 inches in length.

10. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the malleable energy emitting device support section is between approximately 2 and approximately 3 inches in length.

11. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two longitudinally spaced energy emitting devices comprise soft tissue coagulation electrodes.

12. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the respective size and spacing of the at least two longitudinally spaced energy emitting devices is such that simultaneous transmission of energy thereby to an indifferent electrode will produce an area of coagulated tissue that spans the at least two longitudinally spaced energy emitting devices.

13. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a handle associated with the proximal end of the relatively short shaft.

14. A surgical device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensor associated with at least one of the longitudinally spaced energy emitting devices.

15. A surgical device, comprising:

a relatively short shaft defining a distal end and a proximal end; and

a malleable distal section associated with the distal end of the relatively short shaft; and

lesion creation means, associated with the malleable distal section, for forming a continuous elongate lesion that extends along a substantial portion of the malleable distal section.

16. A surgical device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the relatively short shaft is rigid.

17. A surgical device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the relatively short shaft is malleable.

18. A surgical device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the relatively short shaft and the malleable distal section define different bending properties.

19. A surgical device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the relatively short shaft is between approximately 4 and approximately 18 inches in length.

20. A surgical device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the relatively short shaft is between approximately 6 and approximately 8 inches in length.

21. A surgical device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the malleable distal section includes a malleable mandrel.

22. A surgical device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the malleable distal section includes a malleable hypotube.

23. A surgical device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the malleable distal section is between approximately 1 and approximately 10 inches in length.

24. A surgical device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the malleable distal section is between approximately 2 and approximately 3 inches in length.

25. A surgical device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a handle associated with the proximal end of the relatively short shaft.

26. A surgical device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a temperature sensor associated with the lesion creation means.