Method for performing intraurethral radio-frequency urethral enlargement
First Claim
1. A method of inducing a urethral enlargement at the prostate in an operative field in a patient, which includes a periurethral region of the prostate, comprising the steps of:
- inserting a distal portion of an elongate member into the urethra through the penis to a region of the prostate in the operative field without piercing the wall of the urethra, the elongate member having an active ring electrode disposed on an outer surface of the distal portion of the elongate member; and
applying an appropriate level of a high-frequency output from a high-frequency generator through the electrode to elevate the temperature of the urethra to at least 50°
C. to induce heat ablation of at least a portion of the urethra wall and at least a portion of the periurethral tissue within the operative field, thereby inducing formation of a cavity to enlarge a passageway within the urethra.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Relief of urethral obstruction is achieved by heat ablation of prostatic tissue by an ablation electrode passed within the urethra to a position in the prostate near the point of urethral obstruction. The electrode is coupled to a high frequency power supply to ablatively heat the urethra and the prostatic tissue near the urethra. Image guidance of the electrode placement is monitored by an imaging device. The temperature of the tissue is sensed at the electrode to control the high frequency heating energy and ablation process. The electrode has a blunt tip to help prevent piercing of the wall of the urethra during insertion of the electrode into the urethra through the penis and the positioning of the electrode tip near to the point of urethral obstruction. Several forms of electrodes, apparatus, and methods accommodate the specific objectives.
223 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of inducing a urethral enlargement at the prostate in an operative field in a patient, which includes a periurethral region of the prostate, comprising the steps of:
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inserting a distal portion of an elongate member into the urethra through the penis to a region of the prostate in the operative field without piercing the wall of the urethra, the elongate member having an active ring electrode disposed on an outer surface of the distal portion of the elongate member; and
applying an appropriate level of a high-frequency output from a high-frequency generator through the electrode to elevate the temperature of the urethra to at least 50°
C. to induce heat ablation of at least a portion of the urethra wall and at least a portion of the periurethral tissue within the operative field, thereby inducing formation of a cavity to enlarge a passageway within the urethra.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
inserting of the catheter into the urethra so that the balloon tip is inside the bladder of the patient; and
inflating the balloon tip so that the catheter is stably positioned in the urethra and that an exposed conductive portion of the electrode is in a fixed position in the urethra proximate to the region of the prostate.
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6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating image representations of the electrode in the region of the prostate with an X-ray imaging apparatus.
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7. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the high-frequency output includes forming the cavity such that the urethral passage is enlarged relative to a normal size of the urethral passage.
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8. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the high-frequency output includes applying the high-frequency output through the ring electrode to a return electrode.
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9. A method of inducing a urethral enlargement at the prostate within an operative field of a patient, comprising the steps of:
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inserting a distal portion of an elongate member into the urethra through the penis to a region of the prostate in the operative field without piercing the wall of the urethra, the elongate member having an active ring electrode disposed on an outer surface of the distal portion;
connecting the electrode to a high-frequency generator located external to the operative field; and
applying an appropriate level of a high-frequency output from the high-frequency generator through the electrode to elevate the temperature of a portion of the urethra in the region of the prostate to at least 50°
C. to induce ablation of at least a portion of the urethra wall and at least a portion of the periurethral tissue within the operative field, thereby inducing formation of a cavity to enlarge a passageway within the urethra.- View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
inserting the catheter into the urethra so that the balloon tip is inside the bladder of the patient; and
inflating the balloon tip so that the catheter is stably positioned in the urethra.
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15. The method of claim 9 wherein applying the output includes enlarging the passageway relative to a normal size of the urethral passage.
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16. The method of claim 9 wherein applying the output includes applying the output through the ring electrode to a return electrode.
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17. A method of treating the urethral passage, comprising:
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placing a distal portion of an elongate member intraurethrally into the urethral passage, the elongate member having an active ring electrode disposed on an outer surface of the distal portion of the elongate member, and energizing the electrode with high frequency energy to elevate a temperature of a wall defining the urethral passage and adjacent prostate tissue to about 50 to 100°
C. to ablate tissue of the wall and the adjacent prostate tissue to form a cavity communicating with the urethral passage.- View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of treating the urethral passage, comprising:
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placing a distal portion of an elongate member intraurethrally into the urethral passage, the elongate member having multiple circumferential electrodes disposed on an outer surface of the distal portion of the elongate member, and energizing at least one of the electrodes with high frequency energy to elevate a temperature of a wall defining the urethral passage and adjacent prostate tissue to about 50 to 100°
C. to ablate tissue of the wall and the adjacent prostate tissue to form a cavity communicating with the urethral passage.- View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of treating a urethral passage comprising:
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inserting a distal portion of an elongate member into the urethra, the elongate member having an active ring electrode disposed on an outer surface of the distal portion;
applying an appropriate level of a high-frequency output from the high-frequency generator through the electrode to elevate the temperature of a portion of the urethra to at least 50°
C. to induce ablation of at least a portion of the urethra wall and at least a portion of the periurethral tissue; and
maintaining the urethra wall at a temperature of at least 50°
C. for a period of time sufficient to kill the tissue.- View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification