Multiple electrode ablation apparatus

• US 6,471,698 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1999
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rita Medical Systems Incorporated (AngioDynamics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lax, Ronald G., Edwards, Stuart D., Sharkey, Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US09/383,166
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 607/101, 607/102, 607/122, 607/154, 607/156, 600/374
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• 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 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• 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 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00101 using an array of thermosensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00273 Anchoring means for temporary attachment of a device to tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 : using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 : upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 : switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00726 : Duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00744 : Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• 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 2018/00827 : Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 : Voltage
• 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 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 : multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1435 : Spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 : for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/162 : located on the probe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 : with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 : Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 : for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 2999/00 : Aspects linked to processes or compositions used in powder metallurgy
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 3/1216 : Container composition
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 1/047 : comprising intermetallic compounds C22C1/0441 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 14/00 : Alloys based on titanium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 33/0285 : with Cr, Co, or Ni having a minimum content higher than 5%
• CPC Class Codes: C22F 1/183 : of titanium or alloys based thereon

Abstract

A tissue ablation apparatus includes a delivery catheter with distal and proximal ends. A handle is attached to the proximal end of the delivery catheter. At least partially positioned in the delivery catheter is an electrode deployment device. The electrode deployment devices includes a plurality of retractable electrodes. Each electrode has a non-deployed state when it is positioned in the delivery catheter. Additionally, each electrode has a distended deployed state when it is advanced out of the delivery catheter distal end. The deployed electrodes define an ablation volume. Each deployed electrode has a first section with a first radius of curvature. The first section is located near the distal end of the delivery catheter. A second section of the deployed electrode extends beyond the first section, ad has a second radius of curvature, or a substantially linear geometry.

Claims

1. A tissue ablation apparatus, comprising:

an introducer having a distal portion and a proximal portion;

an electrode device positionable within an interior of the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, the electrode device including at least a first RF electrode, a second RF electrode and a third RF electrode, each of the first, second and third RF electrodes having a tissue piercing distal end, a non-deployed state when positioned within the introducer and a deployed state when advanced from the distal portion of the introducer, the first, second and third RF electrodes being deployable with curvature from the introducer distal portion and exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer; and

a rigid electrode advancement member coupled to the electrode device to advance the first, second and third RF electrodes in and out of the introducer distal portion, where the electrodes exhibit at the selected tissue site a first curved section and a second curved section, and the advancement member being at least partly positionable in the introducer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an obturator with a tissue piercing distal end, the obturator being postionable in the introducer as the obturator is advanced through tissue.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second and third RF electrodes exhibits the changing direction of travel with at least two radii of curvature.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second and third RF electrodes exhibits the changing direction of travel with at least one radius of curvature and a linear section of each deployed RF electrode.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second and third RF electrodes exhibits the changing direction of travel with a single radius of curvature.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rigid electrode advancement member includes a cam.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cam is at least partially positionable in the introducer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a handpiece coupled to the introducer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the rigid electrode advancement member is coupled to the handpiece.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the rigid electrode advancement member and the handpiece form an integral unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the handpiece and the introducer form an integral unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first RF electrode includes a hollow lumen configured to receive a fluidic medium.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an insulator positioned in a surrounding relation to at least a portion of the introducer.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an insulator positioned in a surrounding relation to at least a portion of the first RF electrode.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the first RF electrode.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sensor is a thermal sensor.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the introducer.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an impedance monitor device coupled to the electrode device.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a feedback control coupled to the sensor and to the first RF electrode.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller;

a microprocessor coupled to the controller; and

a feedback control including circuitry and coupled to the electrode device, wherein RF energy is delivered to a tissue site, a measurement of a voltage and current of a tissue site are determined and the current adjusted according to the measurement of the voltage and current of the tissue site.

21. A method of deploying electrodes for defining an ablation volume, the method comprising:

providing an ablation apparatus including an introducer and an electrode device positionable in a lumen of the introducer, the electrode device having at least a three RF electrodes including a first RF electrode a second RF and third RF electrode, the first and second RF electrodes exhibiting a changing direction of travel along a length of each electrode deployed from the introducer;

positioning the introducer in a solid tissue mass to a selected tissue site; and

advancing the first and second RF electrodes from the distal portion of the introducer to form a three-dimensional pattern at a treatment region; and

passing radio frequency current amount the at least three RF electrodes or between the at least three RF electrodes and a return electrode.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least three RF electrodes are advanced symmetrically about an axis extending from the selected tissue site to the treatment region.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least three RF electrodes are evenly spaced from each other as they are advanced.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least three RF electrodes exhibit the changing direction of travel with at least two radii of curvature.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least three RF electrodes exhibit the changing direction of travel with at least one radius of curvature and a linear section.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least three RF electrodes exhibit the changing direction of travel with a single radius of curvature.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the introducer is advanced through tissue to the treatment region.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the electrode device is positionable in the lumen of the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing an obturator with a tissue piercing distal end; and

advancing the obturator through a lumen of the introducer to position the obturator at the selected tissue site.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the obturator is positionable in the lumen of the introducer as the obturator is advanced through tissue to the selected tissue site.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the introducer is positionable in a lumen of the obturator.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

removing the obturator from the lumen of the introducer;

positioning the electrode device in the lumen of the introducer after the obturator is removed from the lumen of the introducer; and

advancing the at least three RF electrodes from the introducer to the treatment region.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein the electrode device includes a fourth RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal end.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first, second, third and fourth RF electrodes are advanced from the introducer to form the three-dimensional pattern at the treatment region.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the electrode device includes fifth RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal end.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the first, second, third, fourth and fifth RF electrodes are advanced from the introducer to form the three-dimensional pattern at the treatment region.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the electrode device includes a sixth RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal end.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth RF electrodes are advanced from the introducer to form the three-dimensional pattern at the treatment region.