Method for treating tissue in arthroscopic environment using precooling and apparatus for same
First Claim
1. A method for treating tissue in an arthroscopic environment, comprising the steps of precooling the arthroscopic environment and adjacent structures, providing a thermal energy delivery device including a probe with a distal end, a proximal end and a thermal energy delivery surface, providing a thermal energy source coupled to the thermal energy delivery surface, positioning the thermal energy delivery surface adjacent to a targeted tissue surface and delivering sufficient thermal energy from the thermal energy delivery surface to modify at least a portion of the targeted tissue surface, the precooling step being discontinued before the commencement of the delivering step.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal energy delivery apparatus has a probe including a distal end and a proximal end. A first electrode is positioned at the distal end of the probe. The first electrode is configured to deliver sufficient thermal energy to a fibrillated cartilage surface to reduce a level of fibrillation of the fibrillated cartilage surface. A cabling is coupled to the proximal end of the probe. A method for thermal protection of non-targeted tissues that may be exposed to thermal probes used during arthroscopic procedures includes a pre-procedural cooling Lavage. The pre-cooled tissues provide a convective buffer for tissues not intended for thermal intervention, thereby reducing collateral damage.
-
Citations
38 Claims
- 1. A method for treating tissue in an arthroscopic environment, comprising the steps of precooling the arthroscopic environment and adjacent structures, providing a thermal energy delivery device including a probe with a distal end, a proximal end and a thermal energy delivery surface, providing a thermal energy source coupled to the thermal energy delivery surface, positioning the thermal energy delivery surface adjacent to a targeted tissue surface and delivering sufficient thermal energy from the thermal energy delivery surface to modify at least a portion of the targeted tissue surface, the precooling step being discontinued before the commencement of the delivering step.
-
13. A method of protecting non-targeted tissues in an arthroscopic environmrent, comprising the steps of precooling the arthroscopic environment and adjacent structures by means of an irrigating solution selected from liquids consisting of normal saline, ringers lactated solution, Glycine, and bacteriostatic water, the composition of the irrigating solution being modified to lower a freezing point by the addition of at least one substance that effects a decrease in the freezing point and is selected from the group consisting of glycine, glucose and electrolyte, providing a thermal energy delivery device including a probe with a distal end, a proximal end and a thermal energy delivery surface, providing a thermal energy source coupled to the thermal energy delivery surface, positioning the thermal energy delivery surface adjacent to a targeted tissue surface and delivering sufficient thermal energy from the thermal energy delivery surface to modify at least a portion of the targeted tissue surface.
- 14. A method for treating tissue within an arthroscopic environment, comprising the steps of precooling the arthroscopic environment and adjacent structures, providing a thermal energy delivery device including a probe with a distal end, a proximal end and a thermal energy delivery surface, providing a thermal energy source coupled to the thermal energy delivery surface, positioning the thermal energy delivery surface adjacent to an articular joint lining and delivering sufficient thermal energy from the thermal energy delivery surface to reduce a level of fibrillation at a fibrillated cartilage surface.
- 29. An apparatus to protect non-targeted tissues in an arthros environment, comprising a thermal energy delivery device including a probe with a distal end, a proximal end and a thermal energy delivery surface, a thermal energy source coupled to the thermal energy delivery surface, a conduit for providing a cooling irrigating solution to the arthroscopic environment and a source of a cooling liquid coupled to the conduit, the liquid being modified to lower a freezing point by the addition of at least one substance that effects a decrease in the freezing point and is selected from the group consisting of glycine, glucose and electrolyte.
- 33. A method for treating tissue in an arthroscopic environment having adjacent structures with a thermal energy delivery device having proximal and distal extremities with an electrode carried by the distal extremity and a thermal energy source coupled to the proximal extremity and the electrode, comprising the steps of precooling the arthroscopic environment and the adjacent structures, positioning the electrode adjacent to the targeted tissue and delivering thermal energy from the thermal energy source to the electrode to modify at least a portion of the targeted tissue, the precooling step being discontinued before the commencement of the delivering step whereby the precooling of the arthroscopic environment minimizes damage to the adjacent structures.
-
35. The method claim 35, wherein the delivering step includes the step of delivering radio frequency energy between the radio frequency electrode and a return electrode coupled to the radio frequency generator.
-
38. A method for treating tissue in an arthroscopic environment having adjacent structures with a thermal energy delivery device having proximal and distal extremities with an electrode carried by the distal extremity and a thermal energy source coupled to the proximal extremity and the electrode, comprising the steps of precooling the arthroscopic environment and the adjacent structures, positioning the electrode adjacent to the targeted tissue and delivering thermal energy from the thermal energy source to the electrode to modify at least a portion of the targeted tissue, the delivering step including the step of delivering radio frequency energy between the radio frequency electrode and a return electrode coupled to the radio frequency generator and carried by the distal extremity of the thermal energy delivery device, whereby the precooling of the arthroscopic environment minimizes damage to the adjacent structures.
Specification