Electrosurgical systems and methods with temperature control
First Claim
1. A method for treating tissue at a target site comprising:
- delivering an electrically conductive fluid to a target site in a patient'"'"'s body;
positioning an electrode terminal adjacent to or in contact with an irregular surface of a body structure at the target site in the presence of the electrically conductive fluid;
applying a high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and a return electrode, the voltage being sufficient to recontour the irregular surface of the body structure; and
controlling the voltage applied between the electrode terminal and the return electrode based on a temperature at the target site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Vascular catheter comprises a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an electrode array disposed near the distal end. The electrode array is located proximally of a common electrode, typically located on a movable guidewire, and includes a plurality of isolated electrode terminals. By positioning the common electrode within a stenotic region and contacting a leading surface of the stenotic region with the electrode array, the stenotic material can be heated by applying a high frequency voltage between the electrode array and the common electrode. The stenotic region can thus be recannalized by advancing the distal end of the catheter body through the heated stenotic material.
348 Citations
78 Claims
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1. A method for treating tissue at a target site comprising:
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delivering an electrically conductive fluid to a target site in a patient'"'"'s body;
positioning an electrode terminal adjacent to or in contact with an irregular surface of a body structure at the target site in the presence of the electrically conductive fluid;
applying a high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and a return electrode, the voltage being sufficient to recontour the irregular surface of the body structure; and
controlling the voltage applied between the electrode terminal and the return electrode based on a temperature at the target site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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13. A method for treating tissue at a target site comprising:
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positioning an electrode terminal adjacent to or in contact with an irregular surface of a body structure at the target site in the presence of electrically conductive fluid;
applying a high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and a return electrode, the voltage being sufficient to recontour the irregular surface of the body structure;
sensing a temperature at the target site; and
controlling the voltage applied to the electrode terminal and the return electrode based on said temperature. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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33. A method for reshaping a target tissue using an electrosurgical system, the method comprising:
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positioning an electrode array adjacent to or in contact with a surface of the target tissue, wherein the electrosurgical system includes a temperature sensor, and a high frequency power supply coupled to the electrode array and to the temperature sensor, the electrode array including a plurality of electrode terminals;
applying a high frequency voltage between the electrode array and a return electrode, the high frequency voltage being sufficient to reshape the target tissue; and
adjusting the high frequency voltage applied to at least one of the plurality of electrode terminals based on a temperature measured by the temperature sensor. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
prior to the adjusting step, measuring the temperature using the temperature sensor, the temperature sensor disposed at the probe distal end.
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38. The method of claim 33, wherein the high frequency power supply includes a plurality of independent current sources, each of the plurality of independent current sources independently connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of electrode terminals.
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39. The method of claim 33 wherein the electrode array includes at least six electrode terminals.
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40. The method of claim 33, wherein the electrode array includes at least 15 electrode terminals.
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41. The method of claim 33, wherein each of the plurality of electrode terminals protrudes from an insulating matrix.
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42. The method of claim 33, wherein each of the plurality of electrode terminals is flush with an insulating matrix.
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43. The method of claim 33, further comprising:
delivering an electrically conductive fluid to the target tissue, and wherein said applying step effects selective heating of the target tissue while limiting heating of the electrically conductive fluid.
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44. The method of claim 33, wherein the target tissue comprises connective tissue in or around a joint.
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45. The method of claim 33, wherein the target tissue comprises articular cartilage or an articular meniscus.
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46. A method for reshaping a target tissue using an electrosurgical system, the method comprising:
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positioning an electrode array adjacent to or in contact with a surface of the target tissue, wherein the electrosurgical system includes a high frequency power supply coupled to a probe, the probe including the electrode array, and the electrode array having a plurality of electrode terminals;
applying a high frequency voltage between the electrode array and a return electrode, the high frequency voltage being sufficient to reshape the target tissue; and
independently limiting current flow to selected ones of the plurality of electrode terminals when a low resistance path exists between the selected ones of the plurality of electrode terminals and the return electrode. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
manipulating the electrode array with respect to the target tissue, whereby the target tissue is reshaped.
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60. The method of claim 46, further comprising:
during said applying step, exerting pressure on the target tissue via the probe.
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61. The method of claim 46, wherein each of the plurality of electrode terminals are electrically insulated from each other.
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62. The method of claim 46, wherein the electrosurgical system further includes a resistance measurement means for measuring an electrical resistance of a medium in contact with each of the plurality of electrode terminals, and wherein the resistance measurement means prevents application of the high frequency voltage if the measured electrical resistance exceeds a pre-selected level.
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63. The method of claim 46, wherein the probe includes a shaft, and the electrode array is disposed at the shaft distal end.
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64. The method of claim 63, wherein the electrode array is planar, disc-shaped, or hemispherical.
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65. The method of claim 63, wherein the electrode array is linear.
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66. The method of claim 46, wherein the target tissue comprises connective tissue.
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67. The method of claim 46, wherein the target tissue is in or around a joint.
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68. The method of claim 46, wherein the target tissue comprises articular cartilage or an articular meniscus.
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69. A method for reshaping tissue at a target site, comprising:
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positioning at least one electrode terminal adjacent to or in contact with a surface of the tissue at the target site in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid;
applying a high frequency voltage between the at least one electrode terminal and a return electrode, the voltage being sufficient to recontour the surface of the tissue; and
controlling the voltage applied between the at least one electrode terminal and the return electrode based on a temperature of the tissue at the target site. - View Dependent Claims (70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78)
delivering the electrically conductive fluid to the target site or to the at least one electrode terminal.
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71. The method of claim 69, wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises normal saline irrigant.
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72. The method of claim 69, wherein the tissue has an electrical resistivity about four times as high as an electrical resistivity of the electrically conductive fluid.
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73. The method of claim 72, wherein the high frequency voltage has a frequency of about 50 KHz or greater.
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74. The method of claim 69, further comprising measuring the temperature of the tissue at the target site using a temperature sensor.
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75. The method of claim 69, wherein the at least one electrode terminal comprises a plurality of electrode terminals, each of the plurality of electrode terminals independently coupled to a high frequency power supply.
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76. The method of claim 69, wherein the high frequency power supply is further coupled to a temperature sensor.
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77. The method of claim 69, wherein the target tissue comprises connective tissue in or around a joint.
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78. The method of claim 69, wherein the target tissue comprises articular cartilage or an articular meniscus.
Specification