Fluid-assisted medical device
First Claim
1. A medical device comprising:
- a. a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
b. a tubular member having a proximal said a distal end, the tubular member extending from the distal end of the housing;
c. a first, translationally movable arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the first arm including a first electrode;
d. a second arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the second arm including a second electrode and being disposed coaxially with the first arm;
e. at least one solution infusion opening on each electrode, the solution infusion openings included within at least one groove formed on the first arm and the second arm of the device;
f. a solution delivery channel for delivery of a conductive solution to the solution infusion openings; and
wherein at least one of the first arm or the second arm is adapted to be coupled to a source of radiofrequency energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a medical device that includes a housing, a tubular member extending from the distal end of the housing, a first arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the first arm including a first electrode, a second arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the second arm including a second electrode and being disposed coaxially with the first arm, at least one solution infusion opening on each electrode, and a solution delivery channel for delivery of a conductive solution to the solution infusion openings. According to the invention, at least one of the first arm or the second arm is translationally moveable, and at least one of the first arm or the second arm is adapted to be coupled to a source of radiofrequency energy. The invention also provides a corresponding method for treating blood vessels or other tissues of the body.
436 Citations
56 Claims
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1. A medical device comprising:
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a. a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
b. a tubular member having a proximal said a distal end, the tubular member extending from the distal end of the housing;
c. a first, translationally movable arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the first arm including a first electrode;
d. a second arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the second arm including a second electrode and being disposed coaxially with the first arm;
e. at least one solution infusion opening on each electrode, the solution infusion openings included within at least one groove formed on the first arm and the second arm of the device;
f. a solution delivery channel for delivery of a conductive solution to the solution infusion openings; and
wherein at least one of the first arm or the second arm is adapted to be coupled to a source of radiofrequency energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A medical device comprising:
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an end effector comprising a first arm and a second arm, at least one of the first arm and the second arm translationally movable relative to the other arm;
the first arm including a first electrode and the second arm including a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode adapted to be coupled to a source of radio frequency energy;
at least one fluid exit on each arm;
a fluid delivery channel for delivery of a fluid to the fluid exits; and
the end effector configured to provide radio frequency energy from the electrodes simultaneously with the fluid from the fluid exits while compressing tissue located between the first arm and the second arm.
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33. A method of treating tissue comprising:
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providing a device comprising;
an end effector comprising a first arm and a second arm, at least one of the first arm and the second arm translationally movable relative to the other arm;
the first arm including a first electrode and the second arm including a second electrode;
at least one fluid exit on each arm;
a fluid delivery channel for delivery of a fluid to at least one of the fluid exits; and
the end effector configured to provide radio frequency energy from the electrodes simultaneously with the fluid from the fluid exits while compressing tissue located between the first arm and the second arm;
positioning tissue between the first arm and the second arm;
compressing the tissue located between the first arm and the second arm; and
providing radiofrequency energy from the electrodes simultaneously with fluid from the fluid exits while compressing the tissue located between the first arm and the second arm. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
the tissue includes a vessel; and
the method further comprises sealing the vessel.
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35. The method according to claim 33, further comprising:
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providing the radiofrequency energy to the tissue through a fluid coupling of the fluid; and
coagulating the tissue.
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36. A medical device comprising:
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a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
a tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, the tubular member extending from the distal end of the housing;
a first, translationally movable arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the first arm comprising a conductive porous polymer and including a first electrode;
a second arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the second arm comprising a conductive porous polymer and including a second electrode and being disposed coaxially with the first arm;
at least one solution infusion opening on each electrode, the solution infusion opening provided by the conductive porous polymer;
a solution delivery channel for delivery of a conductive solution to the solution infusion openings; and
wherein at least one of the first arm or the second arm is adapted to be coupled to a source of radiofrequency energy.
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37. A medical device comprising:
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a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
a tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, the tubular member extending from the distal end of the housing;
a first, translationally movable arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the first arm comprising a porous metal and including a first electrode;
a second arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the second arm comprising a porous metal and including a second electrode and being disposed coaxially with the first arm;
at least one solution infusion opening on each electrode, the solution infusion opening provided by the porous metal;
a solution delivery channel for delivery of a conductive solution to the solution infusion openings; and
wherein at least one of the first arm or the second arm is adapted to be coupled to a source of radio frequency energy.
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38. A medical device comprising:
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a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;
a tubular member having a proximal and a distal end, the tubular member extending from the distal end of the housing;
a first, translationally movable arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the first arm including a ball tip and a first electrode;
a second arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the second arm including a second electrode and being disposed coaxially with the first arm;
at least one solution infusion opening on each electrode;
a solution delivery channel for delivery of a conductive solution to the solution infusion openings; and
wherein at least one of the first arm or the second arm is adapted to be coupled to a source of radiofrequency energy. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A medical device comprising:
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an end effector comprising a first arm and a second arm at least one of the first arm and the second arm translationally moveable relative to the other arm;
at least one electrode on at least one of the first arm and the second arm at least one fluid exit on each arm;
a fluid delivery channel for delivery of a fluid to at least one of the fluid exits; and
the end effector configured to provide radio frequency energy from the electrode simultaneously with the fluid provided from the fluid exits while compressing tissue located between the first arm and the second arm. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
the end effector is further configured to at least partially couple the electrode and tissue with a fluid coupling of the fluid provided from the at least one fluid exit.
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43. The device of claim 42 wherein:
the fluid coupling is provided at least partially between the electrode and the tissue.
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44. The device of claim 43 wherein:
the fluid coupling is provided in a gap between the electrode and the tissue.
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45. The device of claim 43 wherein:
the fluid coupling is provided in a groove between the electrode and the tissue.
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46. The device of claim 42 wherein:
the fluid coupling is provided at an edge of the tissue.
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47. The device of claim 41 wherein:
the end effector is further configured to provide radio frequency energy from the electrode simultaneously with the fluid provided from the at least one fluid exit to tissue compressed between the first arm and second arm, the radio frequency energy provided to the tissue from the electrode through a fluid coupling of the fluid provided from the at least one fluid exit.
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48. A medical device comprising:
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an end effector comprising a first arm and a second arm, at least one of the first arm and the second arm translationally moveable relative to the other arm;
the first arm including a first tip and the second arm including a second tip;
the first tip comprising a first electrode and the second tip comprising a second electrode;
at least one fluid exit on each arm;
a fluid delivery channel for delivery of a fluid to the fluid exits;
the end effector configured to provide radio frequency energy from the electrodes simultaneously with the fluid from the fluid exits while the tips are located adjacent a tissue surface;
the tips configured to paint the tissue surface with the fluid as the tips are moved along the tissue surface; and
whereby the tissue may be coagulated with the application of radio frequency energy to the tissue from the electrodes simultaneously with the fluid from the fluid exits while the tips are fluidly coupled adjacent the tissue surface and moved along the tissue surface. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
the first electrode is separated from the second electrode by a separation distance; and
the separation distance between the first electrode and second electrode is adjustable.
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50. The device according to claim 48 wherein:
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the first electrode is separated from the second electrode by a separation distance; and
the separation distance between the first electrode and second electrode is fixed.
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51. The device according to claim 48 wherein:
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the first electrode is separated from the second electrode by a separation distance; and
the separation distance between the first electrode and second electrode is fixed by a locking mechanism.
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52. The device according to claim 48 wherein:
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the first electrode is separated from the second electrode by a separation distance; and
the separation distance between the first electrode and second electrode comprises an adjustable distance.
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53. The device according to claim 48 wherein:
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the first electrode is separated from the second electrode by a separation distance; and
the separation distance between the first electrode and second electrode comprises a fixed distance.
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54. The device according to claim 48 wherein:
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the first electrode occupies a first electrode position;
the second electrode occupies a second electrode position; and
the first electrode position relative to the second electrode position is adjustable.
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55. The device according to claim 48 wherein:
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the first electrode occupies a first electrode position;
the second electrode occupies a second electrode position; and
the first electrode position relative to the second electrode position is fixed.
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56. The device according to claim 48 wherein:
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the first electrode occupies a first electrode position;
the second electrode occupies a second electrode position; and
the first electrode position relative to the second electrode position is stationary.
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Specification