Cell necrosis apparatus

• US 6,569,159 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rita Medical Systems Incorporated (AngioDynamics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baker, James, Sharkey, Hugh, Edwards, Stuart D., Lax, Ronald G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US09/513,727
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 606/45, 606/50, 607/101-105
• 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: A61N 5/02 : using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/04 : Radiators for near-field treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/045 : specially adapted for treatment inside the body
• 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 cell necrosis apparatus comprises an elongated delivery device including a lumen and an energy delivery device. The energy delivery device includes at least a first and a second RF electrode each with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second RF electrodes are positionable in the elongated delivery device in a compacted state and deployable from the elongated delivery device with curvature in a deployed state. The first and second RF electrodes exhibit a changing direction of travel when advanced from the elongated delivery device to a selected tissue site. At least one infusion port is coupled to one of the elongated delivery device, the energy delivery device, the first RF electrode or the second RF electrode.

Claims

1. A cell necrosis apparatus, comprising:

an elongated delivery device including a lumen;

an energy delivery device including at least a first and a second RF electrode each with a tissue piercing distal portion, the first and second RF electrodes being positionable in the elongated delivery device in a compacted state and being preformed to assume a curved shape when deployed, the first and second RF electrodes exhibiting a changing direction of travel when advanced from the elongated delivery device to a selected tissue site;

at least one of the elongated delivery device, or at least one of the first or second RF electrodes having an infusion lumen terminating in at least one infusion port for fluid delivery therethrough;

a source of RF power operatively connected to the energy delivery device for supplying RF power thereto, to ablate tissue at the tissue site, and

a measurement device operatively connected to the energy delivery device and to the RF power source for measuring at least one of the current or voltage at the tissue site.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the measurement device is operable to control the delivery of power from the RF source to the energy delivery device at the tissue site.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor coupled to at least one of said RF electrodes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first RF electrode includes a first infusion lumen and the second RF electrode includes a second infusion lumen, and the apparatus further includes a liquid reservoir operatively connected to at least one of said infusion lumens for supplying a fluidic medium under pressure through the infusion lumen into said tissue site.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first infusion lumen terminates at a first infusion port to define a first fluid path and the second infusion lumen terminates at a second infusion port to define a second fluid path.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second fluid paths are configured to be one of fluidically or electrically isolated from each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second fluid flow paths are configured to have a fluid flow rate to first RF electrode be independent of a fluid flow rate to the second RF electrode.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the energy delivery device is configured to deliver energy to the tissue site and to infuse a delivered fluid into a selected portion of the tissue site.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said reservoir contains the fluidic medium and is operable to infuse said medium under pressure through said infusion lumen, and wherein at least one of the infusion port or the energy delivery device is adapted to deliver a fluidic medium.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fluidic medium is one of a paste, a gel or an emulsion.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fluidic medium has sufficient viscosity to substantially remain at the tissue site.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fluidic medium has sufficient viscosity to substantially remain at the tissue site under hyperthermic conditions.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the conductive fluidic medium includes one of an aqueous solution, an electrolytic solution or a saline solution.

14. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the apparatus further includes a first liquid reservoir operatively connected to the first RF electrode infusion lumen for supplying a first fluidic medium under pressure through the first infusion lumen into said tissue site and a second liquid reservoir operatively connected to the second RF electrode infusion lumen for supplying a second fluidic medium under pressure through the second infusion lumen into said tissue site.

15. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first fluidic medium is a conductive solution and the second fluidic medium is a chemotherapeutic agent.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is configured to control the delivery of the fluidic medium.