Electrosurgical device
First Claim
1. A transurethral needle ablation device for use by a human hand to treat the prostate of a human male using radio frequency energy from a radio frequency power source, the human male having a bladder with a base, a prostate and a penis with a urethra therein formed by a urethral wall extending from the base of the bladder through the prostate and the penis along a longitudinal axis with the prostate having tissue surrounding the urethral wall near the base of the bladder, comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities and having a passageway extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, a stylet slidably mounted in the passageway of the elongate probe member and having proximal and distal extremities, the stylet having a radio frequency conductive electrode and a layer of insulating material longitudinally disposed on the radio frequency conductive electrode for slidable movement thereon, handle means adapted to be grasped by the human hand coupled to the proximal extremity of the elongate probe member, connector means connected to the radio frequency conductive electrode and adapted to be coupled to the radio frequency power source for supplying radio frequency energy to the radio frequency conductive electrode, a finger actuatable element mounted on the handle means and adapted to be grasped by a finger of the hand grasping the handle means, the finger actuatable element being movable in one direction from a first position to a second position, means connecting the finger actuatable element to the stylet for initially maintaining the radio frequency conductive electrode and the insulating sleeve disposed thereon substantially stationary relative to one another while introducing the radio frequency conductive electrode and the insulating sleeve disposed thereon in unison into the tissue of the prostate when the finger actuatable element is moved in the one direction from the first position toward the second position and thereafter for causing at least a portion of the radio frequency conductive electrode to be exposed free of the layer of said insulating material in the tissue of the prostate as the finger actuatable element is moved further in the one direction toward the second position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical device comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities and a passage extending from the proximal extremity to an opening at the distal extremity. The elongate probe member is provided with an elongate cutout adjacent the opening so that the elongate probe member is formed with an elongate extension projecting alongside the cutout beyond the opening. A guide canula is mounted in the passage of the elongate probe member and has proximal and distal extremities and a lumen extending therethrough. A radio frequency electrode is disposed in the lumen and an insulating sleeve is coaxially disposed on the radio frequency electrode. A handle is secured to the proximal extremity of the guide canula for advancing and retracting the radio frequency electrode and the insulating sleeve with respect to the guide canula and for causing bending of the distal extremity of the guide cannula into the cutout. The extension of the elongate probe member provides support to the guide cannula against the force of the radio frequency electrode engaging the tissue. A method for using the device is provided.
305 Citations
33 Claims
- 1. A transurethral needle ablation device for use by a human hand to treat the prostate of a human male using radio frequency energy from a radio frequency power source, the human male having a bladder with a base, a prostate and a penis with a urethra therein formed by a urethral wall extending from the base of the bladder through the prostate and the penis along a longitudinal axis with the prostate having tissue surrounding the urethral wall near the base of the bladder, comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities and having a passageway extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, a stylet slidably mounted in the passageway of the elongate probe member and having proximal and distal extremities, the stylet having a radio frequency conductive electrode and a layer of insulating material longitudinally disposed on the radio frequency conductive electrode for slidable movement thereon, handle means adapted to be grasped by the human hand coupled to the proximal extremity of the elongate probe member, connector means connected to the radio frequency conductive electrode and adapted to be coupled to the radio frequency power source for supplying radio frequency energy to the radio frequency conductive electrode, a finger actuatable element mounted on the handle means and adapted to be grasped by a finger of the hand grasping the handle means, the finger actuatable element being movable in one direction from a first position to a second position, means connecting the finger actuatable element to the stylet for initially maintaining the radio frequency conductive electrode and the insulating sleeve disposed thereon substantially stationary relative to one another while introducing the radio frequency conductive electrode and the insulating sleeve disposed thereon in unison into the tissue of the prostate when the finger actuatable element is moved in the one direction from the first position toward the second position and thereafter for causing at least a portion of the radio frequency conductive electrode to be exposed free of the layer of said insulating material in the tissue of the prostate as the finger actuatable element is moved further in the one direction toward the second position.
- 6. A device for medical treatment of tissue at a treatment site through a natural body opening comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities and having a longitudinal axis, the elongate probe member having a sidewall with a passageway therein extending along the longitudinal axis, a radio frequency electrode disposed in the passageway, an insulating sleeve disposed on the radio frequency electrode for slidable longitudinal movement thereon, a handle coupled to the proximal extremity of the elongate probe member, finger operable means carried by the handle and connected to the radio frequency electrode and to the insulating sleeve for causing movement of the radio frequency electrode and the sleeve in the passageway and guide means carried by the elongate probe member and cooperatively coupled into the passageway for directing the radio frequency electrode and the insulating sleeve through a curved path extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis toward the tissue at the treatment site, the finger operable means including means for causing the radio frequency electrode and the insulating sleeve to extend from the elongate probe member in unison to a predetermined distance from the elongate probe member into the tissue at the treatment site and thereafter for causing the insulating sleeve to automatically retract relative to the elongate probe member when the radio frequency electrode is extended beyond the predetermined distance.
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8. An electrosurgical device for medical treatment of tissue at a treatment site beyond a wall defining a natural body cavity accessible from outside the body by a natural body opening comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities and a sidewall for forming a passage extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, the elongate probe member being provided with an opening in the distal extremity in communication with the passageway and an elongate cutout in the sidewall adjacent the opening, the elongate probe member being formed with an elongate extension projecting alongside the cutout beyond the opening, a guide cannula mounted in the passage of the elongate probe member and having proximal and distal extremities and a lumen extending therethrough from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, the distal extremity of the guide cannula being provided with a cylindrical wall having at least a portion thereof containing a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart circumferentially-extending slots subtending less than 360°
- formed therein to provide a flexible portion, a handle coupled to the proximal extremity of the guide cannula, means carried by the handle for causing bending of the distal extremity of the guide cannula at the flexible portion towards the cutout whereby the distal extremity of the guide cannula is movable to a bent position, a radio frequency electrode disposed in the lumen, an insulating sleeve extending around the radio frequency electrode but exposing a distal portion of the radio frequency electrode, means carried by the handle and secured to the radio frequency electrode and the insulating sleeve for advancing the radio frequency electrode and the insulating sleeve from the guide cannula through the wall to the treatment site and means for restricting backwards motion of the distal extremity of the guide cannula away from said cutout as the radio frequency electrode penetrates the wall, said means for restricting backwards motion of the distal extremity of the guide cannula including said elongate extension whereby rear support is provided to the distal extremity of the guide cannula when in its bent position against the force exerted by the radio frequency electrode on the guide cannula as the radio frequency electrode penetrates the wall.
- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
Specification