Cell necrosis apparatus

• US 6,652,516 B1
• Filed: 11/19/1999
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rita Medical Systems Incorporated (AngioDynamics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gough, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/443,946
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 606/45, 606/49, 606/50, 607/100-102, 604/21, 604/22, 604/114
• US Class Current: 606/41
• 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 2017/00101 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 2018/00666 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 2018/00744 : Fluid flow
• 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 2018/00827 : 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 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: A61M 3/0279 : Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 : for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 : for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/04 : Radiators for near-field treatment

Abstract

A cell necrosis apparatus has a flexible introducer including a lumen and a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue. An energy delivery device is positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue. The energy delivery device includes a first RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion and a second RF electrode with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second RF electrodes are deployable with curvature from the introducer at a selected tissue site in a lateral direction away from the periphery of the introducer.

Claims

1. A cell necrosis apparatus, comprising:

an introducer including a lumen;

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

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a rigid electrode advancement member coupled to the energy delivery device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an impedance measurement apparatus coupled to the energy delivery device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an insulator positioned in a surrounding relationship to at least a portion of the introducer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the first RF electrode.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the sensor is a thermal sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the introducer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a feedback control coupled to the sensor and to the first RF electrode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the introducer includes a tissue penetrating distal end.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third RF electrodes define an ablation volume in the deployed state at the selected tissue site.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second RF electrode includes a fluid delivery lumen and a fluid delivery port.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the third RF electrode includes a fluid delivery lumen and a fluid delivery port.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device further includes a fourth RF electrode positionable in the introducer in a compacted state and deployable from the introducer with curvature in the deployed state, the fourth RF electrode exhibiting a changing direction of travel when advanced from the introducer to the selected tissue site.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fourth RF electrode includes a fluid delivery lumen and a fluid delivery port.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the energy delivery device further includes a fifth RF electrode positionable in the introducer in a compacted state and deployable from the introducer with curvature in the deployed state, the fifth RF electrode exhibiting a changing direction of travel when advanced from the introducer to the selected tissue site.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the fifth RF electrode includes a fluid delivery lumen and a fluid delivery port.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the energy delivery device further includes a sixth RF electrode positionable in the introducer in a compacted state and deployable from the introducer with curvature in the deployed state, the sixth RF electrode exhibiting a changing direction of travel when advanced from the introducer to the selected tissue site.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the sixth RF electrode includes a fluid delivery lumen and a fluid delivery port.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a distal portion of the introducer includes a fluid delivery port coupled to the lumen of the introducer.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first, second and third RF electrodes are advanceable from introducer.

21. A cell necrosis apparatus, comprising:

a flexible introducer having a lumen, and having a tissue piercing distal end; and

an energy delivery device including at least a first RF electrode with a first tissue piercing distal portion and a second RF electrode with a second tissue piercing distal portion, the first and second RF electrodes being positionable in the introducer, and preformed to assume a curved shape when deployed, and exhibiting a changing direction of travel as the electrodes are advanced to a selected tissue site.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

a rigid electrode advancement member coupled to the energy delivery device.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second RF electrodes exhibit at the selected tissue the first curved section, the second section and a linear section coupled to the first and second curved sections.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

an insulator positioned in a surrounding relationship to at least a portion of the introducer.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the first RF electrode.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the sensor is a thermal sensor.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

an impedance measurement apparatus coupled to the energy delivery device.

30. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

a second introducer positionable within the lumen of the flexible introducer as the flexible introducer is introduced through tissue, wherein said at least first and second electrodes are positionable in the second introducer.

27. The apparatus of 21, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the introducer.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising:

a feedback control coupled to the sensor and to the first RF electrode.