Holders for ablation devices, surgical devices employing such holders, and methods of employing such surgical devices

• US 6,706,041 B1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Contract Medical Manufacturing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Doctors Research Group, Inc. (Abyrx, Inc.)
• Inventors: Costantino, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael F.
• Application Number:
  US10/051,112
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/45, 606/46, 606/48-50, 606/15-17, 604/35
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes

Abstract

A holder for an ablation device includes an inner cavity having a first opening formed therethrough, in which the inner cavity is adapted to receive an ablation device. In an embodiment, the holder may include a first outer cavity surrounding the inner cavity. In another embodiment, the holder may include a tip portion having a second opening formed therethrough, in which the tip portion is formed at a first end of the holder and extends beyond the inner cavity, such that a reaction chamber is formed between the first opening and the second opening. A surgical device includes a holder for an ablation device, which includes an inner cavity having a first opening formed therethrough, in which the inner cavity is adapted to receive an ablation device. The surgical device also includes an ablation device disposed within the inner cavity. In an embodiment, the holder may include a first outer cavity surrounding the inner cavity. In another embodiment, the holder may include a tip portion having a second opening formed therethrough, in which the tip portion is formed at a first end of the holder and extends beyond the inner cavity, such that a reaction chamber is formed between the first opening and the second opening.

Claims

1. A holder for an ablation device comprising:

an inner cavity having a first opening formed therethrough, wherein said inner cavity is adapted to receive an ablation device;

a first outer cavity surrounding at least a portion of said inner cavity;

a tip portion having a second opening formed through an end of said tip portion, wherein said tip portion extends beyond said inner cavity and said first outer cavity, such that a reaction chamber is formed between said first opening and said second opening;

means for drawing at least a portion of patient'"'"'s tissue inside said reaction chamber; and

means for irrigating said portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue drawn inside said reaction chamber.

2. The holder of claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting a distance between said first opening and said second opening.

3. The holder of claim 1, wherein when an ablation device is disposed within said inner cavity, at least a portion of said ablation device is positioned inside said reaction chamber and said ablation device is removable from said inner cavity.

4. The holder of claim 1, wherein when said patient'"'"'s tissue is drawn inside said reaction chamber, said patient'"'"'s tissue forms a substantially airtight seal with said second opening, wherein the means for drawing at least a portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue inside said reaction chamber comprises a vacuum supply line, at least a portion of which is in communication with said inner cavity or said first outer cavity, and the means for irrigating said portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue drawn inside said reaction chamber comprises a conductive fluid supply line, at least a portion of which is in communication with said inner cavity or said first outer cavity.

5. The holder of claim 1, wherein the means for drawing at least a portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue inside said reaction chamber comprises a vacuum supply line, and the means for irrigating said portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue drawn inside said reaction chamber comprises a conductive fluid supply line.

6. The holder of claim 5 further comprising a second outer cavity surrounding at least a portion of said first outer cavity.

7. The holder of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of said vacuum supply line is in communication with said first outer cavity or said second outer cavity, and at least a portion of said conductive fluid supply line is in communication with said first outer cavity or said second outer cavity.

8. The holder of claim 7, wherein said conductive fluid supply line is positioned substantially opposite said vacuum supply line.

9. The holder of claim 7, wherein said conductive fluid comprises a saline solution.

10. The holder of claim 7 further comprising a shaft comprising at least one ventilation hole, wherein said shaft is connected to said tip portion, and at least a portion of said vacuum supply line and at least a portion of said conductive fluid supply line are in communication with said shaft.

11. The holder of claim 1, wherein said reaction chamber has a diameter between about 0.1 inches and about 0.5 inches.

12. The holder of claim 1, further comprising a video capture device positioned inside said reaction chamber.

13. The holder of claim 12, wherein said video capture device comprises a fiber optic camera.

14. The holder of claim 1, wherein a distance between said first opening and said second opening is between about 0.010 centimeters and about 2.000 centimeters.

15. A holder for an ablation device comprising:

an inner cavity having a first opening formed therethrough, wherein said inner cavity is adapted to receive an ablation device;

a tip portion having a second opening formed through an end of said tip portion, wherein said tip portion extends beyond said inner cavity, such that a reaction chamber is formed between said first opening and said second opening;

means for drawing at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s tissue inside said reaction chamber; and

means for irrigating said portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue drawn inside said reaction chamber.

16. The holder of claim 15 further comprising a first outer cavity surrounding at least a portion of said inner cavity, wherein said tip portion encloses at least a portion of said inner cavity and at least a portion of said first outer cavity.

17. The holder of claim 16 further comprising means for adjusting a distance between said first opening and said second opening.

18. The holder of claim 16, wherein when said patient'"'"'s tissue is drawn inside said reaction chamber, said patient'"'"'s tissue forms a substantially airtight seal with said second opening, wherein the means for drawing at least a portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue inside said reaction chamber comprises a vacuum supply line, at least a portion of which is in communication with said inner cavity or said first outer cavity, and the means for irrigating said portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue drawn inside said reaction chamber comprises a conductive fluid supply line, at least a portion of which is in communication with said inner cavity or said first outer cavity.

19. The holder of claim 16, wherein the means for drawing at least a portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue inside said reaction chamber comprises a vacuum supply line, and the means for irrigating said portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue drawn inside said reaction chamber comprises a conductive fluid supply line.

20. The holder of claim 19 further comprising a second outer cavity surrounding at least a portion of said first outer cavity.

21. The holder of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of said vacuum supply line is in communication with said first outer cavity or said second outer cavity, and at least a portion of said conductive fluid supply line is in communication with said first outer cavity or said second outer cavity.

22. A surgical device comprising:

a holder for an ablation device, wherein said holder comprises;

an inner cavity having a first opening formed therethrough, wherein said inner cavity is adapted to receive an ablation device; and

a first outer cavity surrounding at least a portion of said inner cavity;

a tip portion having a second opening formed through an end of said tip portion, wherein said tip portion extends beyond said inner cavity and said first outer cavity, such that a reaction chamber is formed between said first opening and said second opening;

means for drawing at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s tissue inside said reaction chamber; and

means for irrigating said portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue drawn inside said reaction chamber; and

an ablation device disposed within said inner cavity.

23. The surgical device of claim 22, wherein said holder further comprises means for adjusting a distance between said first opening and said second opening.

24. The surgical device of claim 22, wherein at least a portion of said ablation device is positioned inside said reaction chamber, and said ablation device is removable from said inner cavity.

25. The surgical device of claim 22, wherein when said patient'"'"'s tissue is drawn inside said reaction chamber, said patient'"'"'s tissue forms a substantially airtight seal with said second opening.

26. The surgical device of claim 22, wherein the means for drawing at least a portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue inside said reaction chamber comprises a vacuum supply line, and the means for irrigating said portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue drawn inside said reaction chamber comprises a conductive fluid supply line.

27. The surgical device of claim 26, wherein said holder further comprises a second outer cavity surrounding at least a portion of said first outer cavity.

28. The surgical device of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of said vacuum supply line is in communication with said first outer cavity or said second outer cavity, and at least a portion of said conductive fluid supply line is in communication with said first outer cavity or said second outer cavity.

29. The surgical device of claim 22, wherein at least a portion of said ablation device is positioned inside said reaction chamber.

30. The surgical device of claim 29, wherein said portion of said ablation device positioned inside said reaction chamber and said patient'"'"'s tissue do not contact during a surgical procedure.

31. A surgical device comprising:

a holder for an ablation device, wherein said holder comprises;

an inner cavity having a first opening formed therethrough, wherein said inner cavity is adapted to receive an ablation device;

a tip portion having a second opening formed through an end of the tip portion, wherein said tip portion extends beyond said inner cavity, such that a reaction chamber is formed between said first opening and said second opening;

means for drawing at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s tissue inside said reaction chamber; and

means for irrigating said portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue drawn inside said reaction chamber

an ablation device disposed within said inner cavity.

32. The surgical device of claim 31, wherein said holder further comprises a first outer cavity surrounding at least a portion of said inner cavity, wherein said tip portion encloses at least a portion of said inner cavity and at least a portion of said first outer cavity, wherein said ablation device is removable from said inner cavity.

33. The surgical device of claim 32, wherein said holder further comprises means for adjusting a distance between said first opening and said second opening.

34. The surgical device of claim 32, wherein at least a portion of said ablation device is positioned inside said reaction chamber, and said ablation device is removable from said inner cavity.

35. The surgical device of claim 32, wherein when said patient'"'"'s tissue is drawn inside said reaction chamber, said patient'"'"'s tissue forms a substantially airtight seal with said second opening.

36. The surgical device of claim 32, wherein the means for drawing at least a portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue inside said reaction chamber comprises a vacuum supply line, and the means for irrigating said portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue drawn inside said reaction chamber comprises a conductive fluid supply line.

37. The surgical device of claim 36, wherein said holder further comprises a second outer cavity surrounding at least a portion of said first outer cavity.

38. The surgical device of claim 37, wherein at least a portion of said vacuum supply line is in communication with said first outer cavity or said second outer cavity, and at least a portion of said conductive fluid supply line is in communication with said first outer cavity or said second outer cavity.

39. The surgical device of claim 38, wherein at least a portion of said ablation device is positioned inside said reaction chamber.

40. The surgical device of claim 39, wherein said portion of said ablation device positioned inside said reaction chamber and said patient'"'"'s tissue do not contact during a surgical procedure.

41. A method of performing a surgical procedure comprising the steps of:

(a) disposing an ablation device within a holder, wherein said holder comprises;

an inner cavity having a first opening formed therethrough, wherein said inner cavity is adapted to receive said ablation device; and

a tip portion having a second opening formed through an end of the tip portion, wherein said tip portion extends beyond said inner cavity, such that a reaction chamber is formed between said first opening and said second opening,

(b) drawing at least one portion of a patient'"'"'s tissue inside said reaction chamber; and

(c) after the performance of step (b), irrigating said at least one portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising the steps of:

ablating said at least one portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue drawn inside said reaction chamber; and

removing at least a portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue which disseminates within said reaction chamber during said ablation of said patient'"'"'s tissue.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of irrigating said portion of said patient'"'"'s tissue drawn inside said reaction chamber comprises the step of maintaining conductive fluid inside said reaction chamber throughout said ablation of said patient'"'"'s tissue.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising the steps of removing said ablation device from said inner cavity when ablation of said patient'"'"'s tissue is complete.