Medical probe device and method

• US 6,852,091 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2002
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vidamed, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vidamed, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharkey, Hugh R., Edwards, Stuart D., Lax, Ronald G., Lundquist, Ingemar H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez, Manuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson, Michael M
• Application Number:
  US10/124,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20020183740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 604 19- 22, 604/506, 604/508, 604/95.05, 604/164.01, 604/164.08, 604/164.09, 604/164.12, 604/182, 601/2, 606/39, 606/32, 606 41- 42, 606/33, 606 45- 50, 607/74, 607/96, 607/98, 607/99, 607/113, 607/115, 607/116, 607/101, 607/102, 607/109, 607/138, 600/171, 600175-176
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0241 for prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• 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 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00092 using thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00106 ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22072 with an instrument channel, e.g. for replacing one instrument by the other in cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22082 : after introduction of a substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/248 : Operations for treatment of snoring, e.g. uvulopalatoplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 : Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 : Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 : Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 : with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 : low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00095 : high, i.e. heat conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 : reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 : Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 : Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 : Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 : upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00726 : Duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00744 : Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0075 : Phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 : Duration
• 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 2018/00869 : Phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00886 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0091 : Handpieces of the surgical instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 : with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00946 : slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 : combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 : monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1273 : including multiple generators in one device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/128 : generating two or more frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 : with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2238 : with means for selectively laterally deflecting the tip of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3614 : using optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3782 : transmitter or receiver in catheter or minimal invasive instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3925 : ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0054 : with a closed fluid circuit, e.g. hot water
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0086 : the needles having bent tips, i.e. the needle distal tips are angled in relation to the longitudinal axis of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0087 : Multiple injection needles protruding laterally from the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0089 : Single injection needle protruding axially, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the catheter, from the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/009 : the needle having a bent tip, i.e. the needle distal tip is angled in relation to the longitudinal axis of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 : being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/018 : Catheters having a lateral opening for guiding elongated means lateral to the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 : Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 : Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/008 : Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 : Catheter tip comprising a tool
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 : for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 : Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• 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

Abstract

A medical probe device comprises a catheter having a stylet guide housing with one or more stylet ports in a side wall thereof and a stylet guide for directing a flexible stylet outward through the stylet port and through intervening tissue at a preselected, adjustable angle to a target tissue. The total catheter assembly includes a stylet guide lumen communicating with the stylet port and a stylet positioned in said stylet guide lumen for longitudinal movement from the port through intervening tissue to a target tissue. The stylet can be an electrical conductor enclosed within a non-conductive layer, the electrical conductor being a radiofrequency electrode. Preferably, the non-conductive layer is a sleeve which is axially moveable on the electrical conductor to expose a selected portion of the electrical conductor surface in the target tissue. The stylet can also be a microwave antenna. The stylet can also be a hollow tube for delivering treatment fluid to the target tissue. It can also include a fiber optic cable for laser treatment. The catheter can include one or more inflatable balloons located adjacent to the stylet port for anchoring the catheter or dilation. Ultrasound transponders and temperature sensors can be attached to the probe end and/or stylet. The stylet guide can define a stylet path from an axial orientation in the catheter through a curved portion to a lateral orientation at the stylet port.

Claims

1. A medical probe device comprising a catheter having a control end and probe end, the probe end including a stylet guide housing having at least one stylet port in a side wall thereof and guide means for directing a flexible stylet outward through the stylet port and through intervening tissue to a target tissue, the stylet having a radio frequency electrode and a layer of insulation extending around the radio frequency electrode but exposing a distal portion of the radio frequency electrode, the stylet being provided with a longitudinal lumen for introducing a fluid to the target tissue.

2. A medical probe of claim 1 wherein the electrode is a tube having an axial lumen extending therethrough for introducing the fluid to the target tissue.

3. A medical probe of claim 1 wherein the electrode includes a highly flexible metal.

4. A medical probe of claim 3 wherein the highly flexible metal is nickel-titanium alloy.

5. A medical probe of claim 1 wherein the stylet guide housing includes first and second stylet ports positioned approximately in a plane perpendicular to a central axis of the housing.

6. A medical probe of claim 1 including temperature sensor means mounted on the stylet guide housing for indicating the temperature in the tissue adjacent to the guide housing.

7. A medical probe of claim 1 including temperature sensor means mounted on the distal end of the stylet for indicating the temperature of the target tissue at the distal end of the stylet.

8. A medical probe of claim 1 wherein the stylet guide means defines a stylet path from an axial orientation in the catheter through a curved portion to a lateral orientation at the stylet port.

9. A medical probe of claim 1 in combination with at least one grounding plate, the grounding plate being adapted to draw electrical current passing from the radio frequency electrode through the target tissue for ablating the target tissue.

10. A medical probe of claim 1 further comprising a fluid supply coupled to the control end of the catheter for supplying the fluid to the longitudinal lumen of the stylet.

11. A medical probe of claim 10 wherein the fluid is a treatment fluid.