Method and system for heating solid tissue
First Claim
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1. A power supply for delivering radio frequency power to a tissue region in a body, the power supply being programmed to:
- monitor a power level being delivered to the tissue region;
increase the power being delivered to an elevated power level at which a rapid increase in impedance is detected;
determine the elevated power level at which the rapid increase in impedance is detected;
reduce the power being delivered to a level below the elevated power level to allow the impedance to decrease; and
increase the power being delivered to a level that is in a range of approximately 50% to approximately 90% of the elevated power level.
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Abstract
Method for heating tissue by delivering radio frequency energy through tissue electrodes having controlling energy delivery so that an abrupt increase in impedance between the electrodes and the tissue is observed, typically in the form of an abrupt decrease in power delivered to the electrodes. The power at which the impedance increases and/or the time required to induce such an increase in impedance, are relied on to determine acceptable ranges to achieve a maximum sustainable delivery of radio frequency energy to the tissue consistent with complete, rapid, and uniform heating of the tissue.
314 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A power supply for delivering radio frequency power to a tissue region in a body, the power supply being programmed to:
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monitor a power level being delivered to the tissue region; increase the power being delivered to an elevated power level at which a rapid increase in impedance is detected; determine the elevated power level at which the rapid increase in impedance is detected; reduce the power being delivered to a level below the elevated power level to allow the impedance to decrease; and increase the power being delivered to a level that is in a range of approximately 50% to approximately 90% of the elevated power level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for delivering radio frequency power to a target tissue region in a body, comprising:
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delivering the radio frequency power using a power supply programmed to rapidly increase an initial power level of a first power signal to a predetermined level, monitor the first power signal to detect an abrupt drop in the power level thereof, measure an elapsed time from initiation of the rapid power increase to detection of the abrupt drop in the power level, and deliver a second power signal at a power level below the predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for delivering radio frequency power to a target tissue region in a body utilizing a programmable power supply, the power supply comprising:
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means for rapidly increasing an initial power level of a first power signal to a predetermined level; means for monitoring the first power signal to detect an abrupt drop in the power level thereof; means for measuring an elapsed time from initiation of the rapid power increase to detection of the abrupt drop in the power level; and means for delivering a second power signal at a power level below the predetermined level based on the measured elapsed time.
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Specification