Multi-modality ablation device

• US 7,074,218 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Washington, Ebonia, Kwok, Jonathan, Pendekanti, Rajesh, Podany, Vaclav O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peffley, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/609,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20040267252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 606/27, 606/28, 606/41, 604/22, 600/437, 600/439, 600/459, 600/462, 600/466, 601/2, 601/3
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

An instrument for ablation of tissue. The instrument including: a body having at least one surface for contacting a tissue surface, the at least one surface being substantially planar; an ultrasonic transducer disposed in the body for generating ultrasonic energy and directing at least a portion of the ultrasonic energy to the tissue surface, the ultrasonic transducer being operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator; at least one radio-frequency electrode disposed on the at least one surface for directing radio frequency energy to the tissue surface, the at least one radio-frequency electrode being operatively connected to a power source; and one or more switches for selectively coupling at least one of the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic generator and the at least one radio-frequency electrode to the power source.

Claims

1. An instrument for ablation of tissue, the instrument comprising:

a body having at least one surface for contacting a tissue surface, the at least one surface being substantially planar, and a heat exchanger;

an ultrasonic transducer disposed in the body for generating ultrasonic energy and directing at least a portion of the ultrasonic energy to the tissue surface, the ultrasonic transducer being operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator;

at least one radio-frequency electrode disposed on the at least one surface for directing radio frequency energy to the tissue surface, the at least one radio-frequency electrode being operatively connected to a power source;

a tissue thickness measuring means for measuring a thickness of the tissue to be ablated; and

one or more switches for selectively coupling at least one of the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic generator and the at least one radio-frequency electrode to the power source based on a measured thickness of the tissue, wherein the heat exchanger cools at least one of the ultrasonic transducer, the at least one radio-frequency electrode, and the tissue surface.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a non- conductive head, the non-conductive head having a cavity for housing the ultrasonic transducer.

3. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the at least one radio-frequency electrode comprises first and second radio-frequency electrodes, the first radio-frequency electrode being maintained at a first polarity and the second radio-frequency electrode being maintained at a second polarity different from the first polarity.

4. The instrument of claim 3, wherein the first and second radio frequency electrodes comprises first and second conductive surfaces, respectively, disposed on the non-conductive head.

5. The instrument of claim 4, wherein the first and second conductive surfaces are separated by the cavity.

6. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the cavity is enclosed with an acoustic window on the at least one surface.

7. An instrument for ablation of tissue, the instrument comprising:

a tissue thickness measuring means for measuring a thickness of the tissue to be ablated;

an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic energy and directing at least a portion of the ultrasonic energy to a tissue surface based on the measured thickness of the tissue;

at least one radio-frequency electrode for directing radio frequency energy to the tissue surface based on the measured thickness of the tissue, the at least one radio frequency electrode being disposed substantially in a plane with the ultrasonic transducer; and

a heat exchanger for cooling at least one of the ultrasonic transducer, the at least one radio-frequency electrode, and the tissue surface.

8. The instrument of claim 7, further comprising one or more switches for selectively powering at least one of the ultrasonic transducer and the at least one radio-frequency electrode.