Multifunctional electrosurgical apparatus
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical apparatus for treating tissue comprising:
- an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region comprising a conductive region and one or more lumens therethrough;
one or more apertures defined by the shaft in communication with at least one of said one or more lumens;
a stylet occluding at least a portion of an opening defined by a distal end of said elongate shaft;
an electrical connector permanently coupled to said proximal region via a flexible electrical cable for coupling said shaft to a power source for supplying energy to said conductive region;
a temperature sensor associated with said distal region; and
at least one fluid delivery interface connection permanently coupled to said proximal region via a flexible tube for coupling a fluid delivery mechanism to deliver a treatment composition through at least one of said one or more apertures;
wherein said temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple and wherein said stylet is a component of said thermocouple.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical apparatus having improved placement accuracy is provided. The electrosurgical apparatus comprises an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen therethrough, a stylet positioned within a lumen, a conductive tip at the distal end for delivery of energy to the tissue, an electrical coupling at or near the proximal end for flexibly coupling a power source control unit to supply energy to the conductive tip, a fluid delivery connection interface flexibly coupled at or near the proximal end for coupling a fluid delivery mechanism. The apparatus further comprises a temperature sensor. A method of delivering electrical energy to a target treatment area of an animal body is also provided.
90 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical apparatus for treating tissue comprising:
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an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region comprising a conductive region and one or more lumens therethrough; one or more apertures defined by the shaft in communication with at least one of said one or more lumens; a stylet occluding at least a portion of an opening defined by a distal end of said elongate shaft; an electrical connector permanently coupled to said proximal region via a flexible electrical cable for coupling said shaft to a power source for supplying energy to said conductive region; a temperature sensor associated with said distal region; and at least one fluid delivery interface connection permanently coupled to said proximal region via a flexible tube for coupling a fluid delivery mechanism to deliver a treatment composition through at least one of said one or more apertures; wherein said temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple and wherein said stylet is a component of said thermocouple. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A treatment procedure for delivering energy to a treatment area of an animal body comprising:
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providing a treatment system comprising a power source, a fluid delivery mechanism and an electrosurgical apparatus; coupling said power source to said electrosurgical apparatus at a distance from said electrosurgical apparatus through an electrical coupling means flexibly coupled to said electrosurgical apparatus while maintaining said position of said apparatus within said animal body; coupling said fluid delivery mechanism to said electrosurgical apparatus at a distance from said electrosurgical apparatus through a fluid delivery interface connection coupled to said electrosurgical apparatus via a flexible tube while maintaining said position of said apparatus within said animal body; positioning the apparatus at or in the vicinity of a treatment area within said animal body; administering a treatment composition from said fluid delivery mechanism to said animal body via said electrosurgical apparatus while maintaining the position of the apparatus within said animal body; delivering energy from said power source to said animal body via said electrosurgical apparatus; and monitoring temperature at a distal region of said electrosurgical apparatus; wherein coupling said energy source and said fluid delivery mechanism to said electrosurgical apparatus at a distance from the electrosurgical apparatus reduces forces on the electrosurgical apparatus and allows said position of said electrosurgical apparatus to be maintained during the course of said treatment procedure.
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25. An electrosurgical apparatus for treating tissue comprising:
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an elongate shaft having a proximal region, a distal region comprising a conductive region and one or more lumens therethrough; one or more apertures defined by the shaft in communication with at least one of said one or more lumens; a stylet occluding at least a portion of an opening defined by a distal end of said elongate shaft; an electrical connector permanently coupled to said proximal region via a flexible electrical cable for coupling said shaft to a power source for supplying energy to said conductive region; a temperature sensor associated with said distal region; and at least one fluid delivery interface connection permanently coupled to said proximal region via a flexible tube for coupling a fluid delivery mechanism to deliver a treatment composition through at least one of said one or more apertures; wherein said temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple and wherein said conductive region is a component of said thermocouple.
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Specification