Methods for tissue ablation using pulsed energy
First Claim
1. A method for applying energy to a target site on a patient body structure comprising:
- providing an electrode terminal and a return electrode electrically coupled to a high frequency voltage source;
positioning the electrode terminal in close proximity to the target site in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, said electrically conductive fluid from a fluid source located outside of the patient;
applying a high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and the return electrode, the high frequency voltage being sufficient to vaporize the fluid in a thin layer over at least a portion of the electrode terminal; and
inducing the discharge of energy to the target site in contact with the vapor layer after said step of applying a high frequency voltagewherein said applying step is carried out by applying pulses of energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrosurgical probe comprises a shaft having an electrode array (12) at its distal end and a connector at its proximal end. The array (12) includes a plurality of isolated electrode terminals, and an electrosurgical power supply (28) is provided with a multiplicity of independently limited or controlled current sources and a connector. The electrosurgical probe and the power supply may be connected through their respective connectors so that the independent current sources are connected to individual electrode terminals. By applying very high frequency electrical energy to the electrode array, target tissue may be cut or ablated while heat dissipation through low impedance paths, such as blood and normal saline, will be minimized.
601 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for applying energy to a target site on a patient body structure comprising:
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providing an electrode terminal and a return electrode electrically coupled to a high frequency voltage source; positioning the electrode terminal in close proximity to the target site in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, said electrically conductive fluid from a fluid source located outside of the patient; applying a high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and the return electrode, the high frequency voltage being sufficient to vaporize the fluid in a thin layer over at least a portion of the electrode terminal; and inducing the discharge of energy to the target site in contact with the vapor layer after said step of applying a high frequency voltage wherein said applying step is carried out by applying pulses of energy. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for applying energy to a soft tissue at a target site of a patient comprising:
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providing a probe having a distal end section, said distal end section comprising at least one electrode terminal and a common electrode electrically coupled to a high frequency voltage supply; positioning the electrode terminal in close proximity to the target site in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, said electrically conductive fluid from a fluid source from outside the patient; applying a high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and the common electrode such that a current path is present through the electrically conductive fluid, and such that tissue is ablated in the vicinity of the electrode terminal; and wherein said distal section is adapted to minimize direct contact between the common electrode and the target site and wherein said applying step is carried out by applying pulses of energy to said soft tissue. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for applying energy to soft tissue at a target site of a patient comprising:
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providing an electrode terminal and a return electrode electrically coupled to a high frequency voltage source; positioning the electrode terminal in close proximity to the target site in the presence of an electrically conductive fluid, said electrically conductive fluid from a fluid source located outside of the patient; applying a high frequency voltage between the electrode terminal and the return electrode from a voltage source, the high frequency voltage being sufficient to vaporize the fluid in a thin layer over at least a portion of the electrode terminal; and inducing the discharge of energy to the target site in contact with the vapor layer after said step of applying a high frequency voltage and wherein said applying step is carried out by turning on and off said voltage source. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification