Apparatus and method for electrode thermosurgery
First Claim
1. An electrosurgical instrument for use with a source of electrical energy to ablate tissue in a living subject, the instrument comprising:
- an elongated tissue-penetrating electrode including a rigid tubular member having a closed distal end defining an interior cavity extending from the closed distal end to a proximal end of the rigid tubular member, the rigid tubular member defining an electrically conductive surface capable of receiving electrical energy from a source of electrical energy;
at least one electrically conductive segment located on the elongated tissue-penetrating electrode, the at least one electrically conductive segment configured to receive electrosurgical energy from the rigid tubular member;
an insulation layer disposed on the elongated tissue-penetrating electrode defining an exposed portion of the elongated tissue-penetrating electrode at the distal end;
at least one sensor that detects temperature of tissue during ablation; and
a semiconductive material directly coated on the rigid tubular member and forming at least one resistive layer configured to connect the rigid tubular member with a corresponding at least one electrically conductive segment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An instrument for tissue ablation includes an elongated tissue-penetrating electrode including a rigid tubular member having a closed distal end defining an interior cavity extending from the closed distal end to a proximal end of the rigid tubular member. The rigid tubular member defines an electrically conductive surface capable of receiving electrical energy from the source of electrical energy. The instrument includes one or more electrically conductive segments on the electrode and configured to receive electrosurgical energy from the rigid tubular member. An insulation layer is disposed upon the electrode and defines an exposed portion of the electrode at the distal end. The instrument also includes at least one sensor that detects a temperature during ablation and a semiconductive material coated on the rigid tubular member that forms one or more resistive layers that connects the rigid tubular member with a corresponding electrically conductive segment.
707 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An electrosurgical instrument for use with a source of electrical energy to ablate tissue in a living subject, the instrument comprising:
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an elongated tissue-penetrating electrode including a rigid tubular member having a closed distal end defining an interior cavity extending from the closed distal end to a proximal end of the rigid tubular member, the rigid tubular member defining an electrically conductive surface capable of receiving electrical energy from a source of electrical energy; at least one electrically conductive segment located on the elongated tissue-penetrating electrode, the at least one electrically conductive segment configured to receive electrosurgical energy from the rigid tubular member; an insulation layer disposed on the elongated tissue-penetrating electrode defining an exposed portion of the elongated tissue-penetrating electrode at the distal end; at least one sensor that detects temperature of tissue during ablation; and a semiconductive material directly coated on the rigid tubular member and forming at least one resistive layer configured to connect the rigid tubular member with a corresponding at least one electrically conductive segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for targeting and ablating a volume of tissue to maximize the formation of a lesion, the system comprising:
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an electrical energy generator; an elongated tissue-penetrating electrode including a rigid tubular member having a closed distal end defining an interior cavity extending from the closed distal end to a proximal end of the rigid tubular member, the rigid tubular member defining an electrically conductive surface capable of receiving electrical energy from the electrical energy generator; at least one electrically conductive segment located on the elongated tissue-penetrating electrode, the at least one electrically conductive segment configured to receive electrosurgical energy from the rigid tubular member; a semiconductive material directly coated on the rigid tubular member and forming at least one resistive layer configured to connect the rigid tubular member with a corresponding at least one electrically conductive segment; an insulation layer disposed on the elongated tissue-penetrating electrode defining an exposed portion of the elongated tissue-penetrating electrode at the distal end; at least one sensor that detects a temperature during ablation; and a fluid conduit sized to extend into the interior cavity of the rigid tubular member, the fluid conduit having a first end in fluid communication with an adjustable fluid source, and a second end in fluid communication with the rigid tubular member, wherein the adjustable fluid source adaptively provides coolant to the fluid conduit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for targeting and ablating a volume of tissue to maximize the formation of a lesion, the method comprising:
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providing an elongated tissue-penetrating electrode including a rigid tubular member and having at least one electrically conductive segment disposed on the elongated tissue-penetrating electrode; directly coating a semiconductive material on the rigid tubular member, the semiconductive material forming at least one resistive layer, the at least one resistive layer configured to connect the rigid tubular member with the at least one electrically conductive segment; detecting a temperature using at least one sensor during ablation; supplying electrical energy from a generator to the rigid tubular member; supplying coolant to the rigid tubular member according to the detected temperature using an adjustable source of coolant; controlling a flow of electrical energy from the rigid tubular member to the at least one electrically conductive segment; and controlling a flow of coolant from the adjustable source of coolant to the rigid tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification