Radio frequency ablation device for the destruction of tissue masses
First Claim
1. An ablation instrument, comprising:
- (a) an elongated cannula having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said cannula defining an internal lumen within said cannula, and said cannula defining a cannula axis;
(b) at least one conductor extending along at least a portion of the length of said lumen, said conductor having a proximal portion proximate the proximal portion of said cannula, and a distal portion proximate the distal portion of said cannula;
(c) a plurality of ablation stylets each having a proximal portion and a distal portion, each of said stylets coupled at the respective proximal portion of each of said stylets to the distal portion of said conductor, said stylets comprising a resiliently deflectable material, said conductor together with said stylets being mounted for axial movement along at least a portion of said conductor and said stylets, said ablation stylets having a substantially straight configuration in the absence of the application of external forces;
(d) a head positioned proximate to the distal portion of said cannula, said head being secured proximate the distal portion of said cannula, said head having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and said distal portion of said head comprising a head end; and
(e) deflection surfaces positioned between said head and said proximal portion of said cannula, said deflection surface being positioned closer to said head end, the deflection surfaces each being configured and positioned, in response to axial movement of said stylets, to deflect at least some of said stylets laterally and only outwardly along paths which extend away from said cannula axis causing said stylets to exit said deflection surfaces and move along substantially straight external paths external to said cannula and head, deflection by said deflection surfaces achieving most of the deflection in the path of the stylets;
wherein said head end is defined at the distal end of a trocar member, said trocar member having an outside surface, and said cannula having an outside surface, said trocar member having a proximal end secured proximate to the distal end of said elongated cannula and a distal end which a defines a trocar point; and
wherein said deflection surface comprises a number of open grooves defined proximate the proximal end of said trocar point, the distal ends of said stylets being positionable proximate to said grooves and at least partially within said trocar.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The inventive ablation element comprises an elongated cannula having a proximal end and a distal end. The cannula defines an internal lumen within the cannula and a cannula axis. A plurality of conductors contained within the lumen, each of the conductors has a proximal end proximate the proximal end of the cannula, and a distal end proximate the distal end of the cannula. A plurality of ablation stylets each has a proximal end and a distal end, and each coupled at the respective proximal end of the stylet to the distal end of a respective conductor, the stylets comprise a deflectable material, the conductors together with their respective stylets being mounted for axial movement. A trocar point defined proximate the distal end of the cannula. A deflection surface positioned between the trocar point and the proximal end of the cannula, the deflection surface being configured and positioned to deflect, in response to axial movement of the stylets in a direction from the proximate end of the cannula to the distal end of the cannula, at least some of the stylets laterally with respect to the cannula axis in different directions along substantially straight paths, the paths defining an ablation volume.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. An ablation instrument, comprising:
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(a) an elongated cannula having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said cannula defining an internal lumen within said cannula, and said cannula defining a cannula axis; (b) at least one conductor extending along at least a portion of the length of said lumen, said conductor having a proximal portion proximate the proximal portion of said cannula, and a distal portion proximate the distal portion of said cannula; (c) a plurality of ablation stylets each having a proximal portion and a distal portion, each of said stylets coupled at the respective proximal portion of each of said stylets to the distal portion of said conductor, said stylets comprising a resiliently deflectable material, said conductor together with said stylets being mounted for axial movement along at least a portion of said conductor and said stylets, said ablation stylets having a substantially straight configuration in the absence of the application of external forces; (d) a head positioned proximate to the distal portion of said cannula, said head being secured proximate the distal portion of said cannula, said head having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and said distal portion of said head comprising a head end; and (e) deflection surfaces positioned between said head and said proximal portion of said cannula, said deflection surface being positioned closer to said head end, the deflection surfaces each being configured and positioned, in response to axial movement of said stylets, to deflect at least some of said stylets laterally and only outwardly along paths which extend away from said cannula axis causing said stylets to exit said deflection surfaces and move along substantially straight external paths external to said cannula and head, deflection by said deflection surfaces achieving most of the deflection in the path of the stylets;
wherein said head end is defined at the distal end of a trocar member, said trocar member having an outside surface, and said cannula having an outside surface, said trocar member having a proximal end secured proximate to the distal end of said elongated cannula and a distal end which a defines a trocar point; and
wherein said deflection surface comprises a number of open grooves defined proximate the proximal end of said trocar point, the distal ends of said stylets being positionable proximate to said grooves and at least partially within said trocar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An ablation instrument comprising:
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(a) an elongated cannula having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said cannula defining an internal lumen within said cannula and said cannula defining a cannula axis; (b) at least one conductor extending along at least a portion of the length of said lumen, said conductor having a proximal portion proximate the proximal portion of said cannula, and a distal portion proximate the distal portion of said cannula; (c) a plurality of ablation stylets each having a proximal portion and a distal portion, each of said stylets coupled at the respective proximal portion of each of said stylets to the distal portion of said conductor, said stylets comprising a resiliently deflectable material, said conductor together with said stylets being mounted for axial movement along at least a portion of said conductor and said stylets, said ablation stylets having a substantially straight configuration in the absence of the application of external forces; (d) a head positioned proximate to the distal portion of said cannula, said head being secured proximate the distal portion of said cannula, said head having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and said distal portion of said head comprising a head end; (e) deflection surfaces positioned between said head end and said proximal portion of said cannula, said deflection surface being positioned closer to said head end, the deflection surfaces each being configured and positioned, in response to axial movement of said stylets, to deflect at least some of said stylets laterally and only outwardly along paths which extend away from said cannula axis causing said stylets to exit said deflection surfaces and move along substantially straight external paths external to said cannula and head, deflection by said deflection surfaces achieving most of the deflection in the path of the stylets; and (f) an anchor mounted in said instrument, said anchor extending rearwardly when within said instrument for movement between an internal position disposed within said instrument and an anchoring position wherein said anchor extends radially outwardly from said instrument and external of said lumen. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. An ablation element, comprising:
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(a) an elongated cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, said cannula defining an internal lumen within said cannula and a cannula axis; (b) a plurality of conductors contained within said lumen, each of said conductors having a proximal end proximate the proximal end of said cannula, and a distal end proximate the distal end of said cannula; (c) a plurality of ablation stylets each having a proximal end and a distal end, and each coupled at the respective proximal end of said stylet to the distal end of a respective conductor, said stylets comprising a resiliently deflectable material, said conductors together with their respective stylets being mounted for axial movement; (d) a front end defined proximate the distal end of said cannula; and (e) a deflection surface comprising an open groove leading to a deflection surface positioned proximate said front end, the deflection surface being configured and positioned to deflect, in response to axial movement of said stylets in a direction from said proximal end of said cannula to said distal end of said cannula, at least some of said stylets laterally with respect to said cannula axis in different directions along substantially straight paths, said paths defining an ablation volume. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An ablation instrument, comprising:
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(a) an elongated support member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, said elongated support member defining an elongated support surface, and an elongated support member axis; (b) at least one conductor extending along at least a portion of the length of said elongated support surface and mounted for axial movement of at least a portion of said conductor; (c) a plurality of ablation stylets, each of said stylets having a distal portion, said stylets being supported proximate the distal portion of said elongated support member, said stylets comprising a resiliently deflectable material, said stylets being mounted for axial movement of at least a portion of said stylets; (d) a head positioned to receive the distal portion of said stylets, said head comprising a head end; and (e) deflection surfaces in the form of open grooves leading to respective deflection portions positioned between said head end and said distal portion of said elongated support member, said deflection surfaces being configured and positioned, in response to advancement of said stylets toward said head end, to deflect at least some of said stylets laterally and only outwardly with respect to said elongated support axis causing said stylets to exit said deflection surfaces and move along substantially straight external paths external to said elongated support member and said head. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification