Flexible conductive polymer electrode and method for ablation
First Claim
1. An electrode for ablation therapy, the electrode comprising:
- a flexible conductive element for conducting electrical energy; and
a flexible conductive polymer member that is in electrically conductive contact with the flexible conductive element, wherein the flexible conductive polymer member comprises a pressure sensitive conductive polymer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrode for ablation therapy includes a flexible conductive element for conducting electrical energy and a flexible conductive polymer member in electrically conductive contact with the conductive element. A catheter shaft may be coupled to the conductive element and/or the flexible conductive polymer member. The flexible conductive element may be formed as a helical coil, a mesh coating or wrap, or any other suitable form, and may surround (wholly or partially) a flexible electrically insulative, and optionally thermally conductive, member. A heat sink may be thermally coupled to at least one of the flexible conductive polymer member and the flexible electrically insulative member. The flexible electrically insulative member may include a passageway for coolant fluid to cool the electrode during ablation. The passageway may include at least one efflux hole to permit coolant fluid to flow from the passageway, or may define a closed loop.
83 Citations
49 Claims
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1. An electrode for ablation therapy, the electrode comprising:
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a flexible conductive element for conducting electrical energy; and a flexible conductive polymer member that is in electrically conductive contact with the flexible conductive element, wherein the flexible conductive polymer member comprises a pressure sensitive conductive polymer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An ablation electrode for ablation therapy, the ablation electrode comprising:
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a flexible electrically insulative member, the member also being thermally conductive; a passageway for a coolant fluid to flow through the flexible electrically insulative member to cool the electrode during use; a flexible, conductive element for conducting RF energy, the flexible conductive element at least partially covering the flexible electrically insulative member; and a layer of flexible conductive polymer that covers at least part of the flexible conductive element, wherein the flexible conductive polymer comprises a pressure sensitive conductive polymer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of manufacturing an electrode for ablation therapy, the method comprising:
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forming an electrically insulative, thermally conductive, flexible shaft; forming a flexible, electrically conductive element for conducting RF energy, the conductive element at least partially covering the electrically insulative, thermally conductive, flexible shaft; and forming a layer of flexible conductive polymer that covers at least part of the flexible, electrically conductive element, wherein the flexible conductive polymer comprises a pressure sensitive conductive polymer. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A method of treating tissue, the method comprising:
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providing an electrode having a) a flexible conductive element for conducting RF energy and b) a layer of flexible conductive polymer that is in electrical contact with at least a portion of the flexible conductive element, wherein the flexible conductive polymer comprises a pressure sensitive conductive polymer; coupling an RF energy supply to the flexible conductive element; positioning the electrode in contact with a tissue specimen to be treated; and delivering RF energy to the tissue specimen. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. An electrode for ablation therapy, the electrode comprising:
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a conductive element for conducting electrical energy; a flexible conductive polymer member in electrically conductive contact with the conductive element, wherein the flexible conductive polymer member comprises a pressure sensitive conductive polymer; and at least one fluid passageway extending through at least a portion of the flexible conductive polymer member and including at least one efflux hole to permit a fluid to exit the flexible conductive polymer member. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of manufacturing a tissue ablation device, the method comprising:
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forming a conductive element; forming an ablation electrode by covering at least a portion of the conductive element with a flexible conductive polymer material, wherein the flexible conductive polymer material comprises a pressure sensitive conductive polymer; and forming at least one fluid passageway in the ablation electrode, the at least one fluid passageway including at least one efflux hole to permit a fluid to exit the ablation electrode. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of treating tissue, the method comprising:
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providing an electrode including a flexible conductive element for conducting ablation energy, a flexible conductive polymer material covering at least a portion of the conductive element, wherein the flexible conductive polymer material comprises a pressure sensitive conductive polymer, and a fluid passageway including at least one efflux hole that permits a fluid to exit the electrode; coupling an ablation energy supply to the conductive element; positioning the electrode in contact with a tissue specimen to be treated; delivering ablation energy to the tissue specimen; and flowing a coolant through the fluid passageway to cool the electrode.
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Specification