Interfacing media manipulation with non-ablation radiofrequency energy system and method

• US 8,235,979 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuortho Surgical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nuortho Surgical Inc.
• Inventors: Morgan, Roy E., Auge, Wayne K. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Application Number:
  US12/757,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20100262136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 606/32, 606/41
• US Class Current: 606/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals

Abstract

The effects produced by surgical devices that deploy an electrical circuit between electrodes are dependent on the nature of electrical work perform upon the conductive media in an around biologic tissues. Non-ablation radiofrequency surgical devices utilize a protective housing that provides, based upon procedure-specific needs, the ability to 1. move, manipulate, and segregate near-field effects both tangentially and perpendicularly to the tissue surface, 2. deliver far-field electromagnetic effects to tissue unencumbered by current deposition, and 3. serve as a 20 mechanical adjunct to and a selective throttling vent/plenum for energy delivery. Because the electrodes are non-tissue-contacting, this study characterizes the effects that non-ablation radiofrequency energy exerts upon interfacing media typically encountered during surgical applications. These devices create a Repetitive Molecular Energy Conversion Loop for surgical work; and, non-ionizing electromagnetic forces are deployed in strength levels that can produce thermal and non-thermal biologic tissue effects. A differential between current density dispersion and electromagnetic field strength is exploited to allow normal tissue healing responses to the near-field effects of tissue modification and preconditioning while permitting far-field effects, which are useful for inducing therapeutic biologic responses, to manifest in treated tissues that have been protected from electrical current generated collateral damage.

Claims

1. A method for inducing a therapeutic response in living tissue while minimizing current deposition in living tissue, the method comprising:

providing a probe to an aqueous salt ion solution of a treatment site where a therapeutic response in living tissue is desired wherein the probe includes an active electrode and a return electrode separated by an insulator and wherein the living tissue is separated from the active electrode by a plenum housing the active electrode;

immersing of at least the portion of the probe and plenum including the active electrode and the return electrode in the aqueous salt ion solution;

positioning the plenum housing the active electrode in close proximity to the treatment site, the active electrode and return electrode being immersed in the aqueous salt ion solution; and

applying a high voltage potential between the electrodes to deliver an electromagnetic non-ionizing radiation to the living tissue at the treatment site to induce a therapeutic response in the living tissue.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic response is activation of tissue voltage sensor domains, stress response gene expression, direct voltage-to-force energy conversion molecular motors, and cell proliferation.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the high voltage potential between the active electrode and return electrode does not create temperatures to cause water vapor as the current applied to generate the high voltage potential is below that to cause water vapor when acting in an aqueous environment.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein applying a high voltage potential between the electrodes in the aqueous salt ion solution generates a redox magnetohydrodynamic fluid flow that recharges reactants near the active electrode located within the plenum and wherein the plenum vents the fluid flow to the treatment site.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising treating tissue at the treatment site with reactants from a redox magnetohydrodynamic fluid flow reaction as a result of creating a high voltage potential between the active and return electrodes.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plenum protects a primary reaction zone from convective forces at the treatment site.

7. A method of performing an electrosurgical procedure on a patient to produce a therapeutic response, the method comprising:

providing a surgical probe including an active electrode and a return electrode separated by an insulator wherein the active electrode is located within a plenum of the probe;

providing an aqueous salt ion environment at the location wherein the electrosurgical procedure is to be performed, the environment comprising sufficient volume to permit immersion of at least the portion of the surgical probe including the active electrode within the plenum and the return electrode;

positioning the electrodes and plenum so as to immerse the probe in the aqueous salt ion environment; and

applying current to a circuit comprising the active electrode and return electrode, the current being less than that required to induce plasma ionization, but sufficient to induce a repetitive molecular energy conversion loop from a portion of the aqueous salt ion environment to produce a therapeutic response at the treatment site.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the therapeutic response is a healing response.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the healing response comprises one or more of the following:

activation of tissue voltage sensor domains, stress response gene expression, direct voltage-to-force energy conversion molecular motors activation, or cell proliferation.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising concentrating and or enriching the reactants or products of the repetitive molecular energy conversion loop in an aqueous environment for therapeutic use at a treatment site with the plenum.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the plenum protects a primary reaction zone from convective forces of the treatment site.