Systems and methods for treatment of prostatic tissue

• US 8,251,985 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NxThera, Inc (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoey, Michael, Shadduck, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US12/614,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20100145325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 606/27, 606/28, 606/41, 606 45- 50, 607/101, 607/102
• US Class Current: 606/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00017 with gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/048 in gaseous form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2063 Acoustic tracking systems, e.g. using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration

Abstract

A prostate therapy system is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can access a prostate lobe transurethrally. Another feature of the prostate therapy system is that it can deliver condensable vapor into the prostate to ablate the prostate tissue. Methods associated with use of the prostate therapy system are also covered.

Claims

1. A method of treating a disorder of a prostate adjacent a prostatic urethra, the method comprising:

advancing a vapor ablation probe transurethrally into the prostate;

delivering condensable vapor into the prostate, the condensable vapor undergoing a phase change to deliver between 100 and 10,000 Joules to the prostate; and

ablating prostate tissue without ablating the prostatic urethra.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the advancing step comprises advancing the vapor ablation probe into an apex of a lobe of the prostate.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the condensable vapor delivers between 100 W and 400 W to the prostate.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the condensable vapor delivers between 250 cal/gm and 450 cal/gm to the prostate.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the condensable vapor delivers between 20 W and 100 W to the prostate.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the condensable vapor delivers between 100 cal/gm and 600 cal/gm to the prostate.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the introducing step comprises advancing the ablation probe at least 15 mm into the prostate.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the introducing step comprises introducing condensable vapor into the prostate through a plurality of vapor ports in the ablation probe.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the introducing step comprises orienting the vapor ports toward the urethra.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the introducing step comprises advancing an introducer into a urethra and advancing the ablation probe through the introducer.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising placing a port of the introducer against a urethral wall prior to advancing the ablation probe through the introducer.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein at least part of the introducer probe and at least part of the ablation probe have complementary shapes preventing rotation of the ablation probe within the introducer.