Articulating ablation device and method

• US 8,353,902 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Vivant Medical, Inc. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Prakash, Mani N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Eisenberg, Rebecca E
• Application Number:
  US12/353,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20090198227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 606 27- 34, 606 41- 42, 606/78, 606/261
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/149 bow shaped or with rotatable body at cantilever end, e.g. for resectoscopes, or coagulating rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing

Abstract

An ablation device including a handle portion, a shaft and at least one cable. The shaft extends distally from the handle portion and includes an inner conductor and an outer conductor that substantially surrounds at least a portion of the inner conductor. The cable extends from the handle portion along at least a portion of the shaft. The distal tip of the inner conductor is positionable distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor. In response to movement of the at least one cable relative to the handle portion, the distal tip of the outer conductor is movable form a first position where the distal tip is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis defined by the outer conductor to at least a second position where the distal tip is disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. An ablation device, comprising:

a handle portion;

a shaft extending distally from the handle portion, the shaft including;

an inner conductor including a length, a proximal portion and a distal tip; and

an outer conductor substantially surrounding the inner conductor at least partially along the length thereof and defining a longitudinal axis;

at least one cable extending from the handle portion along at least a portion of a length of the shaft;

wherein the inner conductor is axially translatable with respect to the outer conductor such that at least the distal tip of the inner conductor is positionable distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor; and

wherein, in response to movement of the at least one cable relative to the handle portion, a distal tip of the outer conductor is movable from a first position wherein the distal tip is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis to at least a second position wherein the distal tip is disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

2. The ablation device according to claim 1, further including a dielectric material interposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor.

3. The ablation device according to claim 1, further including at least a second cable extending from the handle portion along at least a portion of a length of the shaft, wherein, in response to movement of the second cable relative to the shaft, the distal tip of the outer conductor is movable from the first position to the second position.

4. The ablation device according to claim 3, wherein the first cable and the second cable are independently moveable relative to one another.

5. The ablation device according to claim 3, further including an articulation knob disposed on the handle portion, and wherein a proximal portion of the first cable is operably connected to the articulation knob and a proximal portion of the second cable is operably connected to the articulation knob, wherein movement of the articulation knob causes at least one of first and second cables to move.

6. The ablation device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft is rotatable with respect to the handle portion along the longitudinal axis.

7. The ablation device according to claim 1, wherein the distal tip of the inner conductor is movable along a curvilinear path.

8. The ablation device according to claim 1, wherein the inner conductor is configured to extend distally beyond the distal-most end of the outer conductor to at least partially surround at least a portion of tissue to be treated.

9. The ablation device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the inner conductor is advanceable substantially along the longitudinal axis with respect to the outer conductor.

10. The ablation device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the shaft is flexible.

11. The ablation device according to claim 1, further including an articulation knob disposed on the handle portion, and wherein a proximal portion of the at least one cable is operably connected to the articulation knob, wherein movement of the articulation knob causes corresponding movement of the at least one cable.

12. A method of treating tissue, comprising:

providing an ablation device, including;

an antenna including;

an inner conductor including a length; and

an outer conductor substantially surrounding the inner conductor at least partially along the length thereof and defining a longitudinal axis; and

at least one cable extending along a portion of the antenna;

introducing the antenna such that at least a distal tip of the inner conductor is adjacent a target site;

axially translating at least a portion of the inner conductor with respect to the outer conductor such that at least the distal tip of the inner conductor is positioned distally beyond a distal-most end of the outer conductor; and

moving the at least one cable such that a distal tip of the outer conductor moves from a first position wherein the distal tip is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis to at least a second position wherein the distal tip is disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the antenna is a coaxial cable.

14. The method of claim 12, further including rotating the antenna about the longitudinal axis.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is made of a flexible material.

16. The method of claim 15, further including providing a second cable operably connected adjacent the portion of the antenna made of a flexible material.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the antenna includes an inner conductor and an outer conductor, the inner conductor being movable with respect to the outer conductor.

18. The method of claim 17, further including the step of moving the inner conductor with respect to the outer conductor such that a distal tip of the inner conductor extends distally beyond a distal tip of the outer conductor.

19. The method of claim 18, further including the step of moving the distal tip of the inner conductor along a curvilinear path.