Tissue ablation using pulse modulated radio frequency energy
First Claim
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1. An ablation energy generator comprising:
- an energy source for outputting ablation energy via an ablation probe;
control circuitry comprising a RF oscillator operatively coupled to a pulse modulator and an amplitude modulator, the pulse modulator and the amplitude modulator operatively coupled to a controller;
a physiological sensor comprising one of an impedance sensor and a temperature sensor carried by the ablation probe, the physiological sensor operatively coupled to the controller;
wherein the control circuitry is configured to deliver a first plurality of ablation pulses, each pulse in the first plurality of ablation pulses having an equal amplitude and progressively smaller pulse width, followed by a second plurality of ablation pulses, each pulse in the second plurality of ablation pulses having an equal amplitude that is lower than the amplitude of the first plurality of ablation pulses and progressively smaller pulse width; and
wherein the duration of each pulse of the first and second plurality of ablation pulses is based on threshold values contained in the controller.
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Abstract
Tissue ablation systems and methods are provided. Ablation energy (e.g., radio frequency energy) is delivered to the tissue and a physiological parameter (e.g., impedance and/or temperature) indicative of a change in moisture concentration of the tissue is sensed. The ablation energy is alternately pulsed on and off to generate an energy pulse train, with the ablation energy being pulsed on if the sensed physiological parameter crosses a threshold value indicative of an increase in the moisture concentration, and being pulsed off if the sensed physiological parameter crosses a threshold value indicative of a decrease in the moisture concentration.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ablation energy generator comprising:
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an energy source for outputting ablation energy via an ablation probe; control circuitry comprising a RF oscillator operatively coupled to a pulse modulator and an amplitude modulator, the pulse modulator and the amplitude modulator operatively coupled to a controller; a physiological sensor comprising one of an impedance sensor and a temperature sensor carried by the ablation probe, the physiological sensor operatively coupled to the controller; wherein the control circuitry is configured to deliver a first plurality of ablation pulses, each pulse in the first plurality of ablation pulses having an equal amplitude and progressively smaller pulse width, followed by a second plurality of ablation pulses, each pulse in the second plurality of ablation pulses having an equal amplitude that is lower than the amplitude of the first plurality of ablation pulses and progressively smaller pulse width; and wherein the duration of each pulse of the first and second plurality of ablation pulses is based on threshold values contained in the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of treating tissue within a patient comprising:
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introducing an ablation probe percutaneously into tissue; deploying an electrode array form the ablation probe; delivering a first plurality of ablation pulses to the tissue from the electrode array, each pulse in the first plurality of ablation pulses having an equal amplitude and progressively smaller pulse width, followed by a second plurality of ablation pulses, each pulse in the second plurality of ablation pulses having an equal amplitude that is lower than the amplitude of the first plurality of ablation pulses and progressively smaller pulse width; and wherein the duration of each pulse of the first and second plurality of ablation pulses is based on threshold values. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification