Ablation apparatus and method

• US 8,734,439 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Inventors: Gough, Edward J., Stein, Alan A., Edwards, Stuart D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US12/041,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20080154259A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,275 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/42, 606 45- 50, 607/101, 607/102, 607/116
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• 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 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• 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 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00101 using an array of thermosensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00273 Anchoring means for temporary attachment of a device to tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00279 deployable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 : upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 : switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00726 : Duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00744 : Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00797 : measured by multiple temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00827 : Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 : Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/124 : switching the output to different electrodes, e.g. sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 : monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/143 : multiple needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 : curved
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1435 : Spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1472 : for use with liquid electrolyte, e.g. virtual electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/162 : located on the probe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/183 : characterised by the type of antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 : Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 : Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 3/0279 : Cannula; Nozzles; Tips; their connection means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 : for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 : for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/04 : Radiators for near-field treatment

Abstract

An ablation apparatus includes an ablation energy source producing an electromagnetic energy output. A multiple antenna device is included, and has a primary antenna with a longitudinal axis, a central lumen and a distal end, and a secondary antenna with a distal end. The secondary antenna is deployed from the primary antenna central lumen in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis. The multiple antenna device is coupled to the ablation energy source.

Claims

1. A method of tissue treatment, comprising:

providing an ablation device, wherein the ablation device comprises an introducer comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion; and

at least one deployable means deployable from the introducer,

wherein the at least one deployable means comprises at least one anchoring means;

positioning the distal portion of the introducer within or adjacent to a selected tissue mass at a first position;

deploying at least one of the anchoring means from the introducer to anchor the introducer relative to the selected tissue mass;

delivering an ablation energy through at least one of the deployable means to treat a first volume of tissue;

advancing at least one of the deployable means further in a distal direction to a second position within or adjacent to the selected tissue mass; and

delivering the ablation energy through at least one of the deployable means at the second position to treat a second volume of tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering one or more of therapeutic agents, conductivity enhancement mediums, or infusion mediums to treat the selected tissue mass.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering the ablation energy through at least one delivery surface of the at least one deployable means.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

adjusting the size or length of the at least one delivery surface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retracting the at least one deployable means.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing the delivery of the ablation energy between a monopolar mode and a bipolar mode.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of delivering the ablation energy in bipolar mode between two of the deployable means, and delivering the ablation energy in bipolar mode between the introducer and the at least one deployable means.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the deployable means is configured to detect at least one of impedance and temperature.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the ablation energy at both the first and second selected tissue sites is monopolar radiofrequency energy.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the ablation energy at both the first and second selected tissue sites creates ionic agitation adjacent to the first and second selected tissue masses.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the ionic agitation is proportional to the current density.

12. A method of tissue treatment, comprising:

(a) providing an ablation device, wherein the ablation device comprises

an introducer; and

at least one deployable means deployable from the introducer, wherein the at least one deployable means comprises at least one anchoring means;

(b) positioning a distal portion of the introducer within or adjacent to a selected tissue mass;

(c) deploying the at least one anchoring means from the introducer to anchor the introducer relative to the selected tissue mass; and

(d) delivering an ablation energy through at least one of the introducer and the deployable means to treat a volume of tissue;

(e) advancing the at least one deployable means further in a distal direction to a second position within or adjacent to the selected tissue mass; and

(f) delivering the ablation energy through the at least one deployable means at the second position to treat a second volume of tissue;

(g) retracting at least one of the deployable means into the introducer.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising;

after step (d),

delivering the ablation energy through at least one delivery surface of at least one of the introducer and the deployable means, and

adjusting the size or length of the at least one delivery surface.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

delivering the ablation energy using a monopolar mode.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one of delivering the ablation energy in bipolar mode between two of the deployable means, and delivering the ablation energy in bipolar mode between the introducer and the at least one deployable means.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

delivering one or more of therapeutic agents, conductivity enhancement mediums, or infusion mediums to treat the selected tissue mass.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the deployable means is configured to detect at least one of impedance and temperature.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of the deployable means is configured to detect at least one of impedance and temperature.

18. A method of tissue treatment, comprising:

providing an ablation device, wherein the ablation device comprises an

introducer; and

at least one deployable means deployable from the introducer, wherein the at least one deployable means comprises at least one anchoring means;

positioning a distal portion of the introducer within or adjacent to a selected tissue mass;

deploying at least one of the deployable means from the introducer to a first position within or adjacent to the selected tissue mass;

delivering an ablation energy through the at least one deployable means at the first position to treat a first volume of tissue, wherein the at least one deployed anchoring means forms a J hook geometric configuration;

advancing the at least one deployable means further in a distal direction to a second position within or adjacent to the selected tissue mass; and

delivering the ablation energy through the at least one deployable means at the second position to treat a second volume of tissue.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

delivering the ablation energy through at least one delivery surface of the at least one deployable means, and

adjusting the size or length of the at least one delivery surface.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

changing the delivery of the ablation energy between a monopolar mode and a bipolar mode.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

at least one of delivering the ablation energy in bipolar mode between two of the deployable means, and delivering the ablation energy in bipolar mode between the introducer and the at least one deployable means, or both.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

delivering one or more of therapeutic agents, conductivity enhancement mediums, or infusion mediums to treat the selected tissue mass.

24. A method of issue treatment, comprising:

providing an ablation device, wherein the ablation device comprises an introducer, wherein the introducer comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one aperture spaced proximally from the distal end; and

at least one deployable means deployable from the introducer, wherein the at least one deployable means comprises at least one anchoring means;

positioning the distal end of the introducer within or adjacent to a selected tissue mass at a first position;

delivering an ablation energy to at least one of the deployable means;

deploying the at least one deployable means from the introducer through the at least one aperture; and

advancing the at least one deployable means further a distal direction to a second position to create a series of ablations within or adjacent to the selected tissue mass.