System and method for tissue ablation in a body cavity
First Claim
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1. A tissue ablation system comprising:
- an ablation device including an elongate support member, the elongate support member having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen therethrough in communication with an opening in the distal end, a substrate carried by the distal end, the substrate having an outer surface and configured to have a shape that approximates an interior shape of a uterus; and
energy transport elements coupled to the outer surface of the substrate;
an energy source electrically coupled to the energy transport elements; and
at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to the outer surface of the substrate so that when the substrate is positioned within the uterus, the at least one ultrasonic transducer is positioned in a lateral region of the uterus.
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Abstract
A tissue ablation system and method of forming same includes an ablation device having a substrate with an outer surface and energy transport elements coupled to the outer surface. The substrate is configured to have a shape that approximates an interior shape of a uterus. The system and method further including an energy source electrically coupled to the energy transport elements and at least one ultrasonic transducer positioned in a lateral region of the uterus.
58 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A tissue ablation system comprising:
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an ablation device including an elongate support member, the elongate support member having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a lumen therethrough in communication with an opening in the distal end, a substrate carried by the distal end, the substrate having an outer surface and configured to have a shape that approximates an interior shape of a uterus; and
energy transport elements coupled to the outer surface of the substrate;an energy source electrically coupled to the energy transport elements; and at least one ultrasonic transducer coupled to the outer surface of the substrate so that when the substrate is positioned within the uterus, the at least one ultrasonic transducer is positioned in a lateral region of the uterus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of ablating tissue in a uterus, comprising:
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accessing the uterus transcervically with an elongate tubular device; distending the uterus with the elongate tubular device by expanding a working end of the elongate tubular device, wherein the working end includes a substrate and an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an outer surface of the substrate, and wherein expanding a working end of the elongate tubular device includes positioning the ultrasonic transducer in a lateral region of the uterus; receiving an indication the ultrasonic transducer is in contact with the tissue to be ablated; applying a vacuum to remove fluid through the tubular device; receiving a non-image based visual indication of a thickness of the tissue to be ablated; activating the elongate tubular device to ablating tissue in the uterus; maintaining contact between the ultrasonic transducer and the tissue to be ablated during at least a portion of the ablating step; and deactivating the elongate tubular device upon achieving a desired ablation depth. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification