Thermal feedback systems and methods of using the same

• US 8,956,350 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Buysse, Steven P., Ladtkow, Casey M., Gay, Brandon
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scott, Amanda
• Application Number:
  US14/066,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20140058384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 606 32- 35
• US Class Current: 606/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• 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 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 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 2018/00815 measured by a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1823 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/183 characterised by the type of antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/374 NMR or MRI
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3762 using computed tomography systems [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0036 including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/015 By temperature mapping of body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots

Abstract

A system for providing feedback during an electrosurgical procedure on a target tissue is provided. The system includes an electrosurgical energy source; an electrode probe assembly connected to the electrosurgical energy source, wherein the electrode probe assembly includes at least one electrode assembly having a needle configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to the target tissue; at least one thermal feedback assembly connected to the electrosurgical energy source, wherein each thermal feedback assembly includes at least one temperature sensor assembly; and a hub configured to selectively support the electrode probe assembly and each thermal feedback assembly such that the needle of the electrode probe assembly and each temperature sensor assembly of each thermal feedback assembly are proximate one another when disposed proximate the target tissue.

Claims

1. A method for treating tissue, comprising:

inserting an electrode probe assembly and at least one thermal feedback assembly into tissue, the electrode probe assembly and the at least one thermal feedback assembly being disposed in a hub;

activating an electrosurgical generator coupled to the electrode probe assembly and the at least one thermal feedback assembly to deliver electrosurgical energy to the tissue through the electrode probe assembly to thermally treat the tissue;

measuring a temperature of the tissue at the at least one thermal feedback assembly; and

transmitting the measured temperature to the electrosurgical generator.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

controlling delivery of the electrosurgical energy based on the measured temperature.

3. The method for treating tissue according to claim 1, further comprising:

estimating a desired thermal treatment volume in response to thermal treatment of the tissue based on the measured temperature.

4. The method for treating tissue according to claim 3, further comprising:

generating an image of the tissue at a display; and

generating a three-dimensional thermal image representative of the desired thermal treatment volume at the display.

5. The method for treating tissue according to claim 3, further comprising:

inputting into the electrosurgical generator a distance between the electrode probe assembly and the at least one thermal feedback assembly.

6. The method for treating tissue according to claim 5, further comprising:

inputting into the electrosurgical generator at least one property of the electrode probe assembly.

7. The method for treating tissue according to claim 6, wherein the at least one property of the electrode probe assembly is a length of a treatment portion of the electrode probe assembly.

8. The method for treating tissue according to claim 6, further comprising:

inputting into the electrosurgical generator at least one property of the tissue.

9. The method for treating tissue according to claim 8, wherein the desired thermal treatment volume is estimated based on at least one of the distance between the electrode probe assembly and the at least one thermal feedback assembly, the measured temperature, the at least one property of the electrode probe assembly, or the at least one property of the tissue.

10. The method for treating tissue according to claim 9, wherein the desired thermal treatment volume is estimated based on an Arrhenius model.

11. The method for treating tissue according to claim 3, wherein estimating the desired thermal treatment volume includes estimating at least one of size, rate of treatment progression, and difference between the desired thermal treatment volume and an actual thermal treatment volume.

12. The method for treating tissue according to claim 1, wherein insertion of the electrode probe assembly further includes inserting a plurality of thermal feedback assemblies into tissue, the plurality of thermal feedback assemblies being disposed in the hub symmetrically about the electrode probe assembly.

13. A method for treating tissue, comprising:

inserting an electrode probe assembly and a plurality of thermal feedback assemblies into tissue, the electrode probe assembly being disposed in a hub and the plurality of thermal feedback assemblies being disposed in the hub symmetrically about the electrode probe assembly;

activating an electrosurgical generator coupled to the electrode probe assembly and the plurality of thermal feedback assemblies to deliver electrosurgical energy to the tissue through the electrode probe assembly to thermally treat the tissue;

measuring a temperature of the tissue at each of the plurality of thermal feedback assemblies; and

transmitting the measured temperature from each of the plurality of thermal feedback assemblies to the electrosurgical generator.

14. The method for treating tissue according to claim 13, further comprising:

estimating a desired thermal treatment volume in response to thermal treatment of the tissue based on the measured temperature at each of the plurality of thermal feedback assemblies.

15. The method for treating tissue according to claim 14, further comprising:

inputting into the electrosurgical generator a distance between the electrode probe assembly and each of the plurality of thermal feedback assemblies.

16. The method for treating tissue according to claim 15, further comprising:

inputting into the electrosurgical generator at least one property of the electrode probe assembly.

17. The method for treating tissue according to claim 16, further comprising:

inputting into the electrosurgical generator at least one property of the tissue.

18. The method for treating tissue according to claim 17, wherein the desired thermal treatment volume is estimated based on at least one of the distance between the electrode probe assembly and each of the plurality of thermal feedback assemblies, the measured temperature, the at least one property of the electrode probe assembly, or the at least one property of the tissue.

19. The method for treating tissue according to claim 14, wherein estimating the desired thermal treatment volume includes estimating at least one of size, rate of treatment progression, and difference between the desired thermal treatment volume and an actual thermal treatment volume.