Methods and systems for enhancing ultrasonic visibility of energy-delivery devices within tissue

• US 9,066,681 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Arts, Gene H., Peterson, Darion R., Brannan, Joseph D., Vantuno, John R., Larson, Eric W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieland, Robert N
• Application Number:
  US13/836,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20130345553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 606/33
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3413 guided by ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00994 combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1869 with an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3929 Active markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0841 for locating instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/481 involving the use of contrast agent, e.g. microbubbles introduced into the bloodstream analysis of echo signal exploiting properties of a contrast enhancer in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52039

Abstract

In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, electrosurgical systems are provided generally including at least one energy-delivery device for delivering energy to tissue when inserted or embedded within tissue. The energy-delivery device can be a tissue ablation device, such as an ablation probe, needle, etc. for ablating tissue as commonly known in the art. The electrosurgical systems include at least one structure and/or operational characteristic for enhancing ultrasonic visibility of the energy-delivery devices within tissue during ultrasonography.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

an energy-delivery device adapted to direct energy to tissue and having a distal end;

at least one accelerometer disposed at the distal end of the energy-delivery device; and

a vibrating device in mechanical communication with the energy-delivery device for transmitting vibrational energy to the energy-delivery device when the vibrating device is actuated, the vibrational energy causing the energy-delivery device to vibrate.

2. The electrosurgical system of claim 1, further comprising a handle assembly, and wherein the vibrating device is coupled to the handle assembly.

3. The electrosurgical system of claim 1, further comprising a weight connected to the vibrating device.

4. The electrosurgical system of claim 1, wherein the energy-delivery device is selected from the group consisting of an electrode, a probe, and an antenna.

5. The electrosurgical system of claim 1, further comprising a hub connected to the energy-delivery device, wherein the vibrating device is positioned with the hub.

6. The electrosurgical system of claim 1, wherein the vibrating device is a motor.

7. The electrosurgical system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to at least one of:

adjust a speed of the vibrating device to determine a resonant frequency of the energy-delivery device;

or

adjust the speed of the vibrating device to determine a harmonic frequency of an ultrasonic imaging system in operative communication with the electrosurgical system.

8. The electrosurgical system of claim 1, further comprising a controller for sweeping a frequency of the vibrating device.

9. The electrosurgical system of claim 1, further comprising an assembly in fluid communication with the distal end of the energy-delivery device for delivering fluid to the distal end, and wherein the assembly enables bubbles to be released from the distal end.

10. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

an energy-delivery device adapted to direct energy to tissue and including an air cavity defined therein; and

a vibrating device in mechanical communication with the energy-delivery device for transmitting vibrational energy to the energy-delivery device to vibrate the energy-delivery device.

11. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

an energy-delivery device adapted to direct energy to tissue and including a metal band; and

a vibrating device in mechanical communication with the energy-delivery device for transmitting vibrational energy to the energy-delivery device to vibrate the energy-delivery device.

12. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

an energy-delivery device adapted to direct energy to tissue and including an outer surface, the outer surface including at least one of;

a plurality of sides;

a plurality of protrusions;

or

a concave surface; and

a vibrating device in mechanical communication with the energy-delivery device for transmitting vibrational energy to the energy-delivery device to vibrate the energy-delivery device.

13. The electrosurgical system according to claim 12, wherein the energy-delivery device further includes a wire wrapped around the outer surface.