Methods and devices for heating fluid in fluid enhanced ablation therapy
First Claim
1. An ablation device, comprising:
- a conductive elongate body havingproximal and distal ends,an inner lumen extending through the elongate body, andat least one outlet port formed in the elongate body configured to deliver fluid to tissue surrounding the elongate body;
a wire extending through the inner lumen;
a first power source configured to heat fluid flowing through the inner lumen by passing current between the wire and the elongate body;
a second power source configured to heat tissue surrounding the elongate body by passing current between the elongate body and a collector electrode positioned outside the inner lumen; and
at least one spacer disposed within the inner lumen, the wire extending through the at least one spacer such that the at least one spacer is effective to maintain an adjacent portion of the wire in a substantially fixed geometric relationship with the inner lumen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for efficiently and reproducibly heating fluid for use in fluid enhanced ablation are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an ablation device is provided having an elongate body, at least one wire extending through an inner lumen of the elongate body, and at least one spacer disposed within the inner lumen. The at least one wire extends through the at least one spacer such that the at least one spacer is effective to maintain an adjacent portion of the at least one wire in a substantially fixed geometric relationship with the inner lumen, thereby preventing electrical shorts and providing for the consistent and uniform heating of fluid flowing through the inner lumen of the elongate body.
141 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An ablation device, comprising:
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a conductive elongate body having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending through the elongate body, and at least one outlet port formed in the elongate body configured to deliver fluid to tissue surrounding the elongate body; a wire extending through the inner lumen; a first power source configured to heat fluid flowing through the inner lumen by passing current between the wire and the elongate body; a second power source configured to heat tissue surrounding the elongate body by passing current between the elongate body and a collector electrode positioned outside the inner lumen; and at least one spacer disposed within the inner lumen, the wire extending through the at least one spacer such that the at least one spacer is effective to maintain an adjacent portion of the wire in a substantially fixed geometric relationship with the inner lumen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification