Nerve and soft tissue ablation device and method
First Claim
1. An ablation device for ablating unwanted one of nerve tissue and soft tissue at a surgical site within a patient, the ablation device comprising:
- a probe configured to generate pressure and temperature for ablating the unwanted one of the nerve tissue and the soft tissue at the surgical site within the patient, the probe comprising at least two prongs, each prong of the at least two prongs including at least an exterior surface and a distal tip, each prong of the at least two prongs being configured to control at least a temperature of each respective exterior surface to achieve an ablation temperature on each respective exterior surface, the ablation temperature being adapted to ablate the unwanted one of the nerve tissue and the soft tissue at the surgical site within the patient; and
at least one monitoring device coupled to the probe for recording and regulating temperature, pressure and position of the probe;
wherein the distal tips of at least two prongs are configured to define, in combination, a probe geometry substantially matching an anatomical tissue geometry of the unwanted one of the nerve tissue and the soft tissue at the surgical site within the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ablation device and method for monitoring and controlling temperature, pressure and position of an ablation probe for precise destruction of unwanted one of nerve tissue and soft tissue. The ablation device includes a probe configured to generate pressure and temperature for ablating the unwanted soft tissue and nerve tissue The device can also include a monitoring device, an imaging device, and a computer system. The probe includes at least two prongs, the at least two prongs each including distal ends, the distal ends being configured to define, in combination, a probe geometry substantially matching an anatomical tissue geometry of the unwanted one of nerve tissue and soft tissue.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An ablation device for ablating unwanted one of nerve tissue and soft tissue at a surgical site within a patient, the ablation device comprising:
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a probe configured to generate pressure and temperature for ablating the unwanted one of the nerve tissue and the soft tissue at the surgical site within the patient, the probe comprising at least two prongs, each prong of the at least two prongs including at least an exterior surface and a distal tip, each prong of the at least two prongs being configured to control at least a temperature of each respective exterior surface to achieve an ablation temperature on each respective exterior surface, the ablation temperature being adapted to ablate the unwanted one of the nerve tissue and the soft tissue at the surgical site within the patient; and at least one monitoring device coupled to the probe for recording and regulating temperature, pressure and position of the probe; wherein the distal tips of at least two prongs are configured to define, in combination, a probe geometry substantially matching an anatomical tissue geometry of the unwanted one of the nerve tissue and the soft tissue at the surgical site within the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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13. A method for ablating unwanted one of soft tissue and nerve tissue at a surgical site within a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning at least one ablation probe, the at least one ablation probe coupled with one of at least one monitoring device and at least one imaging device, at a location near the unwanted one of the soft tissue and the nerve tissue, the ablation probe comprising at least two prongs, each prong of the at least two prongs comprising at least an exterior surface and a distal tip, and each prong of the at least two prongs being configured to control at least a temperature of each respective exterior surface to achieve an ablation temperature on each respective exterior surface, the ablation temperature being adapted to ablate the unwanted one of the soft tissue and the nerve tissue, the distal tips of the at least two prongs being configured to define, in combination, a probe geometry substantially matching an anatomical tissue geometry of the unwanted one of the soft tissue and the nerve tissue; identifying a location of the unwanted one of the soft tissue and the nerve tissue from an input of the one of the at least one monitoring device and the at least one imaging device; confirming the location of the unwanted one of the soft tissue and the nerve tissue from the input of the one of the at least one monitoring device and the at least one imaging device; applying the at least one ablation probe to the confirmed location of the unwanted one of the soft tissue and the nerve tissue; and confirming the ablation of the unwanted one of the soft tissue and the nerve tissue. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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19. A method for ablating unwanted one of soft tissue and nerve tissue at a surgical site within a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning an ablation probe, the ablation probe comprising at least two prongs coupled to each other, each prong of the at least two prongs comprising at least an exterior surface and a distal tip, each prong of the at least two prongs being configured to control at least a temperature of the respective exterior surface to achieve an ablation temperature the ablation temperature on each respective exterior surface being adapted to ablate the unwanted one of the nerve tissue and the soft tissue at the surgical site within the patient, the distal tips of the at least two prongs being configured to define, in combination, a probe geometry substantially matching an anatomical tissue geometry of the unwanted one of the soft tissue and the nerve tissue; and
one of at least one monitoring device and at least one imaging device at a location proximate the unwanted one of the soft tissue and the nerve tissue;identifying the location of the unwanted one of the soft tissue and the nerve tissue from an input of the one of the at least one monitoring device and the at least one imaging device; confirming the location of the unwanted one of the soft tissue and the nerve tissue from the input of the one of the at least one monitoring device and the at least one imaging device; applying the at least two prongs of the ablation probe to the confirmed location of the unwanted one of the soft tissue and the nerve tissue; and confirming the ablation of the unwanted one of the soft tissue and the nerve tissue.
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Specification