Ablation devices with adjustable radiating section lengths, electrosurgical systems including same, and methods of adjusting ablation fields using same

• US 9,271,788 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Cividien LP
• Inventors: Kim, Steven, Bonn, Kenlyn S., Prakash, Mani N., Rossetto, Francesca
• Primary Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US13/853,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20130231653A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1861 with an instrument inserted into a body lumen or cavity, e.g. a catheter

Abstract

An energy applicator for directing energy to tissue includes a feedline and a radiating section operably coupled to the feedline, wherein the radiating section has a length. The energy applicator also includes a length adjustment member adapted to allow for selective adjustment of the length of the radiating section.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

a generator; and

an ablation device including;

a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor coaxially-disposed around the inner conductor, and a dielectric material disposed therebetween;

a radiating section operably coupled to the feedline, the radiating section defining a longitudinal axis; and

a radiation field adjustment member adapted to allow for selective adjustment of the ablation field radiated about the radiating section into tissue, the radiation field adjustment member including;

a length adjustment member including an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the inner sleeve, the outer sleeve operably associated with a first pivot element configured to translate the outer sleeve along the longitudinal axis defined by the radiating section;

a gap adjustment member disposed proximal of the length adjustment member and configured to selectively adjust a gap distance defined between a distal end of the outer conductor and a proximal end of the radiating section; and

a first actuator operably coupled to the first pivot element and configured to turn the first pivot element in at least one of a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein when the first actuator turns the first pivot element in the first rotational direction a first tensioning element winds upon the first pivot element, causing the outer sleeve to move proximally.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein when the first actuator turns the first pivot element in the second rotational direction a first tensioning element unwinds from the first pivot element, allowing the outer sleeve to move distally.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the gap adjustment member includes an axially slideable, outer-conductor sleeve element having a proximal sleeve portion disposed around a distal portion of the outer conductor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the gap adjustment member further includes a second pivot element and a second tensioning element, the second tensioning element coupled to the second pivot element and operably associated with the outer-conductor sleeve element.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the radiation field adjustment member further includes a second actuator operably coupled to the second pivot element, the second actuator configured to turn the second pivot element in at least one of a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein, when the second actuator turns the second pivot element in the first rotational direction, the second tensioning element winds upon the second pivot element, causing the outer-conductor sleeve to move proximally.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein, when the second actuator turns the second pivot element in the second rotational direction, the second tensioning element unwinds from the second pivot element, allowing the outer-conductor sleeve to move distally.

9. An electrosurgical system, comprising:

a generator including a processor; and

an ablation device including;

a feedline including an inner conductor, an outer conductor coaxially-disposed around the inner conductor, and a dielectric material disposed therebetween;

a radiating section operably coupled to the feedline; and

a radiation field adjustment member adapted to allow for selective adjustment of the ablation field radiated about the radiating section into tissue, wherein the radiation field adjustment member includes;

an inner sleeve;

an outer sleeve disposed around at least a portion of the inner sleeve and operably associated with a first pivot element;

a biasing member disposed between the inner and outer sleeves and configured to move the outer sleeve longitudinally with respect to the inner sleeve; and

a first actuator electrically coupled to the processor, the processor configured to control the first actuator to turn the first pivot element in at least one of a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction.