Ablation systems, probes, and methods for reducing radiation from an ablation probe into the environment

• US 9,375,274 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2012
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Reid, William O. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Piateski, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US13/343,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20130178841A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 606/33
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 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 2018/00017 with gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00023 closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00077 high, i.e. electrically conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00196 reciprocating lengthwise
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00458 Deeper parts of the skin, e.g. treatment of vascular disorders or port wine stains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00809 measured thermochromatically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1838 Dipole antennas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1869 with an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1892 Details of electrical isolations of the antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0481 against EM radiation, e.g. microwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/04 Protection of tissue around surgical sites against effects of non-mechanical surgery, e.g. laser surgery protection of eyes against laser radiation A61F9/022

Abstract

The ablation systems, ablation probes, and corresponding methods according to the present disclosure reduce or eliminate energy radiating from an ablation probe into the environment. Some ablation probes include a retractable sheath that shields at least the radiating portion of the ablation probe. The retractable sheath and/or the ablation probe may include conduits through which a fluid may flow to shield the radiating portion and to drive the retractable sheath to an extended state. Other ablation probes include apertures defined in the probe walls through which the fluid can flow to expand a balloon surrounding the radiating portion. Yet other ablation probes include a thermal indicator to indicate the temperature of the ablation probe to a user. The ablation systems include fluid circuits and associated mechanical controls for varying the contents and/or flow rate of the fluid provided to the radiating portion of the ablation probe.

Claims

1. An ablation probe comprising:

a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion comprising a radiating portion configured to deliver energy to tissue; and

a retractable sheath surrounding at least the radiating portion of the shaft, the retractable sheath configured to prevent at least a portion of the energy from radiating outside of the retractable sheath, the retractable sheath configured to retract as the shaft is inserted into tissue,

wherein a distal portion of the retractable sheath includes a rigid tip cover and a proximal portion of the retractable sheath includes a compressible, electrically conductive material formed in the shape of a cylinder and includes at least two fluid conduits configured to surround the shaft, and

wherein the at least two fluid conduits include a first fluid conduit that provides cooling fluid to a distal end of the retractable sheath and a second fluid conduit that returns cooling fluid to a proximal end of the retractable sheath.

2. The ablation probe according to claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the shaft includes a sharp tip, and

wherein the rigid tip cover is configured to enclose the sharp tip when the retractable sheath is in an extended state.

3. The ablation probe according to claim 1, further comprising a handle coupled to a proximal end of the shaft, the retractable sheath coupled to a distal end of the handle.

4. The ablation probe according to claim 1, wherein the proximal portion of the retractable sheath includes a compressible plastic cylinder and at least a portion of the compressible plastic cylinder is coated with an electrically conductive material.

5. The ablation probe according to claim 1, wherein the retractable sheath is electrically coupled to an electrical ground.

6. The ablation probe according to claim 1, wherein the compressible, electrically conductive material is a metal.

7. The ablation probe according to claim 6, wherein the metal is copper.

8. The ablation probe according to claim 1, wherein the retractable sheath includes an outer wall coated with an electrically conductive material.

9. The ablation probe according to claim 1, wherein the ablation probe further comprises a temperature indicator disposed on the shaft.

10. The ablation probe according to claim 9, wherein the temperature indicator includes a layer of thermal gel and thermal paper disposed on the layer of thermal gel.

11. The ablation probe according to claim 10, wherein the thermal paper changes color when the shaft changes temperature.