Ablation systems, probes, and methods for reducing radiation from an ablation probe into the environment
First Claim
1. An ablation system, comprising:
- an ablation probe including;
a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including an antenna configured to deliver energy to tissue; and
a retractable sheath surrounding at least a radiating portion of the shaft, the retractable sheath including a rigid tip cover disposed at a distal portion of the retractable sheath, a first fluid conduit configured to deliver a cooling fluid to the distal portion of the shaft, and a second fluid conduit configured to return the cooling fluid to the proximal portion of the shaft;
a fluid source in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit;
a fluid pump in fluid communication with the fluid source, the fluid pump configured to pump a fluid through the first fluid conduit; and
a generator electrically coupled to the antenna, the generator configured to supply electrical energy to the antenna.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
49 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An ablation system, comprising:
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an ablation probe including; a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion including an antenna configured to deliver energy to tissue; and a retractable sheath surrounding at least a radiating portion of the shaft, the retractable sheath including a rigid tip cover disposed at a distal portion of the retractable sheath, a first fluid conduit configured to deliver a cooling fluid to the distal portion of the shaft, and a second fluid conduit configured to return the cooling fluid to the proximal portion of the shaft; a fluid source in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit; a fluid pump in fluid communication with the fluid source, the fluid pump configured to pump a fluid through the first fluid conduit; and a generator electrically coupled to the antenna, the generator configured to supply electrical energy to the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification