Medical device on helical support

• US 20040122422A1
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ASML Holding NV
• Original Assignee: ASML Holding NV
• Inventors: Ein-Gal, Moshe
• Application Number:
  US10/327,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122422A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• 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 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00247 Making holes in the wall of the heart, e.g. laser Myocardial revascularization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1435 Spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0575 with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body

Abstract

Apparatus comprising a helical support adapted to corkscrew into a tissue, and a medical device assembled with the helical support, the medical device being adapted to release a substance, or in another embodiment, to emit non-RF energy. In yet another embodiment, the medical device may comprise a non-helical radio frequency (RF) electrode mounted on a distal tip of the helical support.

Claims

1. Helical apparatus comprising:

a helical support adapted to corkscrew into a tissue; and

a medical device assembled with said helical support, said medical device comprising a substance disposed in and releasable from an enclosure.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an actuator in communication with said medical device and operative to actuate said medical device to release said substance from said enclosure.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said actuator is connected to said medical device by a connection passing through said helical support.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said actuator is in communication with said medical device by a communication link that does not helically pass through said helical support.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises a permeable membrane through which said substance passes.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said substance passes through apertures formed in said membrane.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said substance passes through said membrane by an osmotic process.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said membrane is adapted for reverse osmosis for drawing matter into said enclosure.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said substance passes through said membrane by iontophoresis.

10. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said enclosure comprises a rupturable membrane and said actuator is operative to rupture said membrane in order to release said substance.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said enclosure comprises a membrane disintegrable in a presence of a body fluid, wherein said substance is released from said enclosure upon sufficient disintegration of said membrane.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a manipulator in operable connection with said helical support and adapted to move said helical support.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said helical supports.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a helical pitch of one of said helical supports is shifted axially with respect to a helical pitch of another of said helical supports.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor assembled with at least one of said helical support and said medical device.

16. Helical apparatus comprising:

a helical support adapted to corkscrew into a tissue, said helical support comprising an energy module operative to emit non-RF energy.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said energy module comprises at least one of an optical energy source, infrared energy source, ultraviolet energy source, microwave energy source, X-ray energy source and gamma ray energy source.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said energy module comprises an acoustic module operative to emit acoustic energy.

19. Helical apparatus comprising:

a non-electrically conducting helical support adapted to corkscrew into a tissue; and

a medical device mounted on a distal tip of said helical support, said medical device comprising a non-helical radio frequency (RF) electrode.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising an actuator in communication with said medical device and operative to energize said RF electrode.