Multi-modality ablation device

• US 20040267252A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Kwok, Jonathan, Pendekanti, Rajesh, Podany, Vaclav O., Washington, Ebonia
• Granted Patent: US 7,074,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/546 involving monitoring or regulation of device temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

An instrument for ablation of tissue. The instrument including: a body having at least one surface for contacting a tissue surface, the at least one surface being substantially planar; an ultrasonic transducer disposed in the body for generating ultrasonic energy and directing at least a portion of the ultrasonic energy to the tissue surface, the ultrasonic transducer being operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator; at least one radio-frequency electrode disposed on the at least one surface for directing radio frequency energy to the tissue surface, the at least one radio-frequency electrode being operatively connected to a power source; and one or more switches for selectively coupling at least one of the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic generator and the at least one radio-frequency electrode to the power source.

Claims

1. An instrument for ablation of tissue, the instrument comprising:

a body having at least one surface for contacting a tissue surface, the at least one surface being substantially planar;

an ultrasonic transducer disposed in the body for generating ultrasonic energy and directing at least a portion of the ultrasonic energy to the tissue surface, the ultrasonic transducer being operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator;

at least one radio-frequency electrode disposed on the at least one surface for directing radio frequency energy to the tissue surface, the at least one radio-frequency electrode being operatively connected to a power source; and

one or more switches for selectively coupling at least one of the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic generator and the at least one radio-frequency electrode to the power source.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a non-conductive head, the non-conductive head having a cavity for housing the ultrasonic transducer.

3. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the head further having a heat exchanger for cooling at least one of the ultrasonic transducer, the at least one radio-frequency electrode, and the tissue surface.

4. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the at least one radio-frequency electrode comprises first and second radio-frequency electrodes, the first radio-frequency electrode being maintained at a first polarity and the second radio-frequency electrode being maintained at a second polarity different from the first polarity.

5. The instrument of claim 4, wherein the first and second radio frequency electrodes comprises first and second conductive surfaces, respectively, disposed on the non-conductive head.

6. The instrument of claim 5, wherein the first and second conductive surfaces are separated by the cavity.

7. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the cavity is enclosed with an acoustic window on the at least one surface.

8. An instrument for ablation of tissue, the instrument comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic energy and directing at least a portion of the ultrasonic energy to a tissue surface; and

at least one radio-frequency electrode for directing radio frequency energy to the tissue surface, the at least one radio frequency electrode being disposed substantially in a plane with the ultrasonic transducer.

9. The instrument of claim 8, further comprising one or more switches for selectively powering at least one of the ultrasonic transducer and the at least one radio-frequency electrode.

10. A system for ablation of tissue, the system comprising:

a tissue thickness measurement means for measuring a thickness of tissue corresponding to a tissue surface to be ablated; and

an instrument having an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic energy and directing at least a portion of the ultrasonic energy to the tissue surface;

at least one radio-frequency electrode for directing radio frequency energy to the tissue surface; and

one or more switches for selectively powering at least one of the ultrasonic transducer and the at least one radio-frequency electrode based on the measured tissue thickness.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an ultrasonic generator selectively coupled to the ultrasonic transducer by the one or more switches.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a power source selectively coupled to the at least one electrode by the one or more switches.

13. A method for creating lesions in tissue, the method comprising:

providing an instrument capable of selectively directing at least one of ultrasonic and radio-frequency energy to the tissue;

measuring a tissue thickness corresponding to the tissue; and

applying at least one of ultrasonic and radio-frequency energy from the instrument to the tissue based on the measuring.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the applying comprises applying the ultrasonic and radio-frequency energy from the instrument to the tissue surface where the measured tissue thickness is greater than a first predetermined thickness.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first predetermined thickness is about 6 mm.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the applying comprises applying only the radio-frequency energy from the instrument to the tissue surface where the measured tissue thickness is less than a second predetermined thickness.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second predetermined thickness is about 3-5 mm.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the applying comprises applying only the ultrasonic energy from the instrument to the tissue surface where the measured tissue thickness is between the first predetermined thickness and the second predetermined thickness.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the ultrasonic energy is supplied by an ultrasonic transducer and the radio-frequency energy is supplied by at least one electrode, the method further comprising cooling at least one of the ultrasonic transducer, the at least one electrode, and the tissue.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the ultrasonic energy is first applied to the tissue followed by application of the radio-frequency energy to the tissue where the measured thickness is greater than a predetermined thickness.

21. A method for creating lesions in tissue, the method comprising:

measuring a tissue thickness corresponding to the tissue; and

applying ultrasonic and radio-frequency energy to the tissue surface where the tissue thickness is greater than a predetermined thickness.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the applying comprises applying the ultrasonic energy followed by applying the radio-frequency energy.

23. A method for creating lesions in tissue, the method comprising:

measuring a tissue thickness corresponding to the tissue;

applying ultrasonic energy to the tissue surface to create a lesion where the tissue thickness is greater than a predetermined thickness;

determining an extent of the lesion created by the applying of the ultrasonic energy; and

applying radio-frequency energy to the tissue surface where the extent of the lesion is determined to be unsatisfactory.