Methods and apparatus for coagulating and/or constricting hollow anatomical structures

• US 20060189979A1
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zikorus, Arthur W., Mirizzi, Michael S., Jones, Christopher Scott, McRae, Bob, Esch, Brady D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,625,372 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/49
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1405 Electrodes having a specific shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle

Abstract

An energy delivering probe is used for thermally coagulating and/or constricting hollow anatomical structures (HAS) including, but not limited to, blood vessels such as perforator veins. The probe includes a shaft and at least two electrodes where at least one of the electrodes has a perimeter that increases as it extends proximally.

Claims

1. An energy-emitting probe for use in treating a hollow anatomical structure, said probe comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

at least one energy emitting element located near said distal end of said shaft, the perimeter of said element increasing as said element extends proximally; and

a sharp tip at the distal end of said shaft;

said sharp tip configured to puncture body tissue as said tip is urged against said tissue.

2. The probe of claim 1 wherein the energy emitting element comprises an RF electrode.

3. The probe of claim 2 wherein said RF electrode comprises a first RF electrode and said probe further comprises a second RF electrode located proximal of said first RF electrode.

4. The probe of claim 3 wherein the second RF electrode has a different maximum diameter than the first RF electrode.

5. The probe of claim 3 wherein the second RF electrode has a larger maximum diameter than the first RF electrode.

6. The probe of claim 1 wherein the energy emitting element is a heating coil.

7. The probe of claim 1 wherein the energy emitting element has a frustoconical shape.

8. The probe of claim 7 wherein a taper angle of the energy emitting element is 70 to 88 degrees.

9. The probe of claim 7 wherein a taper angle of the energy emitting element is about 84 degrees.

10. The probe of claim 7 wherein the energy emitting element is tapered at an angle between 45 and 85 degrees.

11. The probe of claim 1 wherein the energy emitting element is tapered between 70 and 88 degrees.

12. The probe of claim 1 wherein the sharp tip is a needle.

13. The probe of claim 12 wherein the needle is hollow.

14. The probe of claim 12 wherein the needle is located within the probe shaft.

15. The probe of claim 12 wherein the needle is removable from the shaft.

16. The probe of claim 14 wherein the energy emitting element surrounds the needle when the needle is in the shaft.

17. The probe of claim 1 wherein the energy emitting element forms a central opening that is approximately centered on the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

18. The probe of claim 1 wherein the energy emitting element is integrally formed with the tip.

19. An energy-emitting probe for use in treating a hollow anatomical structure, said probe comprising:

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

at least one energy emitting element located near said distal end of said shaft, an outer surface of said element tapering outward as said element extends proximally;

and

a sharp tip at the distal end of said shaft, said sharp tip configured to puncture body tissue as said tip is urged against said tissue.

20. The probe of claim 19 wherein the energy emitting element comprises an RF electrode.

21. The probe of claim 20 wherein said RF electrode comprises a first RF electrode and said probe further comprises a second RF electrode located proximal of said first RF electrode.

22. The probe of claim 21 wherein the second RF electrode has a different maximum diameter than the first RF electrode.

23. The probe of claim 21 wherein the second RF electrode has a larger maximum diameter than the first RF element.

24. The probe of claim 19 wherein the energy emitting element is a heating coil.

25. The probe of claim 19 wherein the energy emitting element has a frustoconical shape.

26. The probe of claim 25 wherein a taper angle of the energy emitting element is 70 to 88 degrees.

27. The probe of claim 25 wherein a taper angle of the energy emitting element is about 84 degrees.

28. The probe of claim 25 wherein the energy emitting element is tapered at an angle between 45 and 85 degrees.

29. The probe of claim 19 wherein the energy emitting element is tapered between 70 and 88 degrees.

30. The probe of claim 19 wherein the sharp tip is a needle.

31. The probe of claim 30 wherein the needle is hollow.

32. The probe of claim 30 wherein the needle is located within the probe shaft.

33. The probe of claim 30 wherein the needle is removable from the shaft.

34. The probe of claim 32 wherein the energy emitting element surrounds the needle when the needle is in the shaft.

35. The probe of claim 19 wherein the energy emitting element forms a central opening that is approximately centered on the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

36. The probe of claim 19 wherein the energy emitting element is integrally formed with the tip.

37. A method of treating body tissue with an energy-emitting probe, said method comprising:

puncturing said tissue with a sharp distal tip of said probe;

advancing a shaft of said probe distally into said tissue;

inserting an energy-emitting element of said probe into said tissue; and

with a tapered outer surface of said energy emitting element, easing insertion of said element into said tissue.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising delivering energy into a hollow anatomical structure.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein delivering energy comprises delivering RF energy.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein delivering energy comprises delivering heat energy with a heating element.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein said probe further comprises a second energy emitting element and said method further comprises easing insertion of said element into said tissue with a tapered outer surface of said second energy emitting element.

42. The method of claim 37 further comprising withdrawing said sharp distal tip while leaving said energy emitting element inserted in said body tissue.