Bipolar Electrode Probe For Ablation Monitoring

• US 20110208184A1
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Vivant Medical, Inc. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Brannan, Joseph D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,568,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00119 alarm; indicating an abnormal situation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1869 with an instrument interstitially inserted into the body, e.g. needles

Abstract

An electromagnetic surgical ablation system having a generator adapted to selectively provide surgical ablation energy to an ablation probe, and methods of operating same, are disclosed. The system includes a controller operatively coupled to the generator, and at least one tissue sensor probe operatively coupled to the controller. The at least one tissue sensor provides a tissue impedance measurement to the controller. A sensor probe may be designated a threshold probe adapted to sense when tissue is sufficiently ablated, or, a critical structure probe adapted to protect an adjacent anatomical structure from undesired ablation. During an electromagnetic tissue ablation procedure, the controller monitors tissue impedance to determine tissue status, to activate an indicator associated therewith, and, additionally or alternatively, to activate and deactivate the generator accordingly.

Claims

1. An ablation system, comprising:

a generator adapted to provide ablative energy to an ablation probe;

an ablation probe operably coupled to the generator and adapted to receive ablative energy from the generator and to deliver ablative energy to tissue;

a controller operatively coupled to the generator, comprising;

a processor;

a memory operatively coupled to the processor;

a user interface operatively coupled to the processor;

a sensor interface circuit operatively coupled to the processor and adapted to receive at least one impedance sensor signal from at least one tissue sensor probe;

the at least one tissue sensor probe operatively coupled to the controller, and including;

a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and adapted for insertion into tissue; and

a first electrode and a second electrode disposed on an outer surface of the shaft and adapted to operably couple to the sensor interface circuit to sense tissue impedance.

2. The ablation system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller includes an indicator that activates when a sensed tissue impedance parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold.

3. The ablation system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of a visual indicator, an audible indicator, and a haptic indicator.

4. The ablation system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to deactivate the generator when a sensed tissue impedance parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold.

5. The ablation system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one tissue sensor probe includes an identifier.

6. The ablation system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to receive identification data from the identifier.

7. The ablation system in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes is annular in shape and disposed coaxially about the shaft.

8. The ablation system in accordance with claim 1, further including an actuator operatively coupled to the controller and configured to selectively activate the generator.

9. A method of operating an ablation system, comprising the steps of:

activating a generator to deliver ablative energy to tissue;

sensing a tissue impedance parameter from at least one tissue sensing probe;

determining whether the sensed tissue impedance parameter exceeds a predetermined tissue impedance parameter threshold; and

responding to a determination that the sensed tissue impedance parameter exceeds the predetermined tissue impedance parameter threshold by causing to be performed an action selected from the group consisting of deactivating the generator and presenting an indication.

10. The method of operating an ablation system in accordance with claim 9, further comprising the step of designating each of at the least one tissue sensing probes as a threshold probe or a critical structure probe.

11. The method of operating an ablation system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the designation is performed in accordance with an identifier included in the at least one tissue sensing probe.

12. The method of operating an ablation system in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the step of overriding the designation.

13. The method of operating an ablation system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the tissue impedance parameter threshold is selected from the group consisting of an absolute impedance value, a relative impedance value, and a rate of change of impedance value.

14. The method of operating an ablation system in accordance with claim 9, further comprising the step of deactivating the generator in response to a deactivation signal.

15. The method of operating an ablation system in accordance with claim 14, wherein the deactivation signal is received from an actuator operably coupled to the electrosurgical ablation generator.

16. A computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions configured for being executed by at least one processor for performing a method for operating an electromagnetic surgical ablation system, comprising:

activating a generator to deliver ablative energy to tissue;

sensing a tissue impedance parameter from at least one tissue sensing probe;

determining whether the sensed tissue impedance parameter exceeds a predetermined tissue impedance parameter threshold; and

responding to a determination that the sensed tissue impedance parameter exceeds the predetermined tissue impedance parameter threshold by causing to be performed an action selected from the group consisting of deactivating the generator and presenting an indication.

17. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 16, the method further comprising the step of designating each of the at least one tissue sensing probes as a threshold probe or a critical structure probe.

18. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 17, wherein the designation is performed in accordance with an identifier included in the at least one tissue sensing probe.

19. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 16, the method further comprising the step of overriding the designation.

20. The computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 16, wherein the tissue impedance parameter threshold is selected from the group consisting of an absolute impedance value, a relative impedance value, and a rate of change of impedance value.