LOW PROFILE FLUID ENHANCED ABLATION THERAPY DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20140052117A1
• Filed: 08/15/2012
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermedical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Thermedical, Inc.
• Inventors: Curley, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 10,022,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00738 Depth, e.g. depth of ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00815 measured by a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/046 in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation

Abstract

Low profile devices and methods for delivering fluid enhanced ablation therapy are provided herein. In one embodiment, an ablation device is provided that includes an elongate body having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therethrough and at least one outlet port formed therein and configured to deliver fluid to surrounding tissue. The device can also include at least one ablation element disposed along a length of the body adjacent to the at least one outlet port and configured to deliver energy to surrounding tissue, as well as at least one heating element disposed within the inner lumen of the elongate body. The device further includes a handle having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the handle being coupled to the proximal end of the elongate body. Further, a longitudinal axis of the elongate body extends at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the handle.

Claims

1. An ablation device, comprising:

an elongate body having

proximal and distal ends,

an inner lumen extending longitudinally through the elongate body, and

at least one outlet port formed in the elongate body configured to deliver fluid to tissue surrounding the elongate body;

at least one ablation element disposed along a length of the elongate body adjacent to the at least one outlet port and configured to deliver energy to tissue surrounding the elongate body;

at least one heating element disposed within the inner lumen of the elongate body and configured to heat fluid passing therethrough; and

a handle having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the handle being coupled to the proximal end of the elongate body;

wherein a longitudinal axis of the elongate body extends at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the handle.

2. The ablation device of claim 1, wherein the angle between the longitudinal axis of the elongate body and the longitudinal axis of the handle is in a range of about 10 degrees to about 120 degrees.

3. The ablation device of claim 1, wherein the angle between the longitudinal axis of the elongate body and the longitudinal axis of the handle is in a range of about 30 degrees to about 100 degrees.

4. The ablation device of claim 1, wherein the angle between the longitudinal axis of the elongate body and the longitudinal axis of the handle is in a range of about 45 degrees to about 90 degrees.

5. The ablation device of claim 1, wherein the angle between the longitudinal axis of the elognate body and the longitudinal axis of the handle is about 90 degrees.

6. The ablation device of claim 1, wherein the handle includes an inner lumen extending therethrough.

7. The ablation device of claim 6, wherein the inner lumen extending through the elongate body is in communication with the inner lumen extending through the handle.

8. The ablation device of claim 1, wherein the handle is contoured along a longitudinal length thereof.

9. The ablation device of claim 1, further comprising an insertion stopping element slidably disposed on the elongate body.

10. The ablation device of claim 1, wherein the handle is formed from a non-magnetic material.

11. The ablation device of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a surface texture to improve a user'"'"'s grip of the handle.

12. The ablation device of claim 1, wherein the at least one heating element comprises at least one wire and at least one spacer, the at least one wire being configured to pass energy through the fluid flowing through the inner lumen of the elongate body.

13. A method for administering fluid enhanced ablation therapy, comprising:

percutaneously inserting a distal end of an elongate body of an ablation device into a patient;

manipulating the distal end of the elongate body within the patient using a low profile handle coupled to the proximal end of the elongate body and having a longitudinal axis that extends at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the elongate body;

delivering fluid through the elongate body of the ablation device into tissue surrounding the distal end of the elongate body while simultaneously delivering energy into tissue surrounding the distal end of the elongate body.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising imaging at least a portion of the patient using a medical imaging apparatus.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein imaging occurs simultaneously with any of the manipulating step and the delivering step.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the patient is positioned within the medical imaging apparatus during at least a portion of the method.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the manipulating step and the delivering step are conducted inside the medical imaging apparatus

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the imaging apparatus is selected from the group consisting of an X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) scanner, a Magnetic Resoncance Imaging (MRI) scanner, an ultrasound scanner, and an X-ray scanner.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising heating the fluid inside the elongate body prior to delivering the fluid into the tissue surrounding the elongate body.