Multiple treatment zone ablation probe

• US 9,757,196 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2016
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Inventors: Moss, Kevin L, Pearson, Robert M
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Nicole F
• Application Number:
  US14/989,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20160113708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 606 27, 606 41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1487 Trocar-like, i.e. devices producing an enlarged transcutaneous opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/18 by applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00273 Anchoring means for temporary attachment of a device to tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00529 Liver
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00613 Irreversible electroporation reversible electroporation A61N1/327
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 abutting on tissue or skin

Abstract

An energy delivery probe and method of using the energy delivery probe to treat a patient is provided herein. The energy delivery probe has at least one probe body having a longitudinal axis and at least a first trocar and a second trocar. Each trocar comprises at least two electrodes that are electrically insulated from each other, and each electrode is independently selectively activatable. An insulative sleeve is positioned in a coaxially surrounding relationship to each of the first trocar and the second trocar. The probe also has a switching means for independently activating at least one electrode. The method involves independently and selectively activating the first and second electrodes to form an ablation zone, then repeating the ablation by delivering energy to a second set of electrodes, producing one or more overlapping ablation zone, and eliminating the need to reposition the ablation probes.

Claims

1. A method of treating tissue in a patient, the method comprising:

identifying a target tissue;

inserting at least one energy delivery probe into or near the target tissue, the energy delivery probe comprising at least a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein each electrode is independently selectively activatable;

an insulator coaxially surrounding the probe, the insulator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode;

infusing a fluid through the probe;

activating the first electrode to deliver an electrical energy to the second electrode;

delivering energy between the first electrode and the second electrode;

switching the activation of the electrodes such that the second electrode is activated to deliver the electrical energy to the first electrode;

delivering electrical energy between the second electrode and the first electrode; and

forming an ablation zone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy delivery probe is bipolar.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein infusing a fluid through the probe comprises infusing a cooling fluid.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the cooling fluid is delivered through a lumen in the at least one energy delivery probe.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering energy further comprises a pulse parameter comprising a first set of five individual pulses, followed by a first delay of up to 2 seconds, followed by a second set of five pulses, followed by a second delay of at least 3.5 seconds.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the pulse parameter further comprises a third set of five individual pulses, followed by a third delay of up to 2 seconds, followed by a fourth set of five pulses, followed by a fourth delay of at least 3.5 seconds.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one energy delivery probe is not repositioned during the delivery of energy.

8. A system for treating tissue, the system comprising:

at least one energy delivery probe into or near the target tissue, the energy delivery probe comprising at least a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein each electrode is independently selectively activatable;

a switching means, capable of being configured to independently selectively activate at least one of the first electrode and second electrode;

a generator adapted to deliver energy to the at least one energy delivery probe;

at least one cooling mechanism to deliver a cooling fluid to the at least one energy delivery probe;

an insulator coaxially surrounding the probe, the insulator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode; and

the switching means activating the first electrode to deliver an electrical energy to the second electrode, delivering energy between the first electrode and the second electrode, the switching means alternating the electrodes by activating the second electrode to deliver the electrical energy to the first electrode, and delivering electrical energy between the second electrode and the first electrode.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one energy delivery probe is bipolar.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the cooling fluid is delivered to the at least one energy delivery probe through a lumen in the at least one probe.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein delivering energy further comprises a pulse parameter comprising a first set of five individual pulses, followed by a first delay of up to 2 seconds, followed by a second set of five pulses, followed by a second delay of at least 3.5 seconds.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the pulse parameter further comprises a third set of five individual pulses, followed by a third delay of up to 2 seconds, followed by a fourth set of five pulses, followed by a fourth delay of at least 3.5 seconds.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one energy delivery probe is not repositioned during the delivery of energy.