Abstract:
A medical probe device for reducing tissue mass in a selected portion of the body comprises a catheter having a control end and a probe end. The probe end includes a malleable tube and a flexible tube that allow the probe end to conform to the curvature of the cavity inside a patient's body.
Abstract:
A medical probe device comprising a catheter having a stylet guide housing with at least one stylet port in a side thereof and stylet guide means for directing a flexible stylet outward through at least one stylet port and through intervening tissue to targeted tissues. The stylet guide housing has an optical viewing means positioned for viewing the stylet and adjacent structure which includes a fiber optic channel means for receiving a fiber optic viewing device. The fiber optic channel means can include a guide port means for directing longitudinal movement of a fiber optic device with respect to the stylet guide means in a viewing zone and a flushing liquid channel in the stylet guide housing having an exit port positioned to direct flushing liquid issuing therefrom across the end of a fiber optic device when positioned in the viewing zone. The optical viewing means can comprise a viewing window positioned in the stylet guide housing for viewing the stylet when it is directed outward from its respective stylet port. The optical viewing means can include a fiber optic channel in the stylet guide housing for receiving the a fiber optic viewing device and aligning the viewing end thereof with the viewing window. Windowed devices can include a flushing liquid channel in the stylet guide housing having an exit port positioned to direct flushing liquid issuing therefrom across a surface of the viewing window.
Abstract:
A medical probe apparatus comprising a catheter having a stylet guide housing with at least one stylet port in a side thereof and a stylet guide for directing a flexible stylet outward through at least one stylet port and through intervening tissue to targeted tissues. The stylet guide has a biopsy sample device or other tissue manifesting device at the distal end thereof to gather tissue or perform other operations at the point of the desired tissue such as emitting electromagnetic energy as ablative power to target tissues.One embodiment of the biopsy sample stylet includes a hollow core sampler including a biopsy needle apparatus for gathering sample tissue. The hollow core sampler has a sharpened end for facilitating the penetration into and gathering of the sample tissue. A second embodiment of the biopsy sample stylet includes a harpoon-like sample stylet when the sharp tip thereof allows for easy entry into the target tissue. The sharpened barbed side opening allows for certain desired tissue to be sampled to be drawn into the side opening for individual cell gathering or complete sample excise or gathering of the desired tissue. The third embodiment is a clam shell or alligator type biopsy jaw device whereby the sharpened biopsy tip thereof allows a tissue sample to be clipped or cut upon activation of the stylet jaws. Still another embodiment comprises a biopsy knife device in conjunction with an electromagnetic emitter for selective tissue sampling or electromagnetic heat ablation, or both, of selected tissue.
Abstract:
An RF treatment apparatus includes a catheter with a catheter lumen. A removable needle electrode is positioned in the catheter lumen in a fixed relationship to the catheter. The needle electrode includes a needle lumen and a needle electrode distal end. A removable introducer is slidably positioned in the needle lumen. The introducer includes an introducer distal end. A first sensor is positioned on a surface of the needle electrode or the insulator. An RF power source is coupled to the needle electrode and a return electrode. An insulator sleeve is slidably positioned around the electrode and includes a second sensor. Resources are associated with the electrodes, sensors as well as the RF power source for maintaining a selected power at the electrode independent of changes in current or voltage.
Abstract:
A medical device which includes an elongate probe member sized to be able to enter a urethra of a female human body and having a length so that when the distal extremity is disposed in the vicinity of a target volume of tissue surrounding the urethra the proximal extremity is outside of the urethra. The elongate probe member has a passage extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity. At least one tubular needle is disposed in the passage and has first and second extremities and a flow passageway therein extending longitudinally from the first extremity to at least one opening provided in the second extremity of the at least one tubular needle. A control handle is secured to the proximal extremity of the elongate probe member for causing movement of the at least one tubular needle in the passage. A guide passageway causes movement of the at least one tubular needle through a curved path extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis. A supply assembly is carried by the proximal extremity of the elongate probe member and is in communication with the flow passageway of the at least one tubular needle for introducing an agent into the flow passageway. A method for use of the device is provided.
Abstract:
An ablation apparatus for ablating an inner layer in an organ or lumen of a body, or any desired thin layer, includes an expandable member made of a material with a porous exterior surface. An electrolytic solution, housed in an interior of the expandable member, releases electrolytic solution through the porous exterior surface. A conforming member, which can be an open cell foam material, has an RF conductive surface, and a back side in a surrounding relationship to an exterior surface of the expandable member. Further, the conforming member includes non-zone areas that have a first porosity rate for delivering electrolytic solution to the inner layer. The conforming member also includes a zone for housing each RF electrode and electrolytic solution. Zones have a second porosity rate that is less than the first porosity rate, thus permitting electrolytic solution to pass through the non-zone areas at a faster rate than in the zones. The zones provide an area where electrolytic solution is heated to a higher temperature, due to the differences in porosity with the non-zones. With the combination of the electrode and the heated electrolytic solution in each zone, a larger electrode is created, and there is a more effective, and even application of both RF and thermal energy to the tissue site, such as the endometrium.
Abstract:
An ablation apparatus has a balloon that is inserted into an organ of a body and ablates all or a selected portion of the inner layer of the organ. Electrolytic solution fills the balloon, and the balloon includes a plurality of apertures from which electrolytic solution flows from the balloon. The flow rate of electrolytic solution is dependent on the pressure applied to the balloon by the electrolytic solution. A conforming member, with a conductive surface and a back side, is made of a material that substantially conforms to a shape of the inner layer of the organ and delivers the electrolytic solution and RF energy through the conductive surface to the inner layer. Advantageously, difficult to access areas are reached with the inclusion of the conforming member. Optionally positioned between the conforming member and the balloon is a porous membrane. A printed circuit can be formed in or on the conforming member, or adjacent to its back side or conductive surface, and delivers RF energy to selected sections of the inner layer. A feedback device is included and is responsive to a detected characteristic of the inner layer. The feedback device provides a controlled delivery of RF energy to segments of the circuit.
Abstract:
A cardiac diagnosis and treatment system comprises a support carrying at least two electrodes. A conductor is associated with the support for selectively directing electrical signals to and from each electrode. The conductor includes a first buss for delivering power from an external power source, a second buss for transmitting electrode signals to an external signal processor, and a third buss for receiving control signals from an external signal source to multiplex the electrode signals from the electrodes through the second buss. A conduction line conducts power, control signals, and electrode signals from the external sources to the conductor.
Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for delivering controlled heat independently on separate channels to perform ablation to treat benign prosthetic hypertrophy or hyperplasia (BPH). The dual channel power system provides independent control of radio frequency energy to each of two stylets protruding from a catheter into a human prostate through the urethra. The energy is independently transferred directly into the respective tissue around the stylets in such a manner as to provide respective tissue ablation without damage to surrounding tissues. Automatic shut-off of both channels occurs when any one of a number of surrounding areas to include the urethra or surrounding mass or the adjacent organs exceeds predetermined safe temperature limits. Automatic shut off of the individual channels occurs when the temperature of the tissue proximal to the respective stylet exceeds respective predetermined values. The dual channel system is microprocessor controlled and contains self-test startup and thermocouple autocalibration circuitry.
Abstract:
A medical probe device of this invention comprising a catheter having a control end and a probe end. The probe end includes a stylet guide housing having at least one stylet port and stylet guide means for directing a flexible stylet outward through at least one stylet port and through intervening tissue to targeted tissues. A stylet is positioned in at least one of said stylet guide means, the stylet comprising a non-conductive sleeve having a RF electrode lumen and an optional a fluid supply lumen and a temperature sensor lumen therein. At least one portion of an opposed surface of the electrode lumen and the electrode can be spaced apart to define a liquid supply passageway for delivery of medicament liquid. The RF electrode enclosed within the non-conductive sleeve has a distal length optionally having at least one current focusing groove means thereon and a distal tip shaped to focus current crowding on its terminal end, whereby Rf current passing therefrom into surrounding tissue forms a lesion extending outward from the groove and tip. The focusing groove means can be a plurality of annular focusing grooves or a spiral focusing groove thereon.