Abstract:
A device for the ablation of tissue for use with the fingers of a human hand and a radio frequency power supply and controller providing a source of radio frequency energy and controls for controlling the application of radio frequency energy to the device comprising a handle sized so that is adapted to be grasped and supported by the human hand and having proximal and distal extremities. A single conductive needle formed of a conducting material is disposed in the distal extremity of the handle. An edge card is mounted in the handle and has edge mounted contacts with circuitry connected thereto. An edge mount board connector is mounted in the handle and is removably secured to the edge mounted contacts of the edge card. A cable is connected to the edge mount connector and extends from the proximal extremity of the handle and is adapted to be coupled to the radiofrequency power supply and controller. A second printed circuit board is mounted in the handle in a spaced-apart position from the edge card. A flex cable having conductive leads carried thereby extends between the edge card and the printed circuit board and is physically and electrically connected to the edge card. The proximal extremity of the needle is secured to the printed circuit board and makes electrical connections therewith.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method and system for treating disorders of the genito-urinary tract and other disorders in other parts of the body. A particular treatment can include one or more of, or some combination of ablation, nerve modulation, three-dimensional tissue shaping, drug delivery, mapping, stimulating, shrinking (by creation of a pattern of thermal lesions) and reducing strain on structures by altering the geometry thereof and providing bulk to particularly defined regions. The particular body structures or tissues can include one or more of, or some combination of regions, including the bladder, esophagus, vagina, penis, larynx, pharynx, aortic arch, abdominal aorta, thoracic aorta, large intestine, small intestine, sinus, auditory canal, uterus, vas deferens, trachea and all associated sphincters. In one aspect of the invention, a catheter is deployed in the body. It may enter the body via a natural orifice, a stoma, or a surgically created opening that is made for the purpose of inserting the catheter. Insertion may be facilitated with the use of a guide wire or a generic support structure or visualization apparatus. In second aspect of the invention, the treatment can include application of energy and substances to effect changes in the target tissue. Types of energy that can be applied include radiofrequency, laser, microwave, infrared waves, ultrasound or some combination thereof. Types of substances that can be applied include pharmaceutical agents such as analgesics, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs, bulking agents such as biologically nonreactive particles, cooling fluids or dessicants such as liquid nitrogen for use in cryo-based treatments.
Abstract:
A cell necrosis apparatus includes an elongated member with a longitudinal axis. The elongated member being is configured to be positionable and maneuverable in an oral cavity. First and second energy delivery devices are positioned at a distal portion of the elongated member. Each of the first and second energy delivery devices is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis. In another embodiment, the apparatus can also include a template with a tissue penetrating introducer and a lumen. The energy delivery device is configured to be advancable from the first lumen into a tonsil intratonsil lymphoid stroma.
Abstract:
A tissue ablation apparatus comprises a first elongated delivery device including a lumen and an obturator with a tissue piercing distal end. The obturator is positionable in the lumen of the first elongated delivery device. A second elongated delivery device is positionable in the lumen of the first elongated delivery device. An energy delivery device is positionable in the second elongated delivery device. The energy delivery device includes at least a first and a second RF electrode each with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second RF electrodes are positionable in the second elongated delivery device in a compacted state and deployable from the second elongated delivery device with curvature in a deployed state. The first and second RF electrodes exhibit a changing direction of travel when advanced from the second elongated delivery device to a selected tissue site. At least one infusion port is coupled to one of the first elongated delivery device, the second elongated delivery device, the energy delivery device, the first RF electrode or the second RF electrode. An electrode advancement member is coupled to the first and second RF electrodes. The advancement member is configured to advance the RF electrode out of the elongated delivery device.
Abstract:
A method of creating a lesion in tissue with infusion includes providing an apparatus comprising a first elongated delivery device with a lumen, an obturator with a second elongated delivery device and an energy delivery device positional in a lumen of the first elongated delivery device. The energy device includes at least a first and a second RF electrode each with a tissue piercing distal portion, the first and second RF electrodes being deployable from the first elongated delivery device with curvature in a deployed state. The energy delivery device includes an infusion lumen and at least one infusion port. The obturator and second delivery device are introduced to a selected tissue site. The obturator is removed from a lumen of the second delivery device and the first delivery device and energy delivery device are introduced into the lumen of the second delivery device. The first and second RF electrodes are advanced from the first delivery device to at least partially surround a target tissue site. The target tissue site is at least partially infused with an infusion fluid. Energy is delivered from the energy delivery device to the target tissue site and cell necrosis is created at the target tissue site.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method and system for treatment for body structures, especially internal body structures involving unwanted features or other disorders, that does not require relatively invasive surgery, and is not subject to other drawbacks noted with regard to the known art. A relatively minimally invasive catheter including a contained cooling element is inserted into the body. The distal and proximal end of the catheter are extended or retracted or some combination thereof so as to achieve optimal delivery of treatment. Treatment of the body structures is applied using the electrodes embedded in the cooling element, and the unwanted features or disorders are relatively cured using the applied treatments. In a preferred embodiment, the applied treatments can include application of energy or substances, including application (such as of radio frequency energy, microwave energy, or laser or other electromagnetic energy) or substances (such as collagen or other bulking, plumping, or shaping agents; saline or other energy-receiving electrolytes; astringents or other debulking, reducing, or shaping agents; antibiotics or other bioactive, chemoactive, or radioactive compounds). In a preferred embodiment, more than one applied treatment can be performed, either in conjunction, in parallel, or seriatim, so as to achieve a combined effect more substantial than any one individual such applied treatment.
Abstract:
A method of treating a sphincter provides a sphincter electropotential mapping device with at least one of a mapping electrode or a treatment electrode. The sphincter electropotential mapping device is introduced into at least a portion of the sphincter, the lower esophageal sphincter, stomach, the cardia or the fundus. Bioelectric activity causing a relaxation of the sphincter is detected and energy is delivered from either the mapping electrode or the treatment electrode to treat the bioelectric activity.
Abstract:
An electrode assembly for use in interventricular cardiac mapping includes one or more elongated splines each of which carries a plurality of spaced apart electrodes thereon. The body of each spline is formed of a plurality of alternating electrically conductive layers and the electrically non-conductive layers. A separate electrically conductive pathway is provided to connect each of the electrodes to a different one of the conductive layers. Each of the layers is electrically connected to an electrical signal processing device so that signals provided by each of the electrodes can be processed.
Abstract:
An ablation apparatus includes an elongated structure. An expandable membrane is positioned at least partially adjacent to an exterior of the elongated structure. The membrane is configured to receive a electrolytic solution and release at least a portion of the electrolytic through a membrane exterior surface. An electromagnetic energy delivery device is coupled to the expandable membrane. The electromagnetic energy delivery device is also configured to be coupled with a power source.
Abstract:
A probe for cardiac diagnosis and/or treatment has a catheter tube. The distal end of the catheter tube carries first and second electrode elements. The probe includes a mechanism for steering the first electrode element relative to the second electrode element so that the user can move the first electrode element into and out of contact with endocardial tissue without disturbing the contact of the second electrode element with endocardial tissue, even through the two electrode elements are carried on a common catheter tube. The distal end can carry a three dimensional structure having an open interior area. One of electrode elements can be steered through the open interior area of the structure. Electrode elements on the exterior of the structure can be used for surface mapping, while the electrode element inside the structure is steered to ablate tissue.