Abstract:
Ablation probes are provided for perfusing the tissue, while the tissue is ablated. The ablation probe comprises an elongated shaft and an ablative element, such as a needle electrode. The ablation probe further comprises a lumen that extends through the probe shaft, which will be used to deliver an fluid to the distal end of the probe shaft for perfusion into the surrounding tissue. The ablation probe further comprises a porous structure that is associated with the distal end of the shaft in fluid communication with the lumen. For example, the distal end of the shaft, or the entirety of the shaft, can be composed of the porous structure. Or, if the ablative element is an electrode, the electrode can be composed of the porous structure. Because the pores within the porous structure are pervasive, the fluid will freely flow out into the tissue notwithstanding that some of the pores may become clogged.
Abstract:
A system for treating tissue includes first and second ablation devices each including a plurality of wire electrodes and coupled to a generator in parallel. In one embodiment, the generator includes first and second terminals coupled in parallel to one another, and the first and second ablation devices are connected to the first and second terminals, respectively. Alternatively, the first and second ablation devices are coupled to a single terminal of the generator using a “Y” cable. A ground electrode is coupled to the generator opposite the first and second ablation devices for monopolar operation. The first and second arrays of electrodes are inserted into first and second sites adjacent one another within a tissue region. Energy is simultaneously delivered to the first and second arrays to generate lesions at the first and second sites preferably such that the first and second lesions overlap.
Abstract:
An apparatus for delivering electrical energy includes a cannula and one or more needles extendable from and retractable into a lumen of the cannula. A distal portion of each needle is extendable from the lumen and terminates in a tissue-piercing distal tip. Each distal portion is formed from an electrically conductive and porous material, thereby providing a porous electrode through which electrolytic fluid may flow for delivering electrical energy to tissue surrounding the distal portion. The cannula is introduced into a tissue structure of a patient, the one or more needles are advanced from the cannula, saline is introduced from the porous material to surrounding tissue, and electrical energy from an RF generator is delivered to ablate tissue within the tissue structure.
Abstract:
An apparatus for delivering electrical energy includes a cannula and one or more needles extendable from and retractable into a lumen of the cannula. A distal portion of each needle is extendable from the lumen and terminates in a tissue-piercing distal tip. Each distal portion is formed from an electrically conductive and porous material, thereby providing a porous electrode through which electrolytic fluid may flow for delivering electrical energy to tissue surrounding the distal portion. The cannula is introduced into a tissue structure of a patient, the one or more needles are advanced from the cannula, saline is introduced from the porous material to surrounding tissue, and electrical energy from an RF generator is delivered to ablate tissue within the tissue structure.
Abstract:
A medical assembly and method are provided to effectively treat abnormal tissue, such as, a tumor. The target tissue is thermally ablated using a suitable source, such as RF or laser energy. A cooling shield is placed in contact with non-target tissue adjacent the target tissue, and actively cooled to conduct thermal energy away from the non-target tissue. In one method, the cooling shield can be placed between two organs, in which case, one of the two organs can comprise the target tissue, and the other of the two organs can comprise the non-target tissue. In this case, the cooling shield may comprise an actively cooled inflatable balloon, which can be disposed between the two organs when deflated, and then inflated. The inflatable balloon can be actively cooled by pumping a cooling medium through it. In another method, the cooling shield can be embedded within the non-target tissue. In this case, the cooling shield can comprise one or more needles. If a plurality of needles is used, they can be embedded into the non-target tissue in a series, e.g., a rectilinear or curvilinear arrangement. The needle(s) can be actively cooled by pumping a cooling medium through them.
Abstract:
A system for ablating lesions in the interior regions of the human body including a RF catheter and a control system adapted to facilitate the automatic step deployment of an array-type energy delivery system positioned within the catheter. The RF catheter and control system further include an auto array deployment mechanism coupled to the array-type energy delivery system and an impedance and temperature monitoring system. In addition, the system includes a probe positioning device adapted to maintain a RF probe in a desired orientation during ablation procedures.
Abstract:
Methods and devices for occluding a vessel during a percutaneous ablation procedure. An elongated access device having a lumen and a tissue piercing, open distal end in communication with the lumen is used to percutaneously access a vessel that supplied blood to the tissue to be treated. An elongated balloon deployment device is used to deliver a balloon into the interior of the vessel. The balloon is inflated, resulting in the occlusion of the vessel. The tissue to be treated is ablated. Because there is little or no blood to transfer the thermal energy away from the heated tissue, the ablation procedure is performed more efficiently. The balloon may be subsequently deflated allowing normal flow through the vessel to return.
Abstract:
An apparatus for delivering energy to a target site within bone includes a hollow needle extending from a handle that terminates in a tissue piercing distal tip. A drill within a lumen of the needle is extendable beyond the distal tip, and includes a cutting element and an electrically conductive region. An RF generator may be coupled to the drill for delivering energy to the electrically conductive region, and a driver or actuator may be coupled to the drill for rotating and/or advancing the drill axially. During use, the needle is inserted through a patient's skin to a hard tissue structure, e.g., a bone, including a target site therein, e.g., a tumor. The drill is advanced from the needle, a hole is drilled into the bone until the drill reaches the tumor, and electrical energy is delivered via the electrically conductive region to destroy the tumor.
Abstract:
An invasive medical device for delivery radio frequency energy to a target tissue region includes an elongate delivery cannula having a lumen in communication with a distal opening. A deployment member is positioned and longitudinally movable in the lumen. An array of electrode elements are secured to a distal end of the deployment member, the deployment member being movable from a delivery position, in which the electrode elements are positioned within the lumen, to a deployed position, in which the electrode elements extend distally out of the cannula distal opening. A sealing member formed from a biocompatible material sufficiently rigid to penetrate solid body tissue partially extends from, and substantially seals, the distal cannula opening when the deployment member is in the delivery position. By way of examples, the sealing member may be carried on a distal end of the deployment member, or on a separately movable deployment member, or frictionally fit in the cannula distal opening.
Abstract:
A system for treating tissue includes a source of conductive and/or magnetic beads, a first member, e.g., a catheter or cannula, coupled to the source of magnetic beads, and a second member, e.g., a catheter or cannula, carrying a magnet on its distal end. The system is used for ablating or otherwise treating tissue within a target tissue region including a blood vessel contacting or passing therethrough. Magnetic beads are introduced into the target tissue region, e.g., using the first member, and a magnetic field is generated within the target tissue region, e.g., using the second member, to cause the magnetic beads to migrate towards a wall of the vessel. Energy is delivered into the target tissue region, e.g., to heat tissue therein, and the magnetic beads may attenuate or enhance treatment of tissue adjacent to the vessel.