# US 10,307,201 B2 · Methods and devices for use of degassed fluids with fluid enhanced ablation devices

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- Number: US 10,307,201 B2
- Document ID: US10307201B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/826,563
- Filed: 2015-08-14
- Published: 2015-12-10
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2011-04-12
- Assignees: Thermedical, Inc.
- Applicants: Thermedical, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael G. Curley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307201B2

## CPC

- A61B 18/082: {Probes or electrodes therefor}
- A61B 18/04: by heating (by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18)
- A61B 18/1477: {Needle-like probes}
- A61B 18/16: Indifferent or passive electrodes for grounding
- F04B 17/03: driven by electric motors
- F04B 41/02: having reservoirs
- A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing}
- A61B 2018/00029: {open}
- A61B 2018/00041: {Heating, e.g. defrosting}
- A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation}
- A61B 2018/00642: {with feedback, i.e. closed loop control}
- A61B 2018/00773: {Sensed parameters}
- A61B 2018/00791: {Temperature}
- A61B 2018/00797: {measured by multiple temperature sensors}
- A61B 2018/00809: {measured thermochromatically}
- A61B 2018/00821: {measured by a thermocouple}
- A61B 2018/046: {in liquid form}
- A61B 2018/1425: {Needle}
- A61B 2018/162: {located on the probe body}
- F04B 19/22: of reciprocating-piston type
- F04B 43/04: Pumps having electric drive
- F04B 49/06: Control using electricity (regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04)
- F04C 2270/041: Controlled or regulated
- Y10T 29/49016: Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
- Y10T 29/49085: Thermally variable
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- F04C: ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS (engines F03C); ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for degassing fluid prior to applying fluid to a treatment site during ablation therapy are provided. In one embodiment, an ablation system can include an elongate body, an ablation element, a heating assembly, and a fluid source. Fluid in the fluid source can be at least partially degassed prior to being provided as part of the system, or, in some embodiments, a degassing apparatus can be provided that can be configured to degas fluid within the system prior to applying the fluid to the treatment site. The degassing apparatus can include one or more gas-permeable and fluid-impermeable tubes disposed therein, which can allow gas to be removed from fluid passing through the apparatus. Other exemplary devices, systems, and methods are also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ablation system, comprising:
an elongate body configured to contact tissue and having an inner lumen configured to deliver fluid from a distal portion of the elongate body;
an ablation element configured to heat tissue in contact with the elongate body; and
a fluid source separate from the elongate body and in fluid communication with the inner lumen for delivering fluid through the inner lumen, the fluid source containing a volume of fluid that is at least partially degassed such that the fluid contains one or more gases having less than a predetermined partial pressure.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a pump coupled to the fluid source and configured to pump fluid from the fluid source through the inner lumen of the elongate body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a mass exchanger coupled to the fluid source and configured to at least partially degas the fluid.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid source comprises a syringe configured to couple to the elongate body for delivering fluid to the inner lumen.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises saline.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to measure an amount of the gas in the fluid.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor measures partial pressure of at least one gas to determine the amount of the gas in the fluid.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the elongate body includes a blunt distal tip configured to contact tissue without penetrating into the tissue.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a heating assembly disposed within the inner lumen of the elongate body and configured to heat the fluid to be delivered from the elongate body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a partial pressure of oxygen contained in the fluid is in a range of about 20 mm to about 40 mm of mercury.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid consists essentially of normal saline solution.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid consists essentially of concentrated saline solution.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the fluid consists essentially of Ringer's solution.

### Claim 14

An ablation system, comprising:
a mass exchanger in communication with a fluid source and configured to at least partially degas fluid from the fluid source;
an elongate body configured to contact tissue and deliver the fluid from a distal portion of the elongate body; and
an ablation element configured to heat the tissue in contact with the elongate body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the mass exchanger includes a plurality of non-coaxial gas-permeable and fluid-impermeable conduits.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the mass exchanger includes at least one outlet configured to couple to a gas source for adjusting the amount of gas in the fluid flowing through the mass exchanger.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the gas source comprises a vacuum source for removing gas from the fluid.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the gas source comprises a volume of one or more gases having less than a predetermined pressure.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, further comprising a heating assembly configured to heat the fluid to be delivered from the elongate body.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the mass exchanger is disposed proximal of the heating assembly such that fluid is at least partially degassed before being heated by the heating assembly.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the mass exchanger is disposed within a control unit coupled to a proximal end of the elongate body, the control unit having a pump effective to pump fluid from a fluid source, through the mass exchanger, and into the inner lumen of the elongate body.

### Claim 22 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, further comprising a sensor configured to measure an amount of a gas in fluid after it flows through the mass exchanger.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The system of claim 22, wherein the sensor measures partial pressure of at least one gas to determine the amount of the gas in the fluid.

### Claim 24 (depends on 14)

The ablation system of claim 14, wherein the elongate body includes a blunt distal tip configured to contact tissue without penetrating into the tissue.

### Claim 25 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein a partial pressure of oxygen contained in the fluid upon exiting the mass exchanger is in a range of about 20 mm to about 40 mm of mercury.

### Claim 26 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the fluid consists essentially of normal saline solution.

### Claim 27 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the fluid consists essentially of concentrated saline solution.

### Claim 28 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the fluid consists essentially of Ringer's solution.