# US 10,478,248 B2 · Electroporation ablation apparatus, system, and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,248 B2 - Document ID: US10478248B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/188,540 - Filed: 2016-06-21 - Published: 2016-10-13 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-15 - Assignees: Ethicon, Inc. - Applicants: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. - Inventors: Gary L. Long - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478248B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/1492: {having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation (A61B18/1477 takes precedence)} - A61B 1/018: for receiving instruments - A61B 1/06: with illuminating arrangements - A61B 18/1482: {having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy} - A61N 1/306: {Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body} - A61N 1/327: {for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation} - A61B 1/04: combined with photographic or television appliances - A61B 2018/00482: {Digestive system} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/00613: {Irreversible electroporation} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract An ablation system including a first probe extending through a first longitudinal lumen from a proximal end to beyond a distal end of a flexible shaft, a first electrode coupled to a distal end of the first probe, and a first conductor electrically coupled to the first electrode. The ablation system further includes a second probe extending through a second longitudinal lumen from the proximal end to beyond the distal end of the flexible shaft, a second electrode coupled to a distal end of the second probe, and a second conductor electrically coupled to the second electrode. The first and second probes are rotatable and translatable within the first and second longitudinal lumens respectively. Furthermore, the first electrode and the second electrode are rotatably and translatably positionable with respect to one another, via the first probe and the second probe respectively, to define a region therebetween. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ablation apparatus attachable to an elongate shaft, the ablation apparatus comprising: a first probe configured to extend through a first lumen defined in the elongate shaft, the first probe comprising: a distal end configured to protrude beyond a distal end of the elongate shaft; and a proximal end, wherein a first bore is longitudinally defined by the first probe between the distal end and the proximal end of the first probe, and wherein the proximal end of the first probe is coupleable to a source of suction to extract tissue through the first bore; a first electrode attached to the distal end of the first probe external to the elongate shaft; a first conductor electrically coupled to the first electrode; a second probe configured to extend through a second lumen defined in the elongate shaft, the second probe comprising: a distal end configured to protrude beyond the distal end of the elongate shaft; and a proximal end, wherein a second bore is longitudinally defined by the second probe between the distal end and the proximal end of the second probe, and wherein the proximal end of the second probe is coupleable to the source of suction to extract tissue through the second bore; a second electrode attached to the distal end of the second probe external to the elongate shaft; and a second conductor electrically coupled to the second electrode; wherein the first probe and the second probe are rotatable and translatable relative to the first lumen and the second lumen respectively, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are rotatably and translatably positionable with respect to one another, via the first probe and the second probe, to define a region between the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ablation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the region is further defined by a geometry of each of the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ablation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first conductor extends between an energy source and the first electrode external to the elongate shaft, and wherein the second conductor extends between the energy source and the second electrode external to the elongate shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ablation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the first probe defines a first aperture accessing the first bore and the distal end of the second probe defines a second aperture accessing the second bore. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The ablation apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture define a hook configured to retrieve the tissue. ### Claim 6 An ablation system for mounting to a flexible shaft, the ablation system comprising: a first probe configured to extend through a first longitudinal lumen defined in the flexible shaft, the first probe comprising: a distal end positioned external to the flexible shaft; and a proximal end, wherein a first bore is defined by the first probe between the distal end and the proximal end of the first probe along a first axis, and wherein the proximal end of the first probe is configured for communication with a suction source to extract tissue through the first bore; a first electrode coupled to the distal end of the first probe external to the flexible shaft; a first conductor electrically coupled to the first electrode; a second probe configured to extend through a second longitudinal lumen defined in the flexible shaft, the second probe comprising: a distal end positioned external to the flexible shaft; and a proximal end, wherein a second bore is defined in the second probe between the distal end and the proximal end of the second probe along a second axis, and wherein the proximal end of the second probe is configured for communication with the suction source to extract tissue through the second bore; a second electrode coupled to the distal end of the second probe external to the flexible shaft; and a second conductor electrically coupled to the second electrode; wherein the first probe and the second probe are rotatable about and translatable along the first axis and the second axis respectively, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are rotatably and translatably positionable with respect to one another, via the first probe and the second probe, to define a region between the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ablation system of claim 6, wherein each of the first conductor and the second conductor is configured to electrically couple to an energy source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ablation system of claim 7, wherein each of the first conductor and the second conductor extend, external to the flexible shaft, from the energy source to the first electrode and the second electrode respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The ablation system of claim 7, wherein the energy source is configured to deliver an electrical waveform through the first conductor and the second conductor to the first electrode and the second electrode respectively to further define the region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The ablation system of claim 9, wherein the electrical waveform comprises an amplitude in a range of about 100 VDC to about 1000 VDC, a frequency in a range of about 1 Hz to about 20 Hz, and a pulse width in a range of about 0.01 ms to about 100 ms to ablate tissue within the defined region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The ablation system of claim 6, wherein the region is further defined by a geometry of each of the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The ablation system of claim 6, wherein the distal end of the first probe defines a first aperture in communication with the first bore and the distal end of the second probe defines a second aperture in communication with the second bore. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ablation system of claim 12, wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture define a hook configured to retrieve the tissue. ### Claim 14 An ablation device mountable on an elongate shaft that defines a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein the ablation device comprises: a first probe configured to extend through the first lumen, wherein the first probe comprises: a distal portion located external to a distal end of the elongate shaft; and a proximal portion, wherein a first bore is defined by the first probe from the proximal portion to the distal portion of the first probe, and wherein the proximal portion of the first probe is attachable to a suction source to extract tissue through the first bore; a first electrode attached to an external surface of the distal portion of the first probe; a first conductor electrically coupled to the first electrode; a second probe configured to extend through the second lumen, wherein the second probe comprises: a distal portion located external to the distal end of the elongate shaft; and a proximal portion, wherein a second bore is defined by the second probe from the proximal portion to the distal portion of the second probe, and wherein the proximal portion of the second probe is attachable to the suction source to extract tissue through the second bore; a second electrode attached to an external surface of the distal portion of the second probe; and a second conductor electrically coupled to the second electrode; wherein the first probe and the second probe are rotatable and translatable relative to the first lumen and the second lumen respectively, and wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are rotatably and translatably positionable with respect to one another, via the first probe and the second probe, to define a region between the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The ablation device of claim 14, wherein the region is further defined by a geometry of each of the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The ablation device of claim 14, wherein the distal portion of the first probe defines a first aperture in communication with the first bore and the distal portion of the second probe defines a second aperture in communication with the second bore. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The ablation device of claim 16, wherein each of the first aperture and the second aperture define a hook configured to retrieve the tissue. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The ablation device of claim 14, wherein each of the first conductor and the second conductor extend, external to the elongate shaft, from an energy source to the first electrode and the second electrode respectively. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The ablation device of claim 18, wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are removably attachable to an external surface of the elongate shaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The ablation device of claim 18, further comprising a rotation tube and a cover tube, wherein the elongate shaft rotatably engages and extends through the rotation tube, and wherein the cover tube retains the first conductor and the second conductor against the rotation tube external to the elongate shaft.