# US 11,432,870 B2 · Cooled RF probes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,870 B2 - Document ID: US11432870B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/338,600 - Filed: 2017-10-03 - Published: 2019-08-08 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-04 - Assignees: Avent, Inc. - Applicants: Avent, Inc. - Inventors: Phillip A. Schorr; Eric A. Schepis; Skyler Canute; Joseph DiPietro; Sara Kebede; Tyler West Crone; Elliot Blake Bourgeois - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432870B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/148: {having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy} - A61F 7/106: {self-cooling, e.g. using a chemical reaction} - A61B 2018/00005: {Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe} - A61B 2018/00047: {using Peltier effect} - A61B 2018/0044: {Spinal cord} - A61B 2018/00791: {Temperature} - A61B 2018/00815: {measured by a thermistor} - A61B 2018/00821: {measured by a thermocouple} - A61B 2018/00875: {Resistance or impedance} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract An electrosurgical device is provided that includes a probe extending in a longitudinal direction and having a proximal region and a distal region. An inner diameter of the probe defines a lumen. The probe has an electrically insulated portion extending from the proximal region to the distal region and an electrically exposed conductive portion located at the distal region. The electrically exposed conductive portion delivers radiofrequency energy to an area of tissue adjacent the distal region. The device also includes a heat transfer system for removing thermal energy from the area of tissue that is in thermal contact with the area of tissue. The heat transfer system removes from about 0.1 Watts to about 50 Watts of energy from the tissue. In addition, the heat transfer system can sufficiently draw heat away from the tissue without the use of a peristaltic pump for circulating a liquid inside the lumen. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrosurgical device comprising: a probe extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the probe includes a proximal region and a distal region, wherein an inner diameter of the probe defines a lumen, wherein the probe has an electrically insulated portion extending from the proximal region to the distal region and an electrically exposed conductive portion located at the distal region, wherein the electrically exposed conductive portion delivers radiofrequency energy to an area of tissue adjacent the distal region of the probe; and a heat transfer system for removing thermal energy from the area of tissue, wherein the heat transfer system is in thermal contact with the area of tissue, wherein the heat transfer system removes from about 0.1 Watts to about 50 Watts of energy from the area of tissue, the heat transfer system comprising: at least two Peltier circuits positioned within the lumen and spaced apart along the longitudinal axis of the probe, each of the at least two Peltier circuits including a hot side formed from a first material and a cold side formed from a second material; and a heat sink positioned at a proximal region of the probe and thermally coupled to the plurality of Peltier circuits. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer system removes from about 2 Watts to about 12 Watts of energy from the area of tissue. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer system is at least partially disposed within the lumen. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, the heat transfer system is configured to absorb or remove thermal energy over a time period ranging from about 60 seconds to about 300 seconds. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer system comprises a heat removal material in thermal contact with the area of tissue. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electrosurgical device of claim 5, wherein the heat removal material is disposed within the lumen. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The electrosurgical device of claim 5, wherein the heat removal material comprises a heat transfer material, a heat sink, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electrosurgical device of claim 7, wherein the heat transfer material comprises a thermally conductive material, one or more additional Peltier circuits, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The electrosurgical device of claim 7, wherein the heat sink comprises a phase change material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electrosurgical device of claim 9, wherein the phase change material changes phase at a temperature between about 40° C. and 100° C. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The electrosurgical device of claim 9, wherein the phase change material has a heat of fusion ranging from about 150 Joules/gram to about 300 Joules/gram. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The electro surgical device of claim 9, wherein from about 1 gram to about 12 grams of the phase change material is required to remove from about 2 Watts to about 12 Watts of energy from the probe over a 150 second time period. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electrosurgical device of claim 12, wherein the phase change material comprises a paraffin wax. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The electrosurgical device of claim 9, wherein the phase change material surrounds a conductor extending from the electrically exposed conductive portion of the probe at the distal region of the probe towards a proximal end of the probe. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The electro surgical device of claim 7, wherein the heat sink comprises a gas or a pressurized liquid, wherein the gas or the pressurized liquid is contained within the lumen. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electrosurgical device of claim 15, wherein the gas is carbon dioxide or nitrogen and the liquid is liquid carbon dioxide. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The electro surgical device of claim 15, wherein the lumen contains an inlet channel, wherein the gas or pressurized liquid is introduced into the lumen, and an outlet channel where the gas or pressurized liquid exits the lumen, wherein the inlet channel and the outlet channel are defined by a separator, wherein the inlet channel has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the outlet channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 7) The electrosurgical device of claim 7, wherein the heat sink comprises an endothermic reaction system, wherein the endothermic reaction system comprises a first material separated from a second material, wherein an endothermic reaction occurs when the first material contacts the second material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electro surgical device of claim 18, wherein the first material comprises water and the second material comprises ammonium nitrate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The electro surgical device of claim 19, wherein the first material and the second material are stored in a cartridge that is inserted into the lumen prior to use of the electrosurgical device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The electro surgical device of claim 18, wherein the heat transfer system further comprises a wire, wherein the wire facilitates the transfer of heat from the electrically exposed conductive portion of the probe to the endothermic reaction between the first material and the second material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 7) The electrosurgical device of claim 7, wherein the heat removal material includes the heat transfer material and the heat sink, wherein the heat transfer material is in thermal communication with the heat sink. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The electrosurgical device of claim 22, wherein the heat sink is an external heat sink. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The electrosurgical device of claim 22, wherein the heat transfer material is in communication with the heat sink via one or more conductive wires or conduits. ### Claim 25 (depends on 7) The electrosurgical device of claim 7, wherein the heat sink comprises a series of fins, etchings, particulates, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein a connection exists between the at least two Peltier circuits and the distal region of the probe. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The electrosurgical device of claim 26, wherein the hot side of each of the at least two Peltier circuits faces the proximal region of the probe and wherein the cold side of each of the at least two Peltier circuits faces the distal region of the probe. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the area of tissue adjacent the distal region of the probe is maintained at a temperature of less than about 90° C. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer system is free of a circulating liquid. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The electrosurgical device of claim 1, wherein the heat transfer system is free of a pump.