# US 11,992,258 B2 · Needle and tine deployment mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,258 B2 - Document ID: US11992258B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/085,443 - Filed: 2022-12-20 - Published: 2023-04-20 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-27 - Assignees: Gynesonics, Inc. - Applicants: Gynesonics, Inc. - Inventors: Brian Placek; Robert K. Deckman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992258B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/1477: {Needle-like probes} - A61B 2018/00547: {Prostate} - A61B 2018/00559: {Female reproductive organs} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/1427: {with a beveled end} - A61B 2018/143: {multiple needles} - A61B 2018/1475: {Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing} - A61B 2034/2063: {Acoustic tracking systems, e.g. using ultrasound} - A61B 2090/3784: {both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A needle electrode deployment shaft includes a central member and a plurality of needle electrodes. The central member has a plurality of needle advancement channels formed therein. The needle electrodes are disposed within the advancement channels and each advancement channel terminates in a ramp portion which deflects the needles radially outwardly as they are axially advanced. The ramps may be spirally or acutely configured in order to increase the distance through which the needles may be bent as they are axially advanced. Additionally, the central member may have a radially reduced distal tip in order to decrease tissue insertion forces. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A needle electrode deployment shaft comprising: a central member having a proximal end, a distal end, a longitudinal axis therebetween, an outer surface, and a plurality of needle electrode advancement channels; and a plurality of peripheral needle electrodes slidably received in the channels; wherein the plurality of needle electrode advancement channels comprises a plurality of ramps, each ramp being arcuate and curved about the longitudinal axis of the central member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each channel has a proximal portion axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the central member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each channel comprises a ramp entrance located at a first angular orientation relative to the longitudinal axis and at a preselected radial distance between the longitudinal axis of the central member and the ramp entrance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein each channel comprises a ramp exit located at a second angular orientation angularly offset from the first angular orientation and on an outer surface of the central member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the offset angle is in the range from 450 to 1500. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4, wherein the ramp entrance and ramp exit are separated by a distance in the axial direction in the range from 2.5 mm to 25 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the central member has a diameter in the range from 0.75 mm to 3.1 mm and the preselected radial distance is in the range from 0.25 mm to 1.25 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each channel follows a spiral path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each channel is confined within a plane that intersects the central member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels deflect the needle electrodes radially outwardly as they are advanced through the plurality of channels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the needle electrodes are configured to deliver radiofrequency energy to tissue. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the radiofrequency energy is monopolar. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the radiofrequency energy is bipolar. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising an imaging array coupled to the distal end of the central member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the imaging array is deflectable between a low profile configuration and a higher profile, deflected configuration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the imaging array is configured to pivot or rotate about the central member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The device of claim 14, wherein the imaging array comprises an ultrasound imaging array. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of deployment ports from which the plurality of needle electrodes extend as they are advanced through the plurality of channels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the ports of the plurality of deployment ports are in the form of a slot, circle, or oval at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the shaft member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the central member has a distal tip with a sharpened distal end. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The device of claim 20, wherein the distal tip comprises a spike having a region with a width which is less than that of the central member. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The device of claim 21, further comprising a central electrode reciprocatably mounted in a central lumen in the central member. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein the spike is generally cylindrical and axially aligned with the central member where the central lumen extends through the distal tip. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein the spike is radially offset from the axis of the central member and has a groove which receives the central electrode when extended from the central member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein the spike has a chamfered surface having an electrode transition cavity extending from the central lumen. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The device of claim 21, comprising a plurality of axially aligned spikes extending from a distal end of the central member, wherein the central electrode advances distally through a protected region defined by the plurality of spikes. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The device of claim 21, wherein the spike extends from the central member and is connected as a central electrode. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels consists of from 3 to 9 channels. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of needle electrodes consists of from 3 to 9 needle electrodes. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the needle electrode has a beveled end which is oriented to engage a surface of the ramp as the needle is axially advanced. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The device of claim 30, wherein the beveled ends are chamfered to have a flat surface, a curved surface, or a multi-faceted surface. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein at least a distal region of the central member is non-conductive. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein at least a distal region of the central member is electrically conductive and adapted to act as an electrode. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the central member has a central lumen. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein each needle electrode has a tissue penetrating tip.