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US 12,496,129 B2Granted
Ablation probe systems
AssigneeTriAgenics, Inc.
InventorsLeigh E. Colby, David Paul Watson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ablation probe tip 100 having a shaft 102 with an insertion end 104. The shaft 102 includes a coaxial antenna 110. A center of ablation 124 is located within the shaft 102 near the insertion end 104. A heat transfer layer 130 surrounds the coaxial antenna 110. A thermal reservoir 134 at least partially surrounds the heat transfer layer 130. A method for using the ablation probe tip 100 includes predetermining an optimal temperature for the heat transfer layer 130, and the thermal reservoir 134 cooling the heat transfer layer 130 to no higher than the optimal temperature. The ablation probe tip 100 may be part of an ablation probe system 50 that includes an ablation source 60 that provides ablation means 62 to the ablation probe tip 100.
Claims100
An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:
- (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna, an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
- (b) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna at least near said insertion end, said center of ablation surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone, said center of ablation being within the ablation zone, said ablation zone surrounding said center of ablation when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip;
- (c) a stationary heat transfer layer partially surrounding said coaxial antenna, said heat transfer layer spaced from said insertion end such that said center of ablation is between a distal end of said heat transfer layer and said insertion end, and said heat transfer layer is partially within said ablation zone when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip;
- and
- (d) a thermal reservoir at least partially surrounding said heat transfer layer, said thermal reservoir being selected from the group consisting of:
- (i) a silver thermal reservoir;
- (ii) an aluminum thermal reservoir;
- (iii) a superconductive thermal reservoir made from at least one superconductive material selected from the group consisting of boron nitride, graphene, graphene nanotubes, and pyrolytic graphite;
- and
- (iv) a combination thermal reservoir made from a combination of at least two materials selected from the group consisting of air, water, ice, aluminum, silver, copper, diamond, boron nitride, graphene, graphene nanotubes, and pyrolytic graphite.
7 more elements
A method for cooling an ablation probe tip, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said method comprising:
- (a) providing said ablation probe tip, said ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said shaft including a coaxial antenna, an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end, said coaxial antenna having a center of ablation located therein and near said insertion end, said center of ablation surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone, said center of ablation being within the ablation zone, said ablation zone surrounding said center of ablation when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip, said coaxial antenna having a stationary heat transfer layer therearound and spaced from said insertion end such that said center of ablation is between a distal end of said heat transfer layer and said insertion end, and said heat transfer layer is partially within said ablation zone when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip, and a thermal reservoir at least partially surrounding the heat transfer layer, said thermal reservoir being selected from the group consisting of:
- (i) a silver thermal reservoir;
- (ii) an aluminum thermal reservoir;
- (iii) a superconductive thermal reservoir made from at least one superconductive material selected from the group consisting of boron nitride, graphene, graphene nanotubes, and pyrolytic graphite;
- and
- (iv) a combination thermal reservoir made from a combination of at least two materials selected from the group consisting of air, water, ice, aluminum, silver, copper, diamond, boron nitride, graphene, graphene nanotubes, and pyrolytic graphite;
- (b) predetermining an optimal temperature for said heat transfer layer;
- and
- (c) said thermal reservoir cooling said heat transfer layer to no higher than said optimal temperature.
6 more elements
An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:
- (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna, an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
- (b) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna at least near said insertion end, said center of ablation surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone, said center of ablation being within the ablation zone, said ablation zone surrounding said center of ablation when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip;
- (c) a stationary heat transfer layer partially surrounding said coaxial antenna, said heat transfer layer spaced from said insertion end such that said center of ablation is between a distal end of said heat transfer layer and said insertion end, and said heat transfer layer is partially within said ablation zone when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip;
- and
- (d) a thermal reservoir at least partially surrounding said heat transfer layer, said thermal reservoir being a superconductive thermal reservoir made from at least one superconductive material selected from the group consisting of boron nitride, graphene, graphene nanotubes, and pyrolytic graphite.
2 more elements
An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:
- (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna, an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
- (b) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna at least near said insertion end, said center of ablation surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone, said center of ablation being within the ablation zone, said ablation zone surrounding said center of ablation when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip;
- (c) a stationary heat transfer layer partially surrounding said coaxial antenna, said heat transfer layer spaced from said insertion end such that said center of ablation is between a distal end of said heat transfer layer and said insertion end, and said heat transfer layer is partially within said ablation zone when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip;
- and
- (d) a thermal reservoir at least partially surrounding said heat transfer layer, said thermal reservoir being a combination thermal reservoir made from a combination of at least two materials selected from the group consisting of air, water, ice, aluminum, silver, copper, diamond, boron nitride, graphene, graphene nanotubes, and pyrolytic graphite.
2 more elements
An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:
- (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna, an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
- (b) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna at least near said insertion end, said center of ablation surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone, said center of ablation being within the ablation zone, said ablation zone surrounding said center of ablation when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip;
- (c) a stationary heat transfer layer partially surrounding said coaxial antenna, said heat transfer layer spaced from said insertion end such that said center of ablation is between a distal end of said heat transfer layer and said insertion end, and said heat transfer layer is partially within said ablation zone when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip;
- and
- (d) a thermal reservoir at least partially surrounding said heat transfer layer, said thermal reservoir being a silver thermal reservoir.
2 more elements
An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:
- (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna, an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
- (b) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna at least near said insertion end, said center of ablation surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone, said center of ablation being within the ablation zone, said ablation zone surrounding said center of ablation when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip;
- (c) a stationary heat transfer layer partially surrounding said coaxial antenna, said heat transfer layer spaced from said insertion end such that said center of ablation is between a distal end of said heat transfer layer and said insertion end, and said heat transfer layer is partially within said ablation zone when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip;
- and
- (d) a thermal reservoir at least partially surrounding said heat transfer layer, said thermal reservoir being an aluminum thermal reservoir.
2 more elements
A method for cooling an ablation probe tip, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said method comprising:
- (a) providing said ablation probe tip, said ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said shaft including a coaxial antenna, an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end, said coaxial antenna having a center of ablation located therein and near said insertion end, said center of ablation surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone, said center of ablation being within the ablation zone, said ablation zone surrounding said center of ablation when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip, said coaxial antenna having a stationary heat transfer layer therearound and spaced from said insertion end such that said center of ablation is between a distal end of said heat transfer layer and said insertion end, and said heat transfer layer is partially within said ablation zone when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip, and a thermal reservoir at least partially surrounding the heat transfer layer, said thermal reservoir being a superconductive thermal reservoir made from at least one superconductive material selected from the group consisting of boron nitride, graphene, graphene nanotubes, and pyrolytic graphite;
- (b) predetermining an optimal temperature for said heat transfer layer;
- and
- (c) said thermal reservoir cooling said heat transfer layer to no higher than said optimal temperature.
1 more element
A method for cooling an ablation probe tip, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said method comprising:
- (a) providing said ablation probe tip, said ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said shaft including a coaxial antenna, an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end, said coaxial antenna having a center of ablation located therein and near said insertion end, said center of ablation surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone, said center of ablation being within the ablation zone, said ablation zone surrounding said center of ablation when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip, said coaxial antenna having a stationary heat transfer layer therearound and spaced from said insertion end such that said center of ablation is between a distal end of said heat transfer layer and said insertion end, and said heat transfer layer is partially within said ablation zone when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip, and a thermal reservoir at least partially surrounding the heat transfer layer, said thermal reservoir being a combination thermal reservoir made from a combination of at least two materials selected from the group consisting of air, water, ice, aluminum, silver, copper, diamond, boron nitride, graphene, graphene nanotubes, and pyrolytic graphite;
- (b) predetermining an optimal temperature for said heat transfer layer;
- and
- (c) said thermal reservoir cooling said heat transfer layer to no higher than said optimal temperature.
1 more element
A method for cooling an ablation probe tip, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said method comprising:
- (a) providing said ablation probe tip, said ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said shaft including a coaxial antenna, an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end, said coaxial antenna having a center of ablation located therein and near said insertion end, said center of ablation surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone, said center of ablation being within the ablation zone, said ablation zone surrounding said center of ablation when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip, said coaxial antenna having a stationary heat transfer layer therearound and spaced from said insertion end such that said center of ablation is between a distal end of said heat transfer layer and said insertion end, and said heat transfer layer is partially within said ablation zone when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip, and a silver thermal reservoir at least partially surrounding the heat transfer layer;
- (b) predetermining an optimal temperature for said heat transfer layer;
- and
- (c) said thermal reservoir cooling said heat transfer layer to no higher than said optimal temperature.
1 more element
A method for cooling an ablation probe tip, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said method comprising:
- (a) providing said ablation probe tip, said ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said shaft including a coaxial antenna, an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end, said coaxial antenna having a center of ablation located therein and near said insertion end, said center of ablation surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone, said center of ablation being within the ablation zone, said ablation zone surrounding said center of ablation when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip, said coaxial antenna having a stationary heat transfer layer therearound and spaced from said insertion end such that said center of ablation is between a distal end of said heat transfer layer and said insertion end, and said heat transfer layer is partially within said ablation zone when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip, and an aluminum thermal reservoir at least partially surrounding the heat transfer layer;
- (b) predetermining an optimal temperature for said heat transfer layer;
- and
- (c) said thermal reservoir cooling said heat transfer layer to no higher than said optimal temperature.
1 more element
An ablation probe tip having a shaft with an insertion end, said ablation probe tip receiving ablation means from an ablation source, said ablation probe tip for ablating targeted tissue, said ablation probe tip comprising:
- (a) said shaft including a coaxial antenna, an annular aperture defined in at least one outer layer of said coaxial antenna toward said insertion end;
- (b) a center of ablation located within said coaxial antenna at least near said insertion end, said center of ablation surrounded by said annular aperture, said center of ablation being a focal region from which said ablation means radiates through said annular aperture to form an ablation zone, said center of ablation being within the ablation zone, said ablation zone surrounding said center of ablation when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip;
- (c) a stationary heat transfer layer partially surrounding said coaxial antenna, said heat transfer layer spaced from said insertion end such that said center of ablation is between a distal end of said heat transfer layer and said insertion end, and said heat transfer layer is partially within said ablation zone when said ablation means is provided to said ablation probe tip;
- and
- (d) a thermal reservoir at least partially surrounding said heat transfer layer.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.