Power modulated endometrial lining tissue ablation
AssigneeHologic, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Lucas Churchill, Danielle Gline Allen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system is configured to delivering radiofrequency power to the endometrial lining tissue of a uterine cavity, including modulating the delivered power so that a measured impedance of the endometrial lining tissue tracks a target impedance as a function of time, wherein the target tissue impedance is derived from a function that approximates a preferred endometrial lining tissue ablation impedance curve that is determined based upon a measured impedance of the endometrial lining tissue after RF power has been delivered for a predetermined initial time period.
Claims16
A system for ablating endometrial lining tissue, comprising:
- a radiofrequency (RF) applicator configured for positioned within a uterine cavity;
- an RF generator electrically configured for delivering RF power to endometrial lining tissue of the uterine cavity via the applicator;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the RF generator, wherein the controller is configured to
- cause RF power to be delivered from the RF generator to the endometrial lining tissue via the applicator,
- measure an initial impedance of the endometrial lining tissue using an impedance measurement circuit provided by the applicator after RF power has been delivered for a predetermined initial time period,
- determine a target tissue impedance curve as a function of time based upon the measured initial impedance, wherein the determined target impedance curve has an endpoint corresponding to reaching a target maximum tissue impedance at a target ablation procedure completion time, and
- modulate the delivery of RF power so that impedance of the endometrial lining tissue tracks a target tissue impedance as a function of time based on the determined target impedance curve.
A system of endometrial lining tissue ablation, comprising:
- a radiofrequency (RF) applicator configured to be positioned within a uterine cavity;
- an RF generator electrically configured for delivering an RF current through the applicator to thereby deliver a corresponding RF power to endometrial lining tissue of the uterine cavity;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the RF generator, wherein the controller is configured to
- cause RF power to be delivered from the RF generator to the endometrial lining tissue via the applicator,
- measure an initial impedance of the endometrial lining tissue after delivery of RF power for a predetermined initial time period,
- modulate the delivery of RF power to the endometrial lining tissue so that impedance of the endometrial lining tissue tracks a target tissue impedance derived from a function that approximates an endometrial lining tissue ablation impedance curve that has been determined based in part upon the measured initial impedance of the endometrial lining tissue, the endometrial lining tissue ablation impedance curve having an endpoint corresponding to reaching a target maximum tissue impedance reached at a target ablation procedure completion time, and
- cease delivery of the RF power to the endometrial lining when (i) impedance of the endometrial lining tissue reaches the target maximum tissue impedance, or (ii) the target ablation procedure completion time is reached, whichever occurs first.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.