Radio frequency surgical instruments
OwnerRichard Cary Schmidt, Joshua Cook +2inventors
InventorsRichard Cary Schmidt, Joshua Cook, Steven Charles Southwell, Leo R. Parpart
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Abstract
The present invention relates to electrode arrays that find use for rapid ablation of a target area of tissue in an organ and in particular to use of the electrode arrays to resect organs to coagulate tissue so that resection can be performed with minimal loss of blood. The target area may include a bulk area of tissue (such as a tumor) or organ (such as a kidney) or a defined target area within a tissue or organ (such as a linear strip, curved strip, cylindrical area, or other shape).
Claims20
An ablation apparatus comprising:
- a radio frequency (RF) power source,
- a first set of two or more electrodes having tissue piercing distal portions, the first set of electrodes electrically connected via the RF power source
- a second set of two or more electrodes having a tissue piercing distal portions, the second set of electrodes electrically connected via the RF power source
- wherein the first and second set of electrodes are oriented so that when alternating current power is applied to either the first or second set of electrodes a current flows from that set of electrodes to the other of the first and second set of electrodes.
An ablation apparatus comprising:
- a radio frequency (RF) power source;
- a first set of two or more electrodes having tissue piercing distal portions, the first set of electrodes electrically connected via the RF power source;
- a second set of two or more electrodes having a tissue piercing distal portions, the second set of electrodes electrically connected via the RF power source;
- and
- a hollow tube,
- wherein the sets of electrode movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position and are arranged in the hollow tube so that the sets of electrodes are collapsed when in the tube and expand when moved to a position outside of the tube.
A method of tissue ablation comprising:
- providing a radio frequency (RF) power source, a first set of two or more electrodes having tissue piercing distal portions, the first set of electrodes electrically connected via the RF power source, and a second set of two or more electrodes having a tissue piercing distal portions, the second set of electrodes electrically connected via the RF power source;
- inserting said first and second set of electrodes into a tissue to be ablated;
- applying alternating current power via said RF power source so that a current flows from that set electrodes to the other of the first and second set of electrodes thereby creating a zone of ablated tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.