Conductive spacer in an electrode assembly of an electrical treatment apparatus
OwnerCameron D. HINMAN, Michael A. SMITH +1inventors
InventorsCameron D. HINMAN, Michael A. SMITH, Kenneth R. KRIEG
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Abstract
To distribute electrical treatment to a treatment area of a patient, described herein are electrical apparatuses, methods of their operation and methods for delivery of the electrical treatment to the patient. In some embodiments, the treatment applicator comprises an electrode assembly that includes at least two electrodes, and a conductive spacer positioned between the electrodes. Methods of treatment and methods of operation of the apparatuses and systems of the present disclosure are also provided.
Claims26
An electrode applicator apparatus for treating a tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- a handle;
- an elongate body extending distally from the handle;
- a tip region extending distally from the elongate body;
- a first electrode extending along a first side of the tip region;
- a second electrode extending substantially parallel to the first electrode on the first side of the tip region;
- and
- a conductive spacer configured to surround and/or cover at least a portion of the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the conductive spacer comprises an electrically conductive material configured to have a conductivity that is less than the conductivity of the first electrode and the second electrode.
An electrode applicator apparatus for treating a tissue, the apparatus comprising:
- a handle;
- an elongate body extending distally from the handle;
- a tip region extending distally from the elongate body;
- a first electrode extending along a first side of the tip region;
- a second electrode extending parallel to the first electrode on the first side of the tip region;
- and
- a conductive spacer comprising a sponge material filled or configured to be filled with a conductive fluid, the conductive spacer at least partially surrounding at least a portion of the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the sponge material together with the conductive fluid achieve a conductivity of the conductive spacer that is less than the conductivity of the first electrode and the second electrode.
A method of treating a tissue, the method comprising:
- applying a tip region of an electrode applicator against the tissue so that a first electrode, a second electrode, and a conductive spacer of the electrode applicator are in contact with the tissue, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode extend longitudinally along a first face of the tip region, further wherein the conductive spacer at least partially surrounds the first electrode and the second electrode;
- and
- applying a pulsed electrical energy between the first and second electrodes to generate an electric field to treat the tissue, wherein the conductive spacer modifies a depth of the electric field in the tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.