Dynamic heating method and radio frequency thermal treatment
OwnerRaymond S. Kasevichinventor
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Abstract
A method and system for the delivery of radiofrequency energy to the tissue, particularly, the prostate, to alleviate the symptoms of BPH is disclosed. The system incorporates a bipolar or multipolar electrode array to create an electric field where the heat created is confined solely to a specific volume of the prostate gland and therefore the heated tissue is defined only by the electrode geometry. The bipolar electrode array provides a variety of three dimensional, symmetric heating patterns within the prostatic tissue depending on the relative electrode lengths and angular separation. The system provides precision tissue temperature and impedance measurements thereby enabling the surgeon to accurately predict heating pattern performance and tissue response to RF heating.
Claims21
A system for the radiofrequency hyperthermia treatment of prostatic tissue, which comprises:
- a transurethral applicator including:
- a housing;
- an elongated portion extending from the housing and dimensioned to be introduced within the urethral passage of a patient;
- at least three radiofrequency bipolar electrodes supported within the elongated portion and being deployable to penetrate a urethra wall defining the urethral passage and enter prostatic tissue to define a predetermined electrode arrangement therein;
- a deployment mechanism associated with the housing for deploying the at least three bipolar electrodes, the deployment mechanism including a first actuator connected to a first bipolar electrode and selectively movable to selectively deploy the first bipolar electrode and a second actuator connected to a second and a third bipolar electrode and selectively movable to selectively deploy the second and the third bipolar electrodes to control positioning of the second and third bipolar electrode relative to the first bipolar electrode;
- and
- a radiofrequency source connected to the three bipolar electrodes for supplying radiofrequency energy such that the predetermined electrode arrangement generates a three dimensional thermal energy pattern within the prostatic tissue.
An apparatus for treating prostatic tissue comprising:
- a) a handle assembly;
- b) an elongate body extending distally from the handle assembly and having an axial bore extending at least partially therethrough defining a longitudinal axis;
- c) first, second, and third elongated probes supported within the elongate body and mounted for movement between respective retracted positions disposed within the axial bore and respective deployed positions projecting outwardly from a distal end portion of the elongate body;
- d) a first actuator associated with the handle assembly and operatively connected to the first probe for selectively moving the first probe between the retracted and deployed positions thereof independent of the second and third probes;
- e) a second actuator associated with the handle assembly and operatively connected to the second and third probes for selectively and conjunctively moving the second and third probes between the retracted and deployed positions thereof independent of the first probe;
- and
- f) means for operatively connecting the first, second and third probes to an external source of radiofrequency energy.
A method for the hyperthermia treatment of prostatic tissue, comprising the steps of:
- inserting a transurethral applicator within the urethral passage of a patient, the applicator including at least first, second and third radiofrequency bipolar electrodes supported therein;
- deploying the bipolar electrodes from the applicator whereby the bipolar electrodes penetrate the urethral wall and enter prostatic tissue to define a predetermined electrode arrangement of the bipolar electrodes within the prostatic tissue, the second and third bipolar electrodes being deployed independent of the first bipolar electrode;
- supplying radiofrequency energy to the electrode arrangement whereby the electrode arrangement generates a three dimensional thermal energy pattern within the prostatic tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.