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US 6,394,949 B1Granted
Large area thermal ablation
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsRobert J. Crowley, Mark A. Hamm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A large area thermal ablation apparatus for use with an endoscope includes a housing and at least one electrode. The housing is removably attachable to a distal terminating end of the endoscope. The housing includes an outer surface and a cross-sectional area that is at least as large as a cross-sectional area of the distal terminating end of the endoscope. The electrode is supported by the outer surface of the housing. The electrode is capable of delivering energy to a tissue region inside a body to ablate the tissue region.
Claims55
An apparatus for use with an endoscope, comprising:
- a housing removably attachable to a distal terminating end of the endoscope, the housing comprising a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface and a cross-sectional area at least as large as a cross-sectional area of the distal terminating end of the endoscope, the proximal end of the housing comprising an elastomeric material and being sized and shaped to slip over the distal terminating end of the endoscope;
- and
- at least one electrode supported by at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing and capable of delivering energy to a tissue region inside a body to ablate the tissue region.
An apparatus for use with an endoscope, comprising:
- a sheath having a thickness in the range from about 0.015 inches to about 0.085 inches and comprising a first channel for receiving the endoscope;
- a housing attached to a distal end of the sheath, the housing comprising an outer surface and a cross-sectional area at least as large as a cross-sectional area of a distal terminating end of the endoscope;
- and
- at least one electrode supported by at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing and capable of delivering energy to a tissue region inside a body to ablate the tissue region.
1 more element
A medical apparatus, comprising:
- an endoscope terminating at a distal end;
- a housing removably attachable to the distal terminating end of the endoscope, the housing comprising a distal end, a proximal end, an outer surface and a cross-sectional area at least as large as a cross-sectional area of the distal terminating end of the endoscope, the proximal end of the housing comprising an elastomeric material and being sized and shaped to slip over the distal terminating end of the endoscope;
- and
- at least one electrode supported by at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing and capable of delivering energy to a tissue region inside a body to ablate the tissue region.
1 more element
A medical apparatus, comprising:
- an endoscope terminating at a distal end;
- a sheath having a thickness in the range from about 0.015 inches to about 0.085 inches and comprising a channel for receiving the endoscope and a housing attached to a distal terminating end of the sheath, the housing comprising an outer surface and a cross-sectional area at least as large as a cross-sectional area of the distal terminating end of the endoscope;
- and
- at least one electrode supported by at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing and capable of delivering energy to a tissue region inside a body to ablate the tissue region.
1 more element
A method of treating tissue in a body, comprising:
- a) attaching a housing to a distal terminating end of an endoscope by slipping a proximal end of the housing over the distal terminating end of the endoscope, the housing removably attachable to the distal terminating end of the endoscope, the housing comprising an outer surface supporting at least one electrode on at least a portion of the outer surface and a cross-sectional area at least as large as a cross-sectional area of the distal terminating end of the endoscope, the proximal end of the housing comprising an elastomeric material;
- b) inserting the endoscope and the housing inside the body near a tissue region to be treated;
- and
- c) applying energy to at least one electrode to treat the tissue region.
1 more element
A method of treating tissue in a body, comprising:
- a) providing a sheath having a thickness in the range from about 0.015 inches to about 0.085 inches and comprising a channel for receiving an endoscope and a housing attached to a distal end of the sheath, the housing comprising an outer surface supporting at least one electrode on at least a portion of the outer surface and a cross-sectional area at least as large as a cross-sectional area of a distal terminating end of the endoscope;
- b) inserting an endoscope inside the channel of the sheath such that the housing is positioned near the distal terminating end of the endoscope;
- c) inserting the sheath and the endoscope inside the body near a tissue region to be treated;
- and
- d) applying energy to at least one electrode to treat the tissue region.
2 more elements
An apparatus for use with an endoscope, comprising:
- a foraminous housing removably attachable to a distal terminating end of the endoscope, the housing comprising an outer surface and a cross-sectional area at least as large as a cross-sectional area of the distal terminating end of the endoscope;
- and
- at least one electrode supported by at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing and capable of delivering energy to a tissue region inside a body to ablate the tissue region.
A medical apparatus, comprising:
- an endoscope terminating at a distal end;
- a foraminous housing removably attachable to a distal terminating end of the endoscope, the housing comprising an outer surface and a cross-sectional area at least as large as a cross-sectional area of the distal terminating end of the endoscope;
- and
- at least one electrode supported by at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing and capable of delivering energy to a tissue region inside a body to ablate the tissue region.
1 more element
An apparatus for use with an endoscope, comprising:
- a housing removably attachable to a distal terminating end of the endoscope, the housing comprising an outer surface, a cross-sectional area at least as large as a cross-sectional area of the distal terminating end of the endoscope;
- a light source disposed in the housing for emitting light and a light modulator disposed in the housing for modifying light emitted by the light source, both the light source and the light modulator removable from the endoscope with the housing;
- and
- at least one electrode supported by at least a portion of the outer surface of the housing and capable of delivering energy to a tissue region inside a body to ablate the tissue region.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.