Cell necrosis apparatus and method
AssigneeRita Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorsKee S. Lee, Daniel Balbierz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cell necrosis apparatus includes an introducer with a distal end sufficiently sharp to penetrate tissue, an energy delivery including a plurality of electrodes and a slidable sensing member. Each electrode of the plurality of electrodes has a tissue piercing distal end and is positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue. At least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes is deployable with curvature from the introducer. The slidable sensing member is positionable within the introducer and electrically coupled to the energy delivery device. The sensing member is configured to measure a property of the energy delivery device or at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes.
Claims29
A cell necrosis apparatus for use with an energy source, comprising:
- an introducer with a proximal end and a distal end;
- an energy delivery device including a plurality of electrodes, each electrode having a tissue piercing distal end and being positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, at least one of said electrodes being deployable with curvature from the introducer;
- and
- an advancement and retraction member operatively coupled to the plurality of electrodes to advance and retract the electrodes, said member being adapted for operative coupling to said energy source, and having relatively movable electrode-coupling elements for making and breaking electrical contact when the advancement and retraction member is advanced or retracted, respectively, in an axial direction, thereby to make and break electrical contact between said electrodes and said energy source, respectively.
A cell necrosis apparatus for use with an energy source, comprising:
- an introducer with a distal end positionable in tissue;
- an energy delivery device including a plurality of electrodes, each electrode having a tissue piercing distal end and positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, at least one of said electrodes being deployable with curvature from the introducer;
- and
- an advancement and retraction member operatively coupled to the plurality of electrodes to advance and retract said electrodes, said advancement and retraction member being adapted for operative coupling to said energy source and having relatively movable electrode-coupling elements for making and breaking electrical contact when the advancement and retraction member is advanced or retracted, respectively, in an axial direction, thereby to make and break electrical contact between said electrode and said energy source, respectively;
- and said advancement and retraction member including a sensing member for measuring a property of the energy delivery device or at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes.
A tissue treatment method, comprising:
- positioning in a patient a cell necrosis apparatus including an introducer;
- an energy delivery device including a plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the plurality of electrode having a tissue piercing distal end and positionable in the introducer as the introducer is advanced through tissue, at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes being deployable with curvature from the introducer, and an advancement and retraction member operatively coupled to the plurality of electrodes to advance and retract the electrodes, said member being adapted for operative coupling to said energy source, and having relatively movable electrode-coupling elements for making and breaking electrical contact when the advancement and retraction member is advanced or retracted, respectively, in an axial direction thereby to make and break electrical contact between said electrode and said energy source, respectively, and including a sensing member for measuring a property of the energy delivery device or at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes;
- deploying at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes to define an ablation volume that includes solid-tumor tissue;
- utilizing the sensing member to determine a characteristic of at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes;
- advancing the advancement and retraction member in an axial direction to electrically connect the energy delivery device and the energy source;
- and
- delivering energy from the energy delivery device to the solid-tumor tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.