US 6,632,222 B1 · Tissue ablation apparatus

Abstract

A tissue ablation apparatus comprises a first elongated delivery device including a lumen and an obturator with a tissue piercing distal end. The obturator is positionable in the lumen of the first elongated delivery device. A second elongated delivery device is positionable in the lumen of the first elongated delivery device. An energy delivery device is positionable in the second elongated delivery device. The energy delivery device includes at least a first and a second RF electrode each with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second RF electrodes are positionable in the second elongated delivery device in a compacted state and deployable from the second elongated delivery device with curvature in a deployed state. The first and second RF electrodes exhibit a changing direction of travel when advanced from the second elongated delivery device to a selected tissue site. At least one infusion port is coupled to one of the first elongated delivery device, the second elongated delivery device, the energy delivery device, the first RF electrode or the second RF electrode. An electrode advancement member is coupled to the first and second RF electrodes. The advancement member is configured to advance the RF electrode out of the elongated delivery device.

Claims53

Dependent claims

A tissue ablation apparatus, comprising:

an elongated delivery device including a lumen;
an obturator with a tissue piercing distal end, the obturator being positionable in the lumen of the elongated delivery device;
an energy delivery device including a plurality of RF electrodes each with a tissue piercing distal portion, the plurality of RF electrodes (a) being positionable in the elongated delivery device in a compacted state and preformed to assume a curved shape when deployed, the plurality of RF electrodes (b) exhibiting a changing direction of travel when advanced from the elongated delivery device to a selected tissue site, and (c) defining an ablation volume when in said deployed state;
at least one of (i) the elongated delivery device, or (ii) at least one of the plurality of RF electrodes having an infusion lumen terminating in at least one infusion port for fluid delivery therethrough.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

09/512,985Filed 24 Feb 2000 · continuation

Priority

8 Nov 1993

Granted

14 Oct 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification56 codes

A61B 18/1477
Probes or electrodes therefor: needle-like probes
A61B 18/1482
Probes or electrodes therefor: having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
A61B 18/18
Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body: by applying electromagnetic…
A61B 18/1815
By applying electromagnetic radiation, e.g. microwaves: using microwaves

Family

Application08/148,438Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Nov 1993

Application08/148,439Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 8 Nov 1993

Application08/290,031Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Aug 1994

Application08/295,166Parent of this division · filed 24 Aug 1994

Application08/515,379Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Aug 1995

Application08/623,652Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Mar 1996

Application08/802,195Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Feb 1997

Application09/364,203Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Jul 1999

Application09/383,166Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Aug 1999

US 6,471,698 B1Parent of this continuation

US 6,071,280 AParent of this continuation

Application08/802,195Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 5,683,384 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 5,536,267 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 5,458,597 AParent of this continuation-in-part

US 5,466,177 AParent of this continuation

US 5,935,123 AParent of this continuation

Application08/623,652Parent of this division

US 5,599,345 AParent of this division

Application08/295,166Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 2002/0035363 A1Published application

US 6,663,624 B2Related patent

US 6,632,222 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Tissue ablation apparatus

Life of this patent

Tissue ablation apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims53