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US 6,638,277 B2Granted
Tumor ablation needle with independently activated and independently traversing tines
AssigneeSciMed Life Systems, Inc.
InventorsDean A. Schaefer, David Paulk, John Sherry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for utilizing energy, such as radio frequency (RF) energy, to treat defined areas of tissue and more particularly to ablate tumors with RF energy through the use of a needle having a spreading array of individually traversing conductive tines which are independently positioned and activated.
Claims31
An apparatus for treating tissue comprising:
- (a) an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end;
- (b) a plurality of electrically insulated elongated inner tubes, shafts, or conduits contained within and axially traversing the elongated member:
- each of said inner tubes, shafts, or conduits comprising a lumen:
- (c) a plurality of elongated independent electrode tines, each electrode tine extending through said inner tubes, shafts, or conduits wherein each said inner tube, shaft, or conduit has a single electrode tine extending therethrough, and wherein each electrodes tine is longer than the elongated member;
- (d) said tines being insulated proximal to the proximal end of the elongated member;
- (e) the proximal end of each tine being connected to an energy source;
- and
- (f) an actuator mechanism being connected to a segment of each tine;
- wherein said energy source is an active rotating electrode which provides radio frequency energy in cyclic intervals.
6 more elements
An apparatus for treating tissue comprising:
- (a) an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end;
- (b) a plurality of electrically insulated elongated inner tubes, shafts, or conduits contained within and axially traversing the elongated member;
- each of said inner tubes, shafts, or conduits comprising a lumen;
- (c) a plurality of elongated independent electrode tines, each electrode tine extending through said inner tubes, shafts, or conduits wherein each said inner tube, shaft, or conduit has a single electrode tine extending therethrough, and wherein each electrodes tine is longer than the elongated member;
- (d) said tines being insulated proximal to the proximal end of the elongated member;
- (e) the proximal end of each tine being connected to an energy source;
- and
- (f) an actuator mechanism being connected to a segment of each tine;
- wherein the elongated member has apertures which extend axially along the exterior wall of the elongated member into each of said inner tubes, shafts, or conduits;
- and said actuator mechanism being configured and dimensioned to axially move each tine independently to extend beyond the distal end of the elongated member or to retract each tine within said elongated member.
7 more elements
An apparatus for treating tissue with radio-frequency energy comprising:
- (a) an elongated member comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
- (b) a plurality of electrically insulated elongated inner tubes, shafts, or conduits contained within and axially traversing the elongated member;
- each of said inner tubes, shafts, or conduits comprising a lumen;
- (c) a plurality of elongated independent electrode tines, each electrode tine extending through said inner tubes, shafts, or conduits wherein each said inner tube, shaft, or conduit has a single electrode tine extending therethrough, and wherein each tine can be independently extended or retracted;
- (d) the proximal end of each tine being connected to an independent electrode element in a radio-frequency distributor in which said elements are periodically contacted by an active rotating electrode which provides radio frequency energy in cyclic intervals;
- and
- (e) an actuator mechanism being connected to a segment of each tine.
4 more elements
A method for treating tissue using an apparatus, the apparatus having an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end;
- a plurality of electrically insulated elongated inner tubes, shafts, or conduits contained within and axially traversing the elongated member:
- each of said inner tubes, shafts, or conduits comprising a lumen;
- a plurality of elongated independent electrode tines, each electrode tine extending through said inner tubes, shafts, or conduits wherein each said inner tube, shaft, or conduit has a single electrode tine extending therethrough, and wherein each electrodes tine is longer than the elongated member;
- said tines being insulated proximal to the proximal end of the elongated member;
- the proximal end of each tine being connected to an energy source;
- and an actuator mechanism being connected to a segment of each tine, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) inserting the distal end of the elongated member into an area of tissue to be treated;
- (b) independently extending or retracting each electrode tine to a desired position by moving the actuator mechanism of each tine:
- and
- (c) supplying energy to each tine from the energy source connected to the proximal end of each tine;
- wherein the energy comprises radio frequency energy that is supplied to each tine independently in cyclic intervals.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.