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US 7,066,935 B2Granted
Ion eluting tuna device
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsJohn M. Swoyer, Yelena G. Tropsha, Julie M. Woessner, Mark A. Christopherson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Delivery elements, including needle electrodes and sheaths of tissue ablation devices, containing a conductivity-enhancing agent are discussed. The delivery elements contain a body member and optionally one or more coating layers. The conductivity-enhancing agent is disposed on or in the body member and/or at least one of the one or more coating layers. The conductivity-enhancing agent is capable of eluting from the delivery element when the delivery element is contacted with bodily tissue or fluid and increases conductivity of the tissue, making tissue ablation more efficient.
Claims39
A system comprising:
- an ablation needle electrode, comprising:
- an electrically conductive body member having an exterior surface and a tapered end portion adapted to be inserted into tissue;
- and
- a coating layer disposed on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body member, the coating layer comprising a conductivity-enhancing agent,
- wherein the conductivity-enhancing agent is capable of being released into a body tissue when the needle electrode is in contact with the body tissue;
- and
- a radio frequency generator configured to be connected to the ablation needle to provide ablative energy to the tissue.
4 more elements
A device for ablating tissue at a target location, comprising:
- a housing;
- an elongate probe member
- extending from the housing,
- having proximal and distal ends, and
- being provided with one or more passageways extending at least substantially between the proximal end and the distal end;
- a needle electrode
- comprising an electrically conductive body member having an exterior surface, a proximal portion and a distal portion,
- further comprising a conductivity-enhancing agent disposed on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body member, and
- being slidably mounted within one of the one or more passageways of the elongate probe member;
- and
- an actuator
- coupled to the proximal portion of the needle electrode and adapted to cause the distal portion of the needle electrode to extend into the target location,
- wherein the conductivity-enhancing agent is capable of being released into tissue at the target location when the needle electrode is extended into the target location.
10 more elements
A device for ablating tissue at a target location, comprising:
- a housing;
- an elongate probe member
- extending from the housing,
- having proximal and distal ends, and
- being provided with one or more passageways extending at least substantially between the proximal end and the distal end;
- a needle electrode
- comprising an electrically conductive body member having an exterior surface, a proximal portion and a distal portion,
- further comprising a coating layer disposed on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body member, the coating layer comprising a conductivity-enhancing agent, and
- being slidably mounted within one of the one or more passageways of the elongate probe member;
- and
- an actuator
- coupled to the proximal portion of the needle electrode and adapted to cause the distal portion of the needle electrode to extend into the target location,
- wherein the conductivity-enhancing agent is capable of being released into tissue at the target location when the needle electrode is extended into the target location.
10 more elements
A device for ablating tissue at a target location, comprising:
- a housing;
- an elongate probe member
- extending from the housing,
- having proximal and distal ends, and
- being provided with one or more passageways extending at least substantially between the proximal end and the distal end;
- a needle electrode
- comprising an electrically conductive body member having an exterior surface, a proximal portion and a distal portion, and
- being slidably mounted within one of the one or more passageways of the elongate probe member;
- a delivery element
- comprising a body member and a conductivity-enhancing agent disposed on or in the delivery element body member,
- having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and
- being slidably mounted in a passageway of the elongate probe member;
- and
- an actuator
- coupled to the proximal portion of the needle electrode and adapted to cause the distal portion of the needle electrode to extend into the target location, and
- coupled to the proximal portion of the delivery element and adapted to cause the distal portion of the delivery element to extend into the target location,
- wherein the conductivity-enhancing agent is capable of being released into tissue at the target location when the delivery element is extended into the target location.
14 more elements
A device for ablating tissue at a target location, comprising:
- a housing;
- an elongate probe member
- extending from the housing,
- having proximal and distal ends, and
- being provided with one or more passageways extending at least substantially between the proximal end and the distal end;
- a needle electrode
- comprising an electrically conductive body member having an exterior surface, a proximal portion and a distal portion, and
- being slidably mounted within one of the one or more passageways of the elongate probe member;
- a delivery element
- comprising a body member, a coating layer and a conductivity-enhancing agent disposed on or in at least one of the delivery element body member or delivery element coating layer,
- having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and
- being slidably mounted in a passageway of the elongate probe member;
- and
- an actuator
- coupled to the proximal portion of the needle electrode and adapted to cause the distal portion of the needle electrode to extend into the target location, and
- coupled to the proximal portion of the delivery element and adapted to cause the distal portion of the delivery element to extend into the target location,
- wherein the conductivity-enhancing agent is capable of being released into tissue at the target location when the delivery element is extended into the target location.
14 more elements
A method for ablating tissue at a target location, comprising:
- introducing into the target location a delivery element comprising a conductivity-enhancing agent, the conductivity-enhancing agent capable of increasing conductivity of the tissue when dissolved in the target location;
- introducing an electrode into the target location;
- and
- ablating the tissue by applying energy to the target location via the electrode.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.