Gynecological ablation procedure and system
AssigneeHalt Medical Inc.
InventorBruce B. Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for treating tumors, such as uterine leiomyomata, includes inserting an ablation apparatus into a pelvic region and positioning the ablation apparatus into a pelvic tumor. The method further includes using a laparoscope and an imaging device, such as an ultrasound machine, to confirm the location of the pelvic tumor and placement of the ablation apparatus. The method further includes delivering electromagnetic energy or other energy through the ablation apparatus to the pelvic tumor to directly ablate the tumor. A surgical system for ablating pelvic tumors is also provided.
Claims37
A method of treating a tumor, comprising:
- inserting an ablation device into a pelvic region, the ablation device comprising an electrode, said electrode being contained within the ablation device;
- deploying a portion of the electrode from within the ablation device into a tumor;
- delivering a first dose of energy through the deployed portion of the electrode to pre-heat a portion of the tumor;
- deploying a larger portion of the electrode within the tumor after said delivering a first dose of energy;
- and
- delivering a second dose of energy after said deploying a larger portion of the electrode within the tumor through the electrode to ablate the tumor.
A method of treating a pelvic tumor comprising:
- inserting an ablation device into a tumor in a pelvic region, wherein the ablation device includes at least one electrode;
- advancing a first portion of the electrode from the ablation device;
- applying energy while said first portion is in contact with the tumor for a first period of time, said first period of time being sufficient to soften said tumor;
- advancing a further portion of the electrode from the ablation device;
- further applying energy to said electrode during a second period of time, said further portion being deployed in said tumor during said second period of time imaging the at least one electrode within a pelvic tumor with a laparoscope;
- and
- imaging the ablation device with an intra-abdominal imaging probe separate from the ablation device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.