37 results about "Surgical ablation" patented technology

An electromagnetic surgical ablation probe having a conical hood reflector and method of manufacture thereof is disclosed. The disclosed probe includes a shaft assembly that has a coaxial feedline core having an inner conductor and an outer conductor separated by an insulating layer. A tubular catheter is disposed coaxially around the feedline and is configured to deliver coolant, such as saline or deionized water, to a coolant chamber at a distal end formed within the conical reflector. A radiating section disposed within the conical reflector may have a conical, cylindrical, or other suitable shape. A membrane disposed across a distal opening of the conical reflector seals coolant within the coolant chamber, and may conform to tissue contours during use. A resilient aperture may be included at the periphery of the conical hood. The shaft assembly may include an angled section, an adjustable section, and, additionally or alternatively, a malleable section.

An electromagnetic surgical ablation probe having a coaxial feedline and cooling chamber is disclosed. The disclosed probe includes a dipole antenna arrangement having a radiating section, a distal tip coupled to a distal end of the radiating section, and a ring-like balun short) or choke, which may control a radiation pattern of the probe. A conductive tube disposed coaxially around the balun short includes at least one fluid conduit which provides coolant, such as dionized water, to a cooling chamber defined within the probe. A radiofrequency transparent catheter forms an outer surface of the probe and may include a lubricious coating.

A flexible microwave antenna assembly for a surgical ablation instrument capable of conforming to a tissue surface for ablation thereof. The ablation instrument includes a transmission line having a proximal portion suitable for connection to an electromagnetic energy source. The antenna assembly includes a flexible antenna coupled to the transmission line for radially generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation. A flexible shield device is coupled to the antenna to substantially shield a surrounding area of the antenna from the electric field radially generated therefrom while permitting a majority of the field to be directed generally in a predetermined direction. A flexible insulator is disposed between the shield device and the antenna which defines a window portion enabling the transmission of the directed electric field in the predetermined direction. The antenna, the shield device and the insulator are formed for selective manipulative bending thereof, as a unit, to one of a plurality of contact positions to generally conform the window portion to the biological tissue surface to be ablated.

An instrument including an elongated shaft and a non-conductive handle is disclosed. The shaft defines a proximal section and a distal section. The distal section forms an electrically conductive tip. Further, the shaft is adapted to be transitionable from a straight state to a first bent state. The shaft is capable of independently maintaining the distinct shapes associated with the straight state and the first bent state. The handle is rigidly coupled to the proximal section of the shaft. The instrument is useful for epicardial pacing and / or mapping of the heart for temporary pacing on a beating heart, for optimizing the placement of ventricular leads for the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure and ventricular dysynchrony and / or for use in surgical ablation procedures.

An electromagnetic surgical ablation probe having a conical hood reflector and method of manufacture thereof is disclosed. The disclosed probe includes a shaft assembly that has a coaxial feedline core having an inner conductor and an outer conductor separated by an insulating layer. A tubular catheter is disposed coaxially around the feedline and is configured to deliver coolant, such as saline or deionized water, to a coolant chamber at a distal end formed within the conical reflector. A radiating section disposed within the conical reflector may have a conical, cylindrical, or other suitable shape. A membrane disposed across a distal opening of the conical reflector seals coolant within the coolant chamber, and may conform to tissue contours during use. A resilient aperture may be included at the periphery of the conical hood. The shaft assembly may include an angled section, an adjustable section, and, additionally or alternatively, a malleable section.

An electromagnetic surgical ablation system having a generator adapted to selectively provide surgical ablation energy to an ablation probe, and methods of operating same, are disclosed. The system includes a controller operatively coupled to the generator, and a tissue sensor probe operatively coupled to the controller. The tissue sensor provides a tissue temperature and at least one tissue dielectric property to the controller. During an electromagnetic tissue ablation procedure, the controller monitors tissue temperature and the at least one tissue dielectric property to determine tissue status, and to activate and deactivate the generator in accordance therewith.

A microwave surgical ablation probe having an arrangement of coolant channels in fluid communication with a cooling chamber disposed within the distal end of the probe is disclosed. A hypotube having one or more longitudinal ribs extending radially inward from an inner surface thereof is coaxially disposed around a coaxial feedline. The longitudinal ribs of the hypotube engage an outer sheath of the feedline to define a fluid inflow channel to deliver coolant to the cooling chamber, and a fluid outflow channel to receive fluid from the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber may be formed from porous ceramic or porous metallic material that provides structural support to the probe while permitting coolant to circulate therethrough. The probe includes dielectric and choke members that are adapted to control the microwave radiation pattern (e.g., ablation shape), and which may provide improved coupling of the probe to tissue.

A surgical ablation system and method of treatment for creating lesions in tissue, including cardiac tissue for the treatment of arrhythmias and other diseases are disclosed. The ablation system includes a chest wall platform, introducer sheath, and ablation device. The system provides a stable platform for entering the heart while accommodating a beating heart. The method can include the steps of accessing a heart via a thoracic incision, deploying an ablation instrument within the heart and activating the ablation instrument to create at least one conduction-blocking lesion.

An electromagnetic surgical ablation probe having a tunable helical antenna element is disclosed. The probe includes a coaxial feedline having an inner conductor coaxially disposed within a dielectric, and an outer conductor coaxially disposed around the dielectric. The inner conductor and dielectric extend distally beyond a distal end of the outer conductor. A helical antenna element is operably coupled to a distal end of the inner conductor. During use, the antenna may be tuned by changing at least one dimension of the helical antenna element. Embodiments are presented wherein a dimensions of the helical antenna element is changed by state change of a shape memory alloy, by a change in temperature, by activation of a piston by fluidic pressure, by linear motion of a conical tip, and by a manual screw-type adjustment.

An electromagnetic surgical ablation system having a generator adapted to selectively provide surgical ablation energy to an ablation probe, and methods of operating same, are disclosed. The system includes a controller operatively coupled to the generator, and a tissue sensor probe operatively coupled to the controller. The tissue sensor provides a tissue temperature and at least one tissue dielectric property to the controller. During an electromagnetic tissue ablation procedure, the controller monitors tissue temperature and the at least one tissue dielectric property to determine tissue status, and to activate and deactivate the generator in accordance therewith.

A surgical ablation probe assembly particularly suitable for ablating tissue on a surface of a patient's heart having an ablation member and a stabilizing member for guiding the probe assembly to an intracorporeal location such as a surface of the patient's heart. The elongated ablation member generally has at least one ablation electrode on a distal shaft section. The stabilizing member has a vacuum lumen which applies a vacuum to the inner chamber of the stabilizing member to aspirate fluid from within the chamber or about the stabilizing member and can aid in holding the stabilizing member to an intracorporeal surface such as the epicardial or endocardial surface of the patient's heart. The probe assembly may also have a removable stylet to help retain the shape of the distal portion. The assembly is suitable for treating a patient for atrial arrhythmia, by forming linear or curvilinear lesions and preferably a continuous lesion on the surface of the patient's heart.

A tissue sensor probe and corresponding electromagnetic surgical ablation system are disclosed. The system includes an ablation probe coupled to a generator, a controller coupled to the generator, and a tissue sensor probe coupled to the controller. The tissue sensor probe includes an electrically-conductive enclosure configured to shield a temperature sensor from electromagnetic radiation produced by the ablation probe. At least a portion of the electrically-conductive enclosure is made of a high thermal-conductivity material. A material of high thermal-conductivity is disposed in the electrically-conductive enclosure in thermal association with the thermally-conductive material of the electrically-conductive enclosure. The temperature sensor is disposed in the material of high thermal conductivity so as to electrically isolate the temperature sensor from the enclosure. The temperature sensor provides tissue temperature to the controller, which monitors tissue temperature to determine tissue status and activates and deactivates the generator based on the tissue status.

A microwave surgical ablation probe having an arrangement of coolant channels in fluid communication with a cooling chamber disposed within the distal end of the probe is disclosed. A hypotube having one or more longitudinal ribs extending radially inward from an inner surface thereof is coaxially disposed around a coaxial feedline. The longitudinal ribs of the hypotube engage an outer sheath of the feedline to define a fluid inflow channel to deliver coolant to the cooling chamber, and a fluid outflow channel to receive fluid from the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber may be formed from porous ceramic or porous metallic material that provides structural support to the probe while permitting coolant to circulate therethrough. The probe includes dielectric and choke members that are adapted to control the microwave radiation pattern (e.g., ablation shape), and which may provide improved coupling of the probe to tissue.

A surgical ablation probe assembly (10) particularly suitable for ablating tissue on a surface of a patient's heart having an ablation member (11) and a stabilizing member (12) for guiding the probe assembly to an intracorporeal location such as a surface of the patient's heart. The elongated ablation member generally has at least one ablation electrode (16) on a distal shaft section (15). The stabilizing member (12) has a vacuum lumen (30) which applies a vacuum to the inner chamber of the stabilizing member to aspirate fluid from within the chamber or about the stabilizing member and can aid in holding the stabilizing member to an intracorporeal surface such as the epicardial or endocardial surface of the patient's heart. The probe assembly may also have a removable stylet to help retain the shape of the distal portion. The assembly is suitable for treating a patient for atrial arrhythmia, by forming linear or curvilinear lesions and preferably a continuous lesion on the surface of the patient's heart.

An electromagnetic surgical ablation probe having a tunable helical antenna element is disclosed. The probe includes a coaxial feedline having an inner conductor coaxially disposed within a dielectric, and an outer conductor coaxially disposed around the dielectric. The inner conductor and dielectric extend distally beyond a distal end of the outer conductor. A helical antenna element is operably coupled to a distal end of the inner conductor. During use, the antenna may be tuned by changing at least one dimension of the helical antenna element. Embodiments are presented wherein a dimensions of the helical antenna element is changed by state change of a shape memory alloy, by a change in temperature, by activation of a piston by fluidic pressure, by linear motion of a conical tip, and by a manual screw-type adjustment.

A surgical ablation system features a source of ablation energy, a handle adapted to operably couple to the source of ablation energy, and an ablation probe adapted to operably couple to the handle. The handle includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, a hub included within the housing having a plenum defined therein, and a proximal feedline in fluid communication at a proximal end thereof with the plenum and joined at a distal end thereof to a first coupling member. The ablation probe includes a probe hypotube shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a second coupling member disposed at a proximal end of the probe hypotube shaft adapted to operably couple with the first coupling member, a distal tip adapted to penetrate tissue. Ablation energy is deliverable by the ablation probe when the source of ablation energy is operably coupled to the handle and the handle is operably coupled to the ablation probe.

A flexible microwave antenna assembly for a surgical ablation instrument is capable of conforming to a tissue surface for ablation thereof. The ablation instrument includes a transmission line having a proximal portion suitable for connection to an electromagnetic energy source, and includes a flexible antenna coupled to the transmission line for radially generating an electric field sufficiently strong to cause tissue ablation. A flexible shield device is coupled to the antenna to substantially shield a surrounding area of the antenna from the electric field radially generated therefrom while permitting a majority of the field to be directed generally in a predetermined direction. A flexible insulator is disposed between the shield device and the antenna to define a window portion enabling the transmission of the directed electric field in the predetermined direction. The antenna, the shield device and the insulator are formed for selective manipulative bending thereof, as a unit, into contact positions that generally conform the window portion to the biological tissue surface to be ablated.

An electromagnetic surgical ablation probe having a tunable helical antenna element is disclosed. The probe includes a coaxial feedline having an inner conductor coaxially disposed within a dielectric, and an outer conductor coaxially disposed around the dielectric. The inner conductor and dielectric extend distally beyond a distal end of the outer conductor. A helical antenna element is operably coupled to a distal end of the inner conductor. During use, the antenna may be tuned by changing at least one dimension of the helical antenna element. Embodiments are presented wherein a dimensions of the helical antenna element is changed by state change of a shape memory alloy, by a change in temperature, by activation of a piston by fluidic pressure, by linear motion of a conical tip, and by a manual screw-type adjustment.

An electromagnetic surgical ablation system having a generator adapted to selectively provide surgical ablation energy to an ablation probe, and methods of operating same, are disclosed. The system includes a controller operatively coupled to the generator, and at least one tissue sensor probe operatively coupled to the controller. The at least one tissue sensor provides a tissue impedance measurement to the controller. A sensor probe may be designated a threshold probe adapted to sense when tissue is sufficiently ablated, or, a critical structure probe adapted to protect an adjacent anatomical structure from undesired ablation. During an electromagnetic tissue ablation procedure, the controller monitors tissue impedance to determine tissue status, to activate an indicator associated therewith, and, additionally or alternatively, to activate and deactivate the generator accordingly.

A surgical ablation system employing an ablation probe having a deployable ground plane is disclosed. The disclosed system includes a source of ablation energy and a source of electrosurgical energy, and a switching assembly configured to select between ablation and electrosurgical modes. The probe includes a cannula having a shaft slidably disposed therein. The shaft includes a deployable ground plane electrode assembly and a needle electrode disposed at distal end of the shaft. As the shaft is extended distally from the cannula, the ground plane electrode unfolds, and the needle electrode is exposed. Electrosurgical energy is applied to tissue via the needle electrode to facilitate the insertion thereof into tissue. Ablation energy is applied to tissue via the needle electrode to achieve the desired surgical outcome. The shaft, ground plane electrode and needle electrode are retracted into the cannula, and withdrawn from the surgical site.

An instrument including an elongated shaft and a non-conductive handle is disclosed. The shaft defines a proximal section and a distal section. The distal section forms an electrically conductive tip. Further, the shaft is adapted to be transitionable from a straight state to a first bent state. The shaft is capable of independently maintaining the distinct shapes associated with the straight state and the first bent state. The handle is rigidly coupled to the proximal section of the shaft. The instrument is useful for epicardial pacing and / or mapping of the heart for temporary pacing on a beating heart, for optimizing the placement of ventricular leads for the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure and ventricular dysynchrony and / or for use in surgical ablation procedures.

A surgical ablation probe assembly particularly suitable for ablating tissue on a surface of a patient's heart having an ablation member and a stabilizing member for guiding the probe assembly to an intracorporeal location such as a surface of the patient's heart. The elongated ablation member generally has at least one ablation electrode on a distal shaft section. The stabilizing member has a vacuum lumen which applies a vacuum to the inner chamber of the stabilizing member to aspirate fluid from within the chamber or about the stabilizing member and can aid in holding the stabilizing member to an intracorporeal surface such as the epicardial or endocardial surface of the patient's heart. The probe assembly may also have a removable stylet to help retain the shape of the distal portion. The assembly is suitable for treating a patient for atrial arrhythmia, by forming linear or curvilinear lesions and preferably a continuous lesion on the surface of the patient's heart.

The invention discloses a tumor micro-wave ablation needle with a thin-film resistor multi-point temperature measurement function. An ablation puncture head comprises a conical front end and a cylindrical tail end; an insulating medium sleeve is fixedly connected between the tail end of the ablation puncture head and the front end of a stainless steel needle bar; a semi-rigid coaxial cable and a stainless steel capillary water inlet tube are arranged in the stainless steel needle bar, one end of the semi-rigid coaxial cable penetrates through the insulating medium sleeve and is connected with the tail end of the ablation puncture head; a protection handle is arranged at the tail end of the stainless steel needle bar, and the protection handle is internally provided with a copper water tank, a water inlet pipe connector, a water outlet pipe connector and a temperature measurement interface; a multi-point thin-film thermistor array is closely attached to the surface of the stainless steel needle bar; the other end of the semi-rigid coaxial cable penetrates through the copper water tank and then is connected with a radio-frequency connector; the stainless steel capillary water inlet tube is led out of the lateral side of the stainless steel needle bar and then penetrates through the copper water tank into the water inlet pipe connector. The structure integrates the function of multi-point temperature measurement and the function of ablation, and it is ensured that the surgical ablation dosage is optimized.

A surgical ablation system employing an ablation probe having a deployable ground plane is disclosed. The disclosed system includes a source of ablation energy and a source of electrosurgical energy, and a switching assembly configured to select between ablation and electrosurgical modes. The probe includes a cannula having a shaft slidably disposed therein. The shaft includes a deployable ground plane electrode assembly and a needle electrode disposed at distal end of the shaft. As the shaft is extended distally from the cannula, the ground plane electrode unfolds, and the needle electrode is exposed. Electrosurgical energy is applied to tissue via the needle electrode to facilitate the insertion thereof into tissue. Ablation energy is applied to tissue via the needle electrode to achieve the desired surgical outcome. The shaft, ground plane electrode and needle electrode are retracted into the cannula, and withdrawn from the surgical site.

A surgical ablation probe assembly particularly suitable for ablating tissue on a surface of a patient's heart having an ablation member and a stabilizing member for guiding the probe assembly to an intracorporeal location such as a surface of the patient's heart. The elongated ablation member generally has at least one ablation electrode on a distal shaft section. The stabilizing member has a vacuum lumen which applies a vacuum to the inner chamber of the stabilizing member to aspirate fluid from within the chamber or about the stabilizing member and can aid in holding the stabilizing member to an intracorporeal surface such as the epicardial or endocardial surface of the patient's heart. The probe assembly may also have a removable stylet to help retain the shape of the distal portion. The assembly is suitable for treating a patient for atrial arrhythmia, by forming linear or curvilinear lesions and preferably a continuous lesion on the surface of the patient's heart.

The invention discloses a novel single-pole and double-pole mixed mode surgical ablation electrode with a smoke suction measurement function. The novel single-pole and double-pole mixed mode surgicalablation electrode comprises a handle assembly, a tool bit assembly, a tool bar assembly and an electrode system. The surgical ablation electrode in the single-pole and double-pole mixed mode has a single-pole electrocoagulation electroexcision mode and a double-pole electrocoagulation mode at the same time. A single-pole instrument and a double-pole instrument do not need to be replaced frequently in the operation process. efficient separation can be achieved. Bleeding can be stopped in time. In addition, all keys are designed on the handle, the operation usability can be greatly improved, and the operation time is obviously saved. A smoke exhaust assembly can rapidly and efficiently suck smoke generated in the surgical operation, which greatly reduces harm of the surgical smoke to doctors and nurses. If endoscopic surgery is carried out, the smoke suction frequency and the scrubbing frequency of an endoscope lens are greatly reduced. The surgery time is effectively shortened.