US5514130A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
RF apparatus for controlled depth ablation of soft tissue
Assignee: Oratec Interventions Inc
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Filing: 1994-10-11
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Granted: 1996-05-07
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Expires: 2014-10-11
Abstract
Abstract An RF ablation apparatus has a delivery catheter with a delivery catheter lumen and a delivery catheter distal end. A first RF electrode is positioned in the delivery catheter lumen. The first RF electrode has a distal end, RF conductive surface, and a lumen. A second RF electrode has a distal end. The second RF electrode is at least partially positioned in the lumen of the first catheter, with its distal end positioned at the exterior of the first RF electrode distal end. Additionally, the second RF electrode distal end has a geometry that permits it to be substantially a groundpad. The distal end of the first RF electrode is moved in a direction away from the second RF electrode distal end to create a painting effect of an ablation band or line between the two distal ends. Alternatively, the distal end of the second RF electrode can be moved in a direction away from the distal end of the first RF electrode. An RF insulative sleeve or coating is placed or positioned along a second RF electrode conductive surface where it is substantially adjacent to the first electrode conductive surface. An RF power source is coupled to the first and second RF electrodes.
Inventors
- 👤 James Baker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1477; A61B18/148; A61B18/1482; A61B18/1206; A61B18/1402; A61B18/1485; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00184; A61B2018/00196; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00577; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/126; A61B2018/1472; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
An RF ablation apparatus, comprising: a delivery catheter with a delivery catheter lumen and a delivery catheter distal end; a first RF electrode positioned in the delivery catheter lumen, the first RF electrode having a first RF electrode distal end, a first RF electrode conductive surface, and a first RF electrode lumen; a second RF electrode with a second RF electrode distal end and a second RF electrode conductive surface, the second RF electrode being at least partially positioned in the first RF electrode lumen with the second RF electrode distal end positioned at the exterior of the first RF electrode distal end, the first RF electrode being movable in a direction away from the second electrode distal end creating an ablation between the second RF electrode distal end and the first RF electrode distal end; an RF insulative sleeve positioned along a selected section of the second RF electrode conductive surface; and an RF power source coupled to the first and second RF electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
An RF ablation apparatus, comprising: a delivery catheter with a delivery catheter lumen and a delivery catheter distal end; a first RF electrode positioned in the delivery catheter lumen, the first RF electrode having a first RF electrode distal end, a first RF electrode conductive surface, and a first RF electrode lumen; a second RF electrode with a second RF electrode distal end and a second RF electrode conductive surface, the second RF electrode being at least partially positioned in the first RF electrode lumen with the second RF electrode distal end positioned at the exterior of the first RF electrode distal end, the first RF electrode being movable in a direction away from the second electrode distal end creating an ablation between the second RF electrode distal end and the first RF electrode distal end; an RF insulative sleeve positioned along a selected section of the second RF electrode conductive surface; and an RF power source coupled to the first and second RF electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
182 words
An RF ablation apparatus, comprising: a delivery catheter with a delivery catheter lumen and a delivery catheter distal end; a first RF electrode positioned in the delivery catheter lumen, the first RF electrode having a first RF electrode distal end, a first RF electrode conductive surface, and a first RF electrode lumen; a second RF electrode with a second RF electrode distal end and a second RF electrode conductive surface, the second RF electrode being at least partially positioned in the first RF electrode lumen with the second RF electrode distal end positioned at the exterior of the first RF electrode distal end, the second RF electrode distal end having a geometry that permits it to be substantially a groundpad, the first RF electrode being movable in a direction away from the second electrode distal end creating an ablation between the second RF electrode distal end and the first RF electrode distal end; an RF insulative sleeve positioned along a selected section of the second RF electrode conductive surface; and an RF power source coupled to the first and second RF electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
182 words
An RF ablation apparatus, comprising: a delivery catheter with a delivery catheter lumen and a delivery catheter distal end; a first RF electrode positioned in the delivery catheter lumen, the first RF electrode having a first RF electrode distal end, a first RF electrode conductive surface, and a first RF electrode lumen; a second RF electrode with a second RF electrode distal end and a second RF electrode conductive surface, the second RF electrode being at least partially positioned in the first RF electrode lumen with the second RF electrode distal end positioned at the exterior of the first RF electrode distal end, the second RF electrode distal end having a geometry that permits it to be substantially a groundpad, the first RF electrode being movable in a direction away from the second electrode distal end creating an ablation between the second RF electrode distal end and the first RF electrode distal end; an RF insulative sleeve positioned along a selected section of the second RF electrode conductive surface; and an RF power source coupled to the first and second RF electrodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RF insulative sleeve is positioned along the second RF electrode conductive surface, and the second RF electrode conductive surface is substantially adjacent to the first electrode conductive surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the distal end of the second electrode is radiused.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the distal end of the second electrode has radiused edges.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the first electrode distal end has a sharp edge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first electrode distal end has a non-radiused edge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a pull wire attached to the first electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a pull wire attached to the second electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first electrode distal end is deployed laterally in relation to the distal end of the delivery catheter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first electrode distal end is made of a memory metal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second electrode distal end is deployed laterally in relation to the distal end of the delivery catheter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second electrode distal end is made of a memory metal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first electrode is slidably movable along the lumen of the delivery catheter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first electrode is fixably positioned with the delivery catheter and movable with movement of the delivery catheter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first electrode is partially RF insulated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the first electrode distal end is RF insulated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the second electrode distal end is RF insulated.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first electrode is fixed in relation to the delivery catheter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first electrode is articulated in relation to the delivery catheter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second electrode is fixed in relation to the delivery catheter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second electrode is articulated in relation to the delivery catheter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
161 words
An RF ablation apparatus, comprising: a delivery catheter with a delivery catheter lumen; a first RF electrode positioned in the delivery catheter lumen, the first RF electrode having a first RF electrode distal end with an RF conductive surface, and a first RF electrode lumen; a second RF electrode including an elongated body that terminates at a second RF electrode distal end with an average diameter larger than an average diameter of the elongated body, the second RF electrode being at least partially positioned in the first RF electrode lumen with the second RF electrode distal end positioned at the exterior of the first RF electrode distal end, the first RF electrode being capable of movement in a direction away from the second RF electrode distal end to create an ablation band between the distal end of the second RF electrode and the first RF electrode distal end; and an RF power source coupled to the first and second RF electrodes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
161 words
An RF ablation apparatus, comprising: a delivery catheter with a delivery catheter lumen; a first RF electrode positioned in the delivery catheter lumen, the first RF electrode having a first RF electrode distal end with an RF conductive surface, and a first RF electrode lumen; a second RF electrode including an elongated body that terminates at a second RF electrode distal end with an average diameter larger than an average diameter of the elongated body, the second RF electrode being at least partially positioned in the first RF electrode lumen with the second RF electrode distal end positioned at the exterior of the first RF electrode distal end, the first RF electrode being capable of movement in a direction away from the second RF electrode distal end to create an ablation band between the distal end of the second RF electrode and the first RF electrode distal end; and an RF power source coupled to the first and second RF electrodes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, further comprising: an RF insulative sleeve positioned along the elongated body of the second RF electrode.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the second electrode distal end is RF insulated.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the distal end of the second RF electrode has a geometry and size making it substantially a groundpad.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second electrode distal end is radiused.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second electrode distal end has radiused edges.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first electrode distal end has a sharp edge.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the RF conductive surface of the first electrode distal end has a sharp edge.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the RF conductive surface of the first electrode distal end has a non-radiused edge.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, further comprising: a pull wire attached to the first electrode.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first electrode distal end is deployed laterally in relation to a longitudinal axis of the delivery catheter.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first electrode distal end is made of a memory metal.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second electrode distal end is deployed laterally in relation to a longitudinal axis of the delivery catheter.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second electrode distal end is made of a memory metal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first electrode is slidably movable along the lumen of the delivery catheter.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first electrode is fixably positioned to the delivery catheter and movable with a movement of the delivery catheter.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein the first electrode is at least partially RF insulated.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the first electrode distal end is RF insulated.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the second electrode distal end is RF insulated.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
The RF ablation apparatus of claim 23, further comprising: a feedback device in response to a detected characteristic of the ablation band that provides a controlled delivery of RF energy to the first and second electrodes.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ablation apparatus of claim 42, wherein the detected characteristic is an impedance at a section of the ablation band.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The ablation apparatus of claim 42, wherein the detected characteristic is a temperature profile at a section of the ablation band.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-05-07 | 1999-11-06 | 2000-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-07 | 2003-11-06 | 2004-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-07 | 2007-11-06 | 2008-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |