Medical probe device and method having a flexible resilient tape stylet

Claim 1

A medical probe device for the treatment by radio frequency ablation of tissue in a prostate of a human male having a urethra with the tissue of the prostate surrounding a portion of the urethra comprising an elongate guide member extending along a longitudinal axis and having proximal and distal extremities, the elongate guide member being sized to be able to enter the urethra and having a length so that when the distal extremity is disposed in the vicinity of the prostate the proximal extremity is outside of the urethra, the elongate guide member having a passageway extending along the longitudinal axis to an opening at the distal extremity, a tape-like stylet disposed in the passageway and having proximal and distal extremities, the stylet having a shape with a transverse cross-section which is generally arcuate for providing column strength to the stylet and being resiliently deformable along its length to an altered shape in which the stylet has a transverse cross-section which is generally planar, at least one electrode mounted on the distal extremity of the stylet, a handle secured to the proximal extremity of the elongate guide member, operative means carried by the handle and connected to the proximal extremity of the stylet for causing longitudinal movement of the stylet in the passageway and means carried by the distal extremity of the elongate guide member for deforming the distal extremity of the stylet to its altered shape for facilitating direction of the distal extremity of the stylet at an angle to the longitudinal axis through the opening and into the tissue of the prostate.

Claim 23

A method for treating by radio frequency ablation tissue in a prostate of a human male having a urethra extending through the prostate with an elongate guide housing extending along a longitudinal axis and having proximal and distal extremities with a passageway extending from the proximal extremity to an opening in the distal extremity and a longitudinally-extending stylet having proximal and distal extremities and having first and second opposite edges and first and second opposite surfaces extending between the edges, the stylet having a transverse cross-section which is arcuate in shape and being movably disposed in the passageway of the elongate guide member so that the distal extremity of the stylet is in the vicinity of the opening, comprising the steps of introducing the elongate guide member into the urethra so that the distal extremity of the elongate guide member is in the vicinity of the prostate, engaging the distal extremity of the stylet with a deflector surface carried within the passageway of the elongate guide member and disposed at an angle of at least 90° and less than 180° relative to the longitudinal axis so as to direct the distal extremity of the stylet through the opening into the tissue of the prostate and transmitting radio frequency energy into the tissue of the prostate by means of the stylet whereby the arcuate cross-sectional shape of the stylet provides column strength to the stylet for facilitating penetration of the prostate and whereby the stylet is resiliently deformable so as to have a transverse cross-section which is generally planar for facilitating bending of the stylet while being directed into the tissue of the prostate.

Claim 24

A method for treating by radio frequency ablation tissue in a prostate of a human male having a urethra extending through the prostate with an elongate guide housing extending along a longitudinal axis and having proximal and distal extremities with a passageway extending from the proximal extremity to an opening in the distal extremity and a longitudinally-extending stylet having proximal and distal extremities and having first and second opposite edges and first and second opposite surfaces extending between the edges, the stylet having a transverse cross-section which is arcuate in shape and being movably disposed in the passageway of the elongate guide member so that the distal extremity of the stylet is in the vicinity of the opening, comprising the steps of introducing the elongate guide member into the urethra so that the distal extremity of the elongate guide member is in the vicinity of the prostate, engaging the distal extremity of the stylet with a deflector surface carried within the passageway of the elongate guide member and disposed at an angle of at least 90° and less than 180° relative to the longitudinal axis so as to direct the distal extremity of the stylet through the opening into the tissue of the prostate and transmitting radio frequency energy into the tissue of the prostate by means of the stylet whereby the arcuate cross-sectional shape of the stylet provides column strength to the stylet for facilitating penetration of the prostate and whereby the stylet is resiliently deformable so as to have a transverse cross-section which is generally planar for facilitating bending of the stylet while being directed into the tissue of the prostate.