Patent US5769880A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5769880A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Moisture transport system for contact electrocoagulation
Assignee: ENVISION SURGICAL SYSTEMS
•
Filing: 1996-04-12
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Granted: 1998-06-23
•
Expires: 2016-04-12
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for use in performing ablation of organs and other tissue includes an electrode carrying member which is substantially absorbent and/or permeable to moisture. The electrode carrying member is mounted to the distal end of an elongate shaft, and an array of electrodes is mounted to the surface of the electrode carrying member. Following placement of the ablation device into contact with the tissue to be ablated, an RF generator is used to deliver RF energy to the electrodes and to thereby induce current flow from the electrodes to tissue to be ablated. As the current heats the tissue, moisture (such as water vapor or liquid) leaves the tissue causing the tissue to dehydrate. The moisture permeability and/or absorbency of the electrode carrying member allows the moisture to leave the ablation site so as to prevent the moisture from providing a path of conductivity for the current.
Inventors
- 👤 Csaba Truckai
- 👤 David C. Auth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1485; A61M; A61M16/00; A61M16/04; A61M16/0475; A61M16/0477; A61M16/0481; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22051; A61B17/42; A61B2017/4216; A61B18/1206; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/126; A61B90/00; A61B90/06; A61B2090/064; A61B2090/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
An ablation and/or coagulation apparatus for use in delivering energy to tissue for ablation, the apparatus comprising: a moisture permeable and/or absorbable electrode carrying member configured to permit moisture generated during ablation to pass into the electrode carrying member and away from underlying tissue; electrodes mounted to the electrode carrying member; and means for delivering radio frequency energy to the electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
An ablation and/or coagulation apparatus for use in delivering energy to tissue for ablation, the apparatus comprising: a moisture permeable and/or absorbable electrode carrying member configured to permit moisture generated during ablation to pass into the electrode carrying member and away from underlying tissue; electrodes mounted to the electrode carrying member; and means for delivering radio frequency energy to the electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrode carrying member is formed of sponge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrode carrying member is formed of foam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrode carrying member is formed of a porous filler material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrode carrying member is further formed of conformable material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The ablation apparatus of claim 1 further comprising structural support means within the electrode carrying member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ablation apparatus of claim 6 wherein the structural support means includes an inflatable balloon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ablation apparatus of claim 6 wherein the structural support means comprises spring members positioned within the electrode carrying member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The ablation apparatus of claim 8 wherein the spring members are moveable between a closed condition and an opened condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ablation apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one contact sensor carried by the electrode carrying member and means for measuring impedance.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of ablating and/or coagulating tissue, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electrode carrying member with electrodes thereon; (b) positioning the electrodes in contact with tissue to be ablated; (c) passing current through the electrodes to the tissue to cause the tissue to dehydrate; and (d) permitting moisture generated during the dehydration of step (c) to pass into the electrode carrying member and away from the tissue.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of ablating and/or coagulating tissue, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electrode carrying member with electrodes thereon; (b) positioning the electrodes in contact with tissue to be ablated; (c) passing current through the electrodes to the tissue to cause the tissue to dehydrate; and (d) permitting moisture generated during the dehydration of step (c) to pass into the electrode carrying member and away from the tissue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the tissue has a surface and wherein step (b) includes the step of causing the electrode carrying member to conform to the shape of the tissue surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the method further includes the step of (e) automatically terminating the flow of current into the tissue once ablation has approximately reached a predetermined depth or level of dehydration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the method further includes the steps of: (e) monitoring the impedance of the tissue undergoing ablation; and (f) terminating the ablation procedure once the impedance has reached a predetermined level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 wherein step (c) includes the step of passing current through select ones of the electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 including the step of applying suction through the electrode carrying means to draw the tissue into contact with the electrode carrying means and the electrodes to facilitate moisture removal.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of ablating and/or coagulating tissue, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an elongate tube and providing an electrode carrying member with electrodes thereon on a distal portion of the tube; (b) positioning the electrodes in contact with tissue to be ablated; (c) passing current through the electrodes to the tissue to cause the tissue to dehydrate; and (d) permitting moisture generated during the dehydration of step (c) to pass into the electrode carrying member and away from the tissue and permitting at least a portion of the moisture to pass from the electrode carrying member through the tube.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of ablating and/or coagulating tissue, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an elongate tube and providing an electrode carrying member with electrodes thereon on a distal portion of the tube; (b) positioning the electrodes in contact with tissue to be ablated; (c) passing current through the electrodes to the tissue to cause the tissue to dehydrate; and (d) permitting moisture generated during the dehydration of step (c) to pass into the electrode carrying member and away from the tissue and permitting at least a portion of the moisture to pass from the electrode carrying member through the tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 wherein step (d) includes the step of applying suction to the tube to draw the moisture through the tube.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
An ablation and/or coagulation apparatus for use in delivering energy to tissue for ablation, the apparatus comprising: an elongate tube; a moisture permeable and/or absorbable electrode carrying member mounted to the tube, the tube including a plurality of aeration openings underlying the electrode carrying member; electrodes mounted to the electrode carrying member; and means for delivering radio frequency energy to the electrodes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
An ablation and/or coagulation apparatus for use in delivering energy to tissue for ablation, the apparatus comprising: an elongate tube; a moisture permeable and/or absorbable electrode carrying member mounted to the tube, the tube including a plurality of aeration openings underlying the electrode carrying member; electrodes mounted to the electrode carrying member; and means for delivering radio frequency energy to the electrodes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
53 words
An ablation and/or coagulation apparatus for use in delivering energy to tissue for ablation, the apparatus comprising: a moisture permeable and/or absorbable electrode carrying member; electrodes mounted to the electrode carrying member; means for delivering radio frequency energy to the electrodes; and suction means for drawing moisture away from the electrode carrying member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
53 words
An ablation and/or coagulation apparatus for use in delivering energy to tissue for ablation, the apparatus comprising: a moisture permeable and/or absorbable electrode carrying member; electrodes mounted to the electrode carrying member; means for delivering radio frequency energy to the electrodes; and suction means for drawing moisture away from the electrode carrying member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
63 words
An ablation and/or coagulation apparatus for use in delivering energy to tissue for ablation, the apparatus comprising: an elongate tube; a moisture permeable and/or absorbable electrode carrying member mounted to the tube; electrodes mounted to the electrode carrying member; means for delivering radio frequency energy to the electrodes; and suction means for drawing moisture through the tube away from the electrode carrying member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
63 words
An ablation and/or coagulation apparatus for use in delivering energy to tissue for ablation, the apparatus comprising: an elongate tube; a moisture permeable and/or absorbable electrode carrying member mounted to the tube; electrodes mounted to the electrode carrying member; means for delivering radio frequency energy to the electrodes; and suction means for drawing moisture through the tube away from the electrode carrying member.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
78 words
An apparatus for intrauterine ablation, comprising: an elongate tube; an electrode carrying pad mounted to the tube and shaped to approximate the shape of a uterus; an array of electrodes mounted to the pad; means for delivering RF energy to the electrodes to cause current flow from the electrodes to tissue to be ablated; and means for automatically terminating the flow of current from the electrodes to the tissue once a predetermined ablation depth has been substantially reached.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
78 words
An apparatus for intrauterine ablation, comprising: an elongate tube; an electrode carrying pad mounted to the tube and shaped to approximate the shape of a uterus; an array of electrodes mounted to the pad; means for delivering RF energy to the electrodes to cause current flow from the electrodes to tissue to be ablated; and means for automatically terminating the flow of current from the electrodes to the tissue once a predetermined ablation depth has been substantially reached.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising means for drawing moisture from tissue undergoing ablation into the electrode carrying pad.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of ablating tissue, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electrode carrying member with electrodes thereon; (b) positioning the electrodes in contact with tissue to be ablated; (c) selecting a depth to which ablation is to be carried out; and (d) delivering RF energy to the tissue through select ones of the electrodes to cause ablation of the tissue to approximately the selected ablation depth and to cause automatic termination of current flow into the tissue once the selected ablation depth has been approximately reached.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of ablating tissue, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electrode carrying member with electrodes thereon; (b) positioning the electrodes in contact with tissue to be ablated; (c) selecting a depth to which ablation is to be carried out; and (d) delivering RF energy to the tissue through select ones of the electrodes to cause ablation of the tissue to approximately the selected ablation depth and to cause automatic termination of current flow into the tissue once the selected ablation depth has been approximately reached.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of ablating tissue, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electrode carrying member with electrodes thereon; (b) positioning the electrodes in contact with tissue to be ablated; (c) selecting a depth to which ablation is to be carried out; and (d) selecting an effective electrode spacing which would produce ablation to approximately the desired ablation depth, and delivering RF energy to select ones of the electrodes such that the spacing between the energized electrodes is substantially the selected effective electrode spacing, to cause ablation of the tissue to approximately the selected ablation depth.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of ablating tissue, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electrode carrying member with electrodes thereon; (b) positioning the electrodes in contact with tissue to be ablated; (c) selecting a depth to which ablation is to be carried out; and (d) selecting an effective electrode spacing which would produce ablation to approximately the desired ablation depth, and delivering RF energy to select ones of the electrodes such that the spacing between the energized electrodes is substantially the selected effective electrode spacing, to cause ablation of the tissue to approximately the selected ablation depth.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of ablating tissue, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electrode carrying member with electrodes thereon; (b) positioning the electrodes in contact with tissue to be ablated; (c) selecting a depth to which ablation is to be carried out; and (d) selecting an electrode surface density which will produce ablation to approximately the desired ablation depth, and delivering RF energy to select ones of the electrodes such that the electrode surface density of the energized electrodes is substantially the selected electrode surface density, to cause ablation of the tissue to approximately the selected ablation depth.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of ablating tissue, comprising the steps of: (a) providing an electrode carrying member with electrodes thereon; (b) positioning the electrodes in contact with tissue to be ablated; (c) selecting a depth to which ablation is to be carried out; and (d) selecting an electrode surface density which will produce ablation to approximately the desired ablation depth, and delivering RF energy to select ones of the electrodes such that the electrode surface density of the energized electrodes is substantially the selected electrode surface density, to cause ablation of the tissue to approximately the selected ablation depth.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
An ablation and/or coagulation apparatus for use in delivering energy to tissue for ablation, the apparatus comprising: an electrode member formed of a metallized fabric having insulating regions formed thereon; and a source of RF energy electrically coupled to the metallized fabric.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
An ablation and/or coagulation apparatus for use in delivering energy to tissue for ablation, the apparatus comprising: an electrode member formed of a metallized fabric having insulating regions formed thereon; and a source of RF energy electrically coupled to the metallized fabric.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the electrode member is mounted to an elongate member.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the elongate member is tubular.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the metallized fabric is moisture permeable.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a vacuum source fluidly coupled to the electrode member to actively draw moisture away from underlying tissue.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the electrode member is mounted to an elongate tubular member and wherein the vacuum source is fluidly coupled to the electrode member to actively draw moisture away from underlying tissue and into the elongate tubular member.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the insulating regions are etched onto the metallized fabric.
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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) | 2001-06-22 | 2001-12-22 | 2002-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-22 | 2005-12-22 | 2006-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-22 | 2009-12-22 | 2010-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |