Patent US7169144B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US7169144B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for creating, maintaining, and controlling a virtual electrode used for the ablation of tissue
Assignee: Medtronic Inc
•
Filing: 2003-10-31
•
Granted: 2007-01-30
•
Expires: 2023-10-31
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for producing a virtual electrode within or upon a tissue to be treated with radio frequency alternating electric current, such tissues including but not limited to liver, lung, cardiac, prostate, breast, and vascular tissues and neoplasms. An apparatus in accord with the present invention includes a supply of a conductive or electrolytic fluid to be provided to the patient, an alternating current generator, and a processor for creating, maintaining, and controlling the ablation process by the interstitial or surficial delivery of the fluid to a tissue and the delivery of electric power to the tissue via the virtual electrode. A method in accord with the present invention includes delivering a conductive fluid to a predetermined tissue ablation site for a predetermined time period, applying a predetermined power level of radio frequency current to the tissue, monitoring at least one of several parameters, and adjusting either the applied power and/or the fluid flow in response to the measured parameters.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael F. Hoey
- 👤 Mark A. Christopherson
- 👤 Steven M. Goetz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/1206; A61B18/14; A61B18/1402; A61B18/1233; A61B18/1815; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00184; A61B2018/00196; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00666; A61B2018/00678; A61B2018/00696; A61B2018/00702; A61B2018/00708; A61B2018/00773; A61B2018/00779; A61B2018/00791; A61B2018/00797; A61B2018/00821; A61B2018/00875; A61B2018/1213; A61B2018/1246; A61B2018/1253; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1417; A61B2018/1472; A61B2018/1475; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/002; A61B2218/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A system for ablating tissue, comprising: a surgical instrument including an ablation element for delivery of an ablating energy to the tissue; a RF generator coupled to the surgical instrument to deliver ablating energy to the ablation element; a memory chip coupled to the surgical instrument and storing predetermined time limit information for at least one operating parameter of the surgical instrument; and a processor for receiving the predetermined time limit information for the at least one operating parameter and increasing a current value of the operating parameter after the predetermined time limit has elapsed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A system for ablating tissue, comprising: a surgical instrument including an ablation element for delivery of an ablating energy to the tissue; a RF generator coupled to the surgical instrument to deliver ablating energy to the ablation element; a memory chip coupled to the surgical instrument and storing predetermined time limit information for at least one operating parameter of the surgical instrument; and a processor for receiving the predetermined time limit information for the at least one operating parameter and increasing a current value of the operating parameter after the predetermined time limit has elapsed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory chip is programmed with a second operating parameter including the number of times the surgical instrument is used and the processor is adapted to limit the number of times the surgical instrument is used based upon the second operating parameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the operating parameter relates to the delivery of ablating energy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 3 , wherein the processor is adapted to limit the amount of the ablating energy delivered to the surgical instrument based upon the operating parameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 3 , wherein the processor is programmed to limit the total amount of time that must expired prior to the ablating energy being delivered to the surgical instrument based upon the operating parameter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is programmed to establish a time limit within which the surgical instrument must be used.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory chip is pre-programmed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory chip is a microchip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory chip is located in a connector used to couple the surgical instrument to the processor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the surgical instrument further includes a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein the operating parameter relates to temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 , further comprising a source of conductive fluid selectively providing conductive fluid to the tissue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein the operating parameter relates to fluid flow.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory chip is adapted to provide a second operating parameter and the second operating parameter is an identifier unique to the surgical instrument.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
82 words
A system for ablating tissue, comprising: a surgical instrument including an ablation element for delivery of an ablating energy to the tissue; a RF generator coupled to the surgical instrument to deliver ablating energy to the ablation element; and an identifying means coupled to the surgical instrument and the RF generator, the identifying means programmed to provide at least one predetermined time limit designating an elapsed time required prior to changing an identifying characteristic of the surgical instrument to a non-zero value.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
82 words
A system for ablating tissue, comprising: a surgical instrument including an ablation element for delivery of an ablating energy to the tissue; a RF generator coupled to the surgical instrument to deliver ablating energy to the ablation element; and an identifying means coupled to the surgical instrument and the RF generator, the identifying means programmed to provide at least one predetermined time limit designating an elapsed time required prior to changing an identifying characteristic of the surgical instrument to a non-zero value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the identifying characteristic is an operating parameter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the identifying means is configured to further provide a second operating parameter used to limit the number of times the surgical instrument is used.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the operating parameter relates to the delivery of ablating energy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein the identifying means is programmed to establish a time limit and initiate delivery of the ablating energy to the surgical instrument upon expiration of the time limit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein the operating parameter is used to limit the total amount of time the ablating energy is delivered to the surgical instrument.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein the identifying means is configured to further provide a second operating parameter used to limit the amount of time within which the surgical instrument must be used.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the identifying means is a memory chip.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the memory chip is pre-programmed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 22 , wherein the memory chip is a microchip.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the identifying means includes a memory chip located in a connector.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the surgical instrument further includes a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 26 , wherein the identifying characteristic relates to temperature.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 15 , further comprising a source of conductive fluid selectively providing conductive fluid to the tissue.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 28 , wherein the identifying characteristic relates to fluid flow.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein the identifying means is configured to further provide an identifier unique to the surgical instrument.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of treating tissue by ablation, the method comprising: providing an RF generator for the delivery of an ablating energy; connecting a surgical instrument to the RF generator, the surgical instrument comprising an ablation element for delivery of the ablating energy to tissue and a memory chip storing a predetermined time limit for an operating parameter; placing the surgical instrument in contact with tissue to be ablated; delivering the operating parameter from the memory chip to the RF generator; delivering ablating energy from the RF generator through the surgical instrument to tissue to be ablated based upon the operating parameter; changing a value of the operating parameter following the elapse of the predetermined time limit while maintaining the surgical instrument relative to the tissue; and operating the surgical instrument to continue ablating the tissue.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of treating tissue by ablation, the method comprising: providing an RF generator for the delivery of an ablating energy; connecting a surgical instrument to the RF generator, the surgical instrument comprising an ablation element for delivery of the ablating energy to tissue and a memory chip storing a predetermined time limit for an operating parameter; placing the surgical instrument in contact with tissue to be ablated; delivering the operating parameter from the memory chip to the RF generator; delivering ablating energy from the RF generator through the surgical instrument to tissue to be ablated based upon the operating parameter; changing a value of the operating parameter following the elapse of the predetermined time limit while maintaining the surgical instrument relative to the tissue; and operating the surgical instrument to continue ablating the tissue.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the memory chip delivers a second operating parameter that limits the number of times ablating energy is delivered from the RF generator through the surgical instrument.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the memory chip delivers a second operating parameter that limits the total amount of time ablating energy is delivered from the RF generator through the surgical instrument.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 31 , further comprising establishing a time limit within which the surgical instrument may be used to deliver ablating energy.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the operating parameter limits the delivery of ablating energy from the RF generator through the surgical instrument.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the memory chip is pre-programmed.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the memory chip is a microchip.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the memory chip is located in a connector used to connect the surgical instrument to the RF generator.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the surgical instrument further comprises a temperature sensor.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 39 , wherein the operating parameter limits the delivery of ablating energy from the RF generator based on temperature.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 31 , further comprising selectively providing conductive fluid to the tissue to be ablated from a source of conductive fluid.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 41 , further comprising controlling the flow of fluid from the source of conductive fluid to the tissue based upon the operating parameter.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein the memory chip delivers a second operating parameter that is an identifier unique to the surgical instrument.
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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) | 2010-01-29 | 2010-07-31 | 2011-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-01-29 | 2014-07-31 | 2015-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-01-29 | 2018-07-31 | 2019-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |