Vidamed, Inc.

Rita Medical Systems, Inc.

Other

Applied Materials, Inc.

Medtronic Cardiorhythm

Zomed International

Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Health

Vidacare Corporation

Digirad Corporation

Advanced Interventional Systems, Inc.

Bruno Strul

Stuart D Edwards

Ronald G Lax

James Allen Baker, Jr

Hugh R Sharkey

Ingemar H Lundquist

Kee S Lee

Roger Alan Stern

Albert Macovski

Phillip R Sommer

Kien Nai Chuc

Peter F Ebbing

Chris J Jones

Tsvi Goldenberg

Robert E Alvarez

Kevin C Ladd

Richard De Geus

Ronnie Northrup

Christoph Holliger

Chaya Hirsch

Monoocher Birang

Robert Hale

Aaron B Corbet

Robert Alvarez

Leonard Lehmann

An RF treatment apparatus includes a catheter with a catheter lumen. A removable needle electrode is positioned in the catheter lumen in a fixed relationship to the catheter. The needle electrode includes a needle lumen and a needle electrode distal end. A removable introducer is slidably positioned in the needle lumen. The introducer includes an introducer distal end. A first sensor is positioned on a surface of the needle electrode or the insulator. An RF power source is coupled to the needle electrode and a return electrode. An insulator sleeve is slidably positioned around the electrode and includes a second sensor. Resources are associated with the electrodes, sensors as well as the RF power source for maintaining a selected power at the electrode independent of changes in current or voltage.

RF treatment apparatus

A method and an apparatus is disclosed for delivering controlled heat to perform ablation to treat the benign prosthetic hypertrophy or hyperplasia (BPH). According to the method and the apparatus, the energy is transferred directly into the tissue mass which is to be treated in such a manner as to provide tissue ablation without damage to surrounding tissues. Automatic shut-off occurs when any one of a number of surrounding areas to include the urethra or surrounding mass or the adjacent organs exceed predetermined safe temperature limits. The constant application of the radio frequency energy over a maintained determined time provides a safe procedure which avoids electrosurgical and other invasive operations while providing fast relief to BPH with a short recovery time. The procedure may be accomplished in a doctor's office without the need for hospitalization or surgery.

Self-contained power sypply and monitoring station for RF tissue ablation

BPH ablation method and apparatus

An RF treatment system includes first and second catheters with first and second needle electrodes positioned at least partially in lumens of the first and second catheters. Each electrode is surround by a insulator sleeve which is slideable along the electrode and defines an ablation surface. An RF power source is coupled to the first and second needle electrodes. The electrodes provide bipolar RF ablation between the two, defining an ablation volume. A deflectable introducer has a laterally deflectable distal end and an ablation volume temperature sensor positioned at the distal end. The deflectable introducer is advanced in and out of the electrodes distal ends to measure a temperature of tissue in the ablation volume. The treatment system can include more than two electrodes, such as two pairs of electrodes. Further, the system can include a needle electrode extension with a laterally deflectable distal end. The needle electrode extension is positioned in at least one of the distal ends of one of the needle electrodes. It is advanced in and out of the needle electrode distal end to provide monopolar ablation. Additionally, the RF treatment system provides for the introduction of an infusion media, including but not limited to a chemotherapeutic agent, through distribution ports in the needle electrodes, or through one or more infusion devices that can house the needle electrodes and their respective catheters.

RF treatment system

An ablation apparatus for ablating an inner layer in an organ or lumen of a body, or any desired thin layer, includes an expandable member made of a material with a porous exterior surface. An electrolytic solution, housed in an interior of the expandable member, releases electrolytic solution through the porous exterior surface. A conforming member, which can be an open cell foam material, has an RF conductive surface, and a back side in a surrounding relationship to an exterior surface of the expandable member. Further, the conforming member includes non-zone areas that have a first porosity rate for delivering electrolytic solution to the inner layer. The conforming member also includes a zone for housing each RF electrode and electrolytic solution. Zones have a second porosity rate that is less than the first porosity rate, thus permitting electrolytic solution to pass through the non-zone areas at a faster rate than in the zones. The zones provide an area where electrolytic solution is heated to a higher temperature, due to the differences in porosity with the non-zones. With the combination of the electrode and the heated electrolytic solution in each zone, a larger electrode is created, and there is a more effective, and even application of both RF and thermal energy to the tissue site, such as the endometrium.

Thin layer ablation apparatus

A system for delivering radiofrequency energy to ablate cardiac tissue comprises a radiofrequency generator and an intravascular catheter. The catheter includes both a radiofrequency ablation electrode and a temperature sensor within its distal end. Delivery of power to the ablation electrode may then be controlled based on electrode temperature using a cascade control system wherein analog temperature controller adjusts the set point to a secondary power controller. Alternatively, power delivered to the patient can be controlled directly based on a power set point. Reuse of the catheter is prevented by a fuse within the catheter which is sensed prier to power delivery and broken prior to disconnection of the catheter.

Method and system for radiofrequency ablation of cardiac tissue

An ablation apparatus has an expandable member that is inserted into an organ of a body and ablates all or a selected portion of the inner layer of the organ. Electrolytic solution fills the expandable member, and the expandable member includes a plurality of apertures from which electrolytic solution flows from the expandable member. First and second fluid conduits, which can be first and second conforming members, are in a surrounding relationship to the expandable member. The second conforming member, including a conductive surface, is made of a material that provides substantial conformity between the conductive surface and a shape of the inner layer of the organ. A plurality of electrodes is positioned between the two conforming members. The expandable member serves as an insulator to RF energy. Each electrode includes an insulator formed on a surface of the electrode positioned adjacent to the second conforming member. The combination of sandwiching the electrodes between the two conforming members, and the use of two insulators, one on the electrode and the other on the expandable member, provides selectable ablation of the inner layer of the organ. A feedback device is included and is responsive to a detected characteristic of the inner layer. The feedback device provides a controlled delivery of RF energy to the electrodes.

A dual-channel RF power delivery system for applying RF energy to dual electrodes of an RF ablation device with independent control of the power level, frequency, phase, and time duration of the RF energy applied to each electrode to more accurately control the ablation of a target tissue. The power delivery system supplies a first controlled RF signal having a first power level, frequency, phase, and time duration to the electrode of a first flexible stylet and a second controlled RF signal having a second power level frequency, phase, and time duration to the electrode of a second flexible stylet. The difference between the first and second power levels and the temperature of the tissue between the first and second stylers are monitored to control the ablation of the target tissue. The supply of the first RF signal is terminated when the monitored temperature of the first stylet exceeds a first predetermined value and the supply of the second RF signal is terminated when the monitored temperature of the second stylet exceeds a second predetermined value. By adjusting the frequency and/or phase of the first and second RF signals, the relative amounts of bipolar and monopolar ablation can be adjusted for accurate control of the lesion volume. The lesion volume can also be controlled by varying the deployment length of the electrodes.

Dual-channel RF power delivery system

A system for delivering radiofrequency energy to ablate tissue comprises a radiofrequency generator and an intravascular catheter. The catheter includes both a radiofrequency ablation electrode and a temperature sensor within its distal end. Delivery of power to the ablation electrode may then be controlled based on electrode temperature using a cascade control system wherein analog temperature controller adjusts the set point to a secondary power controller. Alternatively, power delivered to the patient can be controlled directly based on a power set point. A sinusoidal RF signal is provided to avoid energy attenuation and the sinusoidal RF signal may be pulsed to avoid buildup of coagulum on the catheter tip while providing high power to create large lesions. A verification circuit checks the continuity of circuits in the catheter.

Method and system for radiofrequency ablation of tissue

PBH ablation method and apparatus

A system for thermal angioplasty provides electrical power to a heating coil located inside a dilatation balloon, receives a signal from a sensor at the coil indicating its temperature and also receives signals from balloon sensors indicating the temperature at their respective positions. An isolation transformer is used to provide RF power and the sensor signals are optically coupled to provide increased electrical isolation for the patient. The heating coil temperature sensor signal is compared to high and low temperature limits and if either is exceeded, a fault signal is generated. The sensor signals from the balloon are compared to predetermined high temperature limits and if exceeded, fault signals are generated. The current drawn from the battery is compared to a predetermined current level and if exceeded, a fault signal is also generated. Upon generation of any of the fault signals, the electrical power to the heating coil is interrupted by fault detection circuitry. An RF ON reset switch is provided to prevent the inadvertent application of RF power to the heating coil. Materials used in the connectors and in the RF generator for connections to the catheter electrical leads are compatible with those leads to avoid a thermocouple effect.

Thermal angioplasty system

A method and an apparatus for delivering controlled heat independently on separate channels to perform ablation to treat benign prosthetic hypertrophy or hyperplasia (BPH). The dual channel power system provides independent control of radio frequency energy to each of two stylets protruding from a catheter into a human prostate through the urethra. The energy is independently transferred directly into the respective tissue around the stylets in such a manner as to provide respective tissue ablation without damage to surrounding tissues. Automatic shut-off of both channels occurs when any one of a number of surrounding areas to include the urethra or surrounding mass or the adjacent organs exceeds predetermined safe temperature limits. Automatic shut off of the individual channels occurs when the temperature of the tissue proximal to the respective stylet exceeds respective predetermined values. The dual channel system is microprocessor controlled and contains self-test startup and thermocouple autocalibration circuitry.

Dual channel RF delivery system

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Bruno Strul