The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 01, 2011
Filed:
Dec. 29, 2005
Kimbolt Young, Newtonville, MA (US);
Gerald M. Hubbs, Louisville, KY (US);
Steve Pickett, Spencer, IN (US);
Gene Mccallister, Spencer, IN (US);
John Hewitt, Camby, IN (US);
Jeffrey W. Zerfas, Bloomington, IN (US);
Kimbolt Young, Newtonville, MA (US);
Gerald M. Hubbs, Louisville, KY (US);
Steve Pickett, Spencer, IN (US);
Gene McCallister, Spencer, IN (US);
John Hewitt, Camby, IN (US);
Jeffrey W. Zerfas, Bloomington, IN (US);
Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc., Maple Grove, MN (US);
Abstract
A tissue ablation probe is provided. The tissue ablation probe comprises an elongated shaft, at least one electrode tine carried by the elongated shaft, at least one tine exit from which the electrode tine(s) can be deployed from the elongated shaft and retracted within the elongated shaft, and a sheath covering the electrode tine exit(s). The sheath may, e.g., line an exterior surface of the elongated shaft or an interior surface of the elongated shaft. The sheath has at least one tine valve (e.g., a slit) positioned over the electrode tine exit(s) and configured to open when the electrode tine is deployed and to close when the electrode tine(s) is retracted. In one embodiment, the tine valve(s) is configured to open in response to pressure exerted during deployment of the electrode tine(s). In another embodiment, the tine valve(s) is configured to hinder the entry of biological material within the elongated shaft. In one embodiment, the sheath is pliable, such that the tine valve(s) can more easily hinder the entry of the biological material.