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Publication Number
US-11564735-B2
Publication Date
2023-01-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
A needle electrode deployment shaft includes a central member and a plurality of needle electrodes. The central member has a plurality of needle advancement channels formed therein. The needle electrodes are disposed within the advancement channels and each advancement channel terminates in a ramp portion which deflects the needles radially outwardly as they are axially advanced. The ramps may be spirally or acutely configured in order to increase the distance through which the needles may be bent as they are axially advanced. Additionally, the central member may have a radially reduced distal tip in order to decrease tissue insertion forces.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a probe and method for treating uterine fibroids by introducing a probe through a cervix into a uterus, locating a uterine fibroid using an ultrasonic transducer carried by the probe, and advancing a shaft member from the probe into uterine tissue proximate the uterine fibroid. A plurality of needle electrodes are advanced in a distal direction from the shaft member through a channel array comprising a plurality of ramps into the uterine fibroid and/or tissue surrounding the uterine fibroid.
The channel array includes a plurality of ramps that guide needle electrodes through structured distal ramp portions, and the ramps have an arcuate and curved geometry about a longitudinal axis of the shaft member. Additional ramp geometry refinements include spiraling ramp paths, arcuate ramp shapes, and, in embodiments, each ramp entrance is angularly offset from a ramp exit in a transverse plane.
Energy is delivered from the needle electrodes to necrose the fibroid. The probe can also integrate an ultrasonic imaging array for locating fibroids and for monitoring needle deployment, and the energy delivery can be configured for radiofrequency as monopolar or bipolar.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim set includes one independent claim describing the overall treatment method and its core mechanical/electrical steps. The main inventive features are associated with an ultrasonic-located uterine fibroid treatment workflow and a ramped channel array that guides multiple needle electrodes with arcuate/curved ramp geometry about a longitudinal axis.
Ultrasonic-guided probe introduction and fibroid location
introducing a probe through a cervix into a uterus; locating a uterine fibroid using an ultrasonic transducer carried by the probe
Ramped channel array with arcuate curved ramps about a longitudinal axis
advancing a shaft member from the probe into uterine tissue proximate the uterine fibroid; advancing a plurality of needle electrodes in a distal direction from the shaft member through a channel array comprising a plurality of ramps into the uterine fibroid and/or tissue surrounding the uterine fibroid, wherein the ramps are each arcuate and curved about a longitudinal axis of the shaft member
Energy delivery to necrose the fibroid
delivering energy from the needle electrodes to necrose the fibroid
Overall, the claim coverage centers on combining ultrasonic localization of uterine fibroids with mechanical deployment of a plurality of needle electrodes through a ramped channel array having arcuate curved ramps about a longitudinal axis, and delivering energy from the needle electrodes to necrose the fibroid.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Treating uterine fibroids by introducing a probe through a cervix into a uterus, locating a uterine fibroid using an ultrasonic transducer carried by the probe, deploying multiple needle electrodes through a ramped channel array into the uterine fibroid and/or surrounding tissue, and delivering energy to necrose the fibroid.
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