Methods and systems for controlled deployment of needle structures in tissue
Inventors
Munrow, Michael A. • Uecker, Darrin • Placek, Brian • Kwan, Harry • Toub, David • Hinman, Cameron D. • Danitz, David J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11583243-B2
Publication Date
2023-02-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for deploying needles in tissue includes a controller and a visual display. A treatment probe has both a needle and tines deployable from the needle which may be advanced into the tissue. The treatment probe also has adjustable stops which control the deployed positions of both the needle and the tines. The adjustable stops are coupled to the controller so that the virtual treatment and safety boundaries resulting from the treatment can be presented on the visual display prior to actual deployment of the system.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a tissue treatment system for deploying a needle structure that includes a needle and a plurality of tines extendable from the needle. A probe with a handle and a deployment mechanism is positioned near a uterine fibroid to be ablated. The system uses an ultrasound imaging transducer to provide a real time image of the uterine fibroid on a display, and it displays a treatment region on the real time image.
The treatment region displayed on the real-time image is determined at least partially based on an actual or planned extent of advancement of the plurality of tines from the needle. The treatment region sizing is also determined based on a planned duration of application of radiofrequency energy applied to the needle structure. The actual or planned extent of advancement of the plurality of tines is tracked by one or more sensors operatively coupled to the deployment mechanism within the handle of the probe.
In use, the needle structure is inserted into the uterine fibroid, and the uterine fibroid is ablated by applying radiofrequency energy to the needle structure based on the displayed treatment region. More generally, the system also provides a real time image of an anatomical feature on a display using an image source, and displays a treatment region whose size is determined at least partially based on actual or planned tine advancement and a duration of application of energy, while tine advancement is tracked by sensors operatively coupled to the deployment mechanism of the probe.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent method claims. Each independent claim centers on projecting a treatment region on a real-time image, with the region size determined based on tine advancement and energy application duration while tine advancement is tracked by sensors coupled to the probe deployment mechanism.
Ultrasound image-based treatment region sized by tine advancement and planned radiofrequency duration
Using an ultrasound imaging transducer to provide a real time image of the uterine fibroid on a display, and displaying a treatment region on the real time image where a size of the treatment region is determined at least partially based on an actual or a planned extent of advancement of the plurality of tines from the needle and on a planned duration of application of radiofrequency energy, with the actual or planned extent of advancement tracked by one or more sensors operatively coupled to the deployment mechanism within the handle of the probe.
Real time image-based treatment region sized by tine advancement and energy duration with sensor tracking
Using an image source to provide a real time image of the anatomical feature on a display, and displaying a treatment region on the real time image where a size of the treatment region is determined at least partially based on an actual or a planned extent of advancement of the plurality of tines from the needle and on a duration of application of energy applied to the needle structure, with the actual or planned extent of advancement tracked by one or more sensors operatively coupled to the deployment mechanism of the probe.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is the same: a real-time image is used to display a treatment region, and the treatment region size is computed using actual or planned tine advancement together with an energy application duration, while tine advancement is tracked by sensors operatively coupled to the probe deployment mechanism.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Uterine fibroid ablation using a needle structure with a needle and a plurality of tines, based on a treatment region displayed on a real time ultrasound image.
Deploying a needle structure of a tissue treatment system near an anatomical feature using a real time image source to display a treatment region sized based on tine advancement and duration of energy application.
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