Medical devices and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11992254-B2
Application number	US-202016919499-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2020
Priority date	Jan 6, 2017
Publication date	May 28, 2024
Grant date	May 28, 2024

Abstract

A vapor delivery needle is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the energy delivery probe is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, or denature tissues of the prostate. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A medical device comprising:
a needle;
a first electrode disposed at a distal tip of the needle, wherein the first electrode is configured to measure a first electrical impedance of a first tissue contacting the first electrode, and wherein the distal tip of the needle is the first electrode;
a second electrode disposed on the needle, proximally of the first electrode, wherein the second electrode is configured to measure a second electrical impedance of a second tissue contacting the second electrode; and
an electrically insulative material disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and
an electronic controller configured to use the first electrical impedance and the second electrical impedance in order to determine whether the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed within a prostate.

2. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is configured to measure a first phase shift of the first tissue.

3. The medical device of claim 2 , wherein the second electrode is configured to measure a second phase shift of the second tissue.

4. The medical device of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to use the first phase shift and the second phase shift in order to determine whether the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed within the prostate.

5. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the needle includes at least one hole configured to delivery vapor to the prostate.

6. The medical device of claim 1 , further comprising circuitry electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the circuitry is configured to provide a variable frequency.

7. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the needle includes a conductive inner tube and an insulative tube between the second electrode and the conductive inner tube.

8. A medical device comprising:
a needle terminating in a distal tip, wherein the distal tip is a first electrode configured to measure a first electrical impedance of a first tissue contacting the first electrode, the needle including:
a second, ring electrode, proximal of the first electrode, configured to measure a second electrical impedance of a second tissue contacting the second electrode; and
an electrically insulative material disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and

an electronic controller configured to use the first electrical impedance and the second electrical impedance in order to determine whether the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed within a prostate.

9. The medical device of claim 8 , wherein the first electrode is configured to measure a first phase shift of the first tissue.

10. The medical device of claim 9 , wherein the second electrode is configured to measure a second phase shift of the second tissue.

11. The medical device of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to use the first phase shift and the second phase shift in order to determine whether the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed within the prostate.

12. The medical device of claim 8 , wherein the needle includes at least one hole configured to deliver vapor to the prostate.

13. The medical device of claim 8 , further comprising circuitry electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the circuitry is configured to provide a variable frequency.

14. The medical device of claim 8 , wherein the needle includes a conductive inner tube and an insulative tube between the second electrode and the conductive inner tube.

15. A medical device comprising:
a needle terminating in a distal tip, wherein the distal tip is a first electrode configured to measure a first electrical impedance and a first phase shift of a first tissue contacting the first electrode, the needle including:
a second electrode, proximal of the first electrode, configured to measure a second electrical impedance and a second phase shift of a second tissue contacting the second electrode; and
an electrically insulative material disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and

an electronic controller configured to use the first electrical impedance, the first phase shift, the second electrical impedance, and the second phase shift, in order to determine whether the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed within a prostate.

16. The medical device of claim 15 , wherein the needle includes at least one hole configured to deliver vapor to a prostate.

17. The medical device of claim 15 , further comprising circuitry electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the circuitry is configured to provide a variable frequency.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Hoey Michael
• Hastings Roger Noel
• Schrom Mark
• Byrne Matthew
• Mauch Grant
• Jerke Eric
• Kravik Richard Charles

Classifications

• A61B18/082 Primary

  Probes or electrodes therefor · CPC title

• A61B18/04 Primary

  by heating (by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18) · CPC title

• A61B18/10

  Power sources therefor · CPC title

• A61B90/04

  Protection of tissue around surgical sites against effects of non-mechanical surgery, e.g. laser surgery (protection of eyes against laser radiation A61F9/022) · CPC title

• A61B2018/00023

  closed, i.e. without wound contact by the fluid · CPC title