Vapor ablation systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12096967-B2
Application number	US-202117646530-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2021
Priority date	Dec 21, 2016
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

Abstract

A vapor delivery device is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the vapor delivery device is that it can apply condensable vapor energy to tissue, such as a prostrate, to shrink, damage, denaturate tissues of the prostate. The vapor delivery device can include a handle portion and a cartridge portion. The cartridge portion can be configured to be inserted into a lumen of the handle portion to align and position a vapor coil of the cartridge portion within a RF coil of the handle portion. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vapor delivery device, comprising: a handle portion having a lumen and an energy coil disposed in the lumen, wherein the energy coil is connectable to a source of energy, and wherein windings of the energy coil surround and define a longitudinally extending lumen; and a cartridge portion configured to be inserted into the lumen of the handle portion, wherein the cartridge portion comprises: a shaft configured to be inserted into a urethra; a vapor delivery needle disposed in the shaft; and a vapor coil in fluid connection with (a) the vapor delivery needle and (b) a fluid source; wherein, in an assembled configuration in which the cartridge portion has been inserted into the lumen of the handle portion, the vapor coil is within the lumen of the energy coil; wherein, in the assembled configuration, an entirety of the cartridge portion is rotatable, relative to the handle portion, from a first position to a second position, by a rotational connection between the cartridge portion and the handle portion; wherein, in each of the first position of the cartridge portion and the second position of the cartridge portion, upon delivery of a fluid from the fluid source to the vapor coil, a flow of energy from the source of energy through the energy coil inductively generates vapor in the vapor coil; and wherein the lumen of the handle portion includes a proximal opening and a distal opening, and wherein a distal end of the shaft of the cartridge portion is configured to be inserted into the proximal opening in order to align and position the vapor coil within the energy coil.

2. The vapor delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge portion further includes a thermometer, and wherein the thermometer is in electrical contact with the handle portion in both the first position and the second position.

3. The vapor delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the cartridge portion includes at least one conductive ring extending around an external surface of the cartridge portion, wherein the at least one conductive ring is electrically connected to the thermometer.

4. The vapor delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the handle portion includes at least one canted coil, and wherein the thermometer is in electrical contact with the handle portion via a contact between the at least one conductive ring of the cartridge portion and the at least one canted coil.

5. The vapor delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one conductive ring is proximal of the vapor coil.

6. The vapor delivery device of claim 1 , wherein, in the assembled configuration, a longitudinal axis of the cartridge portion extends through a central opening of the vapor coil.

7. The vapor delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the vapor coil is wrapped around an outer surface of a body of the cartridge portion.

8. The vapor delivery device of claim 1 , wherein, in the assembled configuration, the handle portion completely radially surrounds at least a portion of the cartridge portion.

9. The vapor delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the first position is offset from the second position by at least 30 degrees.

10. A vapor delivery device, comprising: a handle portion having a lumen and an energy coil disposed in the lumen, wherein the energy coil is connectable to a source of energy, and wherein windings of the energy coil surround and define a longitudinally extending lumen; and a cartridge portion configured to be inserted into the lumen of the handle portion, wherein the cartridge portion comprises: a shaft configured to be inserted into a urethra; a vapor delivery needle disposed in the shaft; a vapor coil in fluid connection with (a) the vapor delivery needle and (b) a fluid source; a thermometer; and a conductive ring extending around an outer surface of the cartridge portion, wherein the conductive ring is electrically connected to the thermometer; wherein, in an assembled configuration in which the cartridge portion has been inserted into the lumen of the handle portion, the vapor coil is within the lumen of the energy coil; wherein, in the assembled configuration, an entirety of the cartridge portion is rotatable, relative to the handle portion, from a first position to a second position, by a rotational connection between the cartridge portion and the handle portion; wherein, in each of the first position of the cartridge portion and the second position of the cartridge portion, the conductive ring is in electrical contact with the handle portion; and wherein the lumen of the handle portion includes a proximal opening and a distal opening, and wherein a distal end of the shaft of the cartridge portion is configured to be inserted into the proximal opening in order to align and position the vapor coil within the energy coil.

11. The vapor delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the handle portion includes at least one canted coil, and wherein the conductive ring is in electrical contact with the at least one canted coil in each of the first position and the second position.

12. The vapor delivery device of claim 10 , wherein, in the assembled configuration, a longitudinal axis of the cartridge portion extends through a central opening of the vapor coil.

13. The vapor delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the vapor coil is wrapped around an outer surface of a body of the cartridge portion.

14. The vapor delivery device of claim 10 , wherein, in the assembled configuration, the handle portion completely radially surrounds at least a portion of the cartridge portion.

15. The vapor delivery device of claim 10 , wherein the first position is offset from the second position by at least 30 degrees.

16. A vapor delivery device, comprising:
a handle portion having a lumen and an energy coil disposed in the lumen, wherein the energy coil is connectable to a source of energy; and
a cartridge portion configured to be inserted into the lumen of the handle portion, wherein the cartridge portion comprises:
a shaft configured to be inserted into a urethra;
a vapor delivery needle disposed in the shaft;
a vapor coil in fluid connection with (a) the vapor delivery needle and (b) a fluid source; and
a thermometer;

wherein insertion of the cartridge portion into the handle portion aligns and positions the vapor coil into an alignment position within the energy coil, and places the handle portion and the cartridge portion into a fully assembled state;
wherein, in the fully assembled state, the cartridge portion is rotatably coupled to the handle portion by a rotational connection such that the cartridge portion is rotatable relative to the handle portion while the vapor coil remains in the alignment position;
wherein the rotational connection maintains an electrical contact between the handle portion and the thermometer of the cartridge portion, during rotation of the cartridge portion relative to the handle portion; and
wherein the lumen of the handle portion includes a proximal opening and a distal opening, and wherein a distal end of the shaft of the cartridge portion is configured to be inserted into the proximal opening in order to align and position the vapor coil within the energy coil.

17. The vapor delivery device of claim 16 , wherein the cartridge portion includes at least one conductive ring extending around an external surface of the cartridge portion, wherein the at least one conductive ring is electrically connected to the thermometer.

18. The vapor delivery device of claim 17 , wherein the handle portion includes at least one canted coil, and wherein the electrical contact is between the

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Hoey Michael
• Hastings Roger Noel
• Schrom Mark
• Carlson Steven
• Byrne Matthew
• Woo Karliam C
• Jerke Eric
• Kravik Richard Charles

Classifications

• A61B2018/00708

  switching the power on or off · CPC title

• A61B2090/062

  penetration depth · CPC title

• A61B2018/00577

  Ablation · CPC title

• A61B5/062

  using magnetic field · CPC title

• A61B2018/00821

  measured by a thermocouple · CPC title