Vapor ablation systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12527615-B2
Application number	US-202418404160-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2024
Priority date	Dec 18, 2015
Publication date	Jan 20, 2026
Grant date	Jan 20, 2026

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, denaturate the prostate. In some embodiments, the vapor delivery needle can be advanced a predetermined distance into the prostate with a solenoid actuation mechanism. Methods associated with use of the energy delivery probe are also covered.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A prostate treatment system, comprising:
an introducer shaft; a vapor generator configured to generate a condensable vapor; a vapor delivery needle in communication with the vapor generator and movably disposed within the introducer shaft; a wire configured to deliver a current to move the vapor delivery needle; a sensor configured to measure a property of the current traveling through at least a portion of the wire; a filter configured to generate a pulse; and a controller configured to determine a status of the vapor delivery needle based on data from the sensor and the pulse.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a current sensor, and wherein the property is a value of the current.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that the vapor delivery needle is moving based on a decrease in the value of the current.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the vapor delivery needle is coupled to a magnet, and wherein a movement of the magnet generates a back current.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein a duration of a time of the decrease in the value of the current indicates an amount of time that the vapor delivery needle is moving.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a distance traveled by the vapor delivery needle, based on the amount of time that the vapor delivery needle is moving.

7 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to interpret noise in a signal from the current sensor as points of increased friction along a path of travel of the vapor delivery needle.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the filter is configured to reduce fast transient properties of the current when the current turns on or off.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wire includes a solenoid.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor is located with the solenoid.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that the vapor delivery needle has failed to deploy based on the data from the sensor.

12 . A prostate treatment system, comprising:
an introducer shaft; a vapor generator configured to generate a condensable vapor; a vapor delivery needle in communication with the vapor generator and movably disposed within the introducer shaft; a solenoid configured to move the vapor delivery needle when a current travels through the solenoid; a current sensor configured to measure a value of the current traveling through the solenoid, wherein a decrease in the value of the current indicates that the vapor delivery needle is moving; and a controller configured to determine a status of the vapor delivery needle based on data from the current sensor, wherein the controller is configured to interpret noise in a signal from the current sensor as points of increased friction along a path of travel of the vapor delivery needle.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein a duration of the decrease in the value of the current indicates an amount of time that the vapor delivery needle is moving.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the current sensor is located with the solenoid.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the vapor delivery needle is coupled to a magnet, and wherein a movement of the magnet generates a back current.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the back current causes the decrease in the value of the current measured by the current sensor.

17 . A prostate treatment system, comprising:
an introducer shaft; a vapor generator configured to generate a condensable vapor; a vapor delivery needle in communication with the vapor generator and movably disposed within the introducer shaft; a solenoid configured to move the vapor delivery needle when a current travels through the solenoid; and a controller configured to determine a distance that the vapor delivery needle has traveled based an amount of time during which a value of the current traveling through the solenoid decreases, wherein a magnet is coupled to the vapor delivery needle, and wherein a movement of the magnet causes a decrease in the value of the current traveling through the solenoid due to a back current generated by the movement of the magnet.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that the vapor delivery needle has failed to deploy if the value of the current traveling through the solenoid does not decrease.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Scimed Inc

Inventors

• Hastings Roger Noel
• Schrom Mark
• Carlson Steven
• Hoey Michael
• Byland Timothy D
• Woo Karliam C
• Bachmeier Brian A

Classifications

• A61B18/042

  using additional gas becoming plasma · CPC title

• A61B2018/1475

  Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing · CPC title

• A61B18/04 Primary

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

• F22B1/28

  in boilers heated electrically · CPC title

• H01F2007/1692

  Electromagnets or actuators with two coils · CPC title