Tumor ablation devices and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021401496-A1
Application number	US-202117473864-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 13, 2021
Priority date	Nov 28, 2016
Publication date	Dec 30, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Spinal tumor ablation devices and related systems and methods are disclosed. Some spinal tumor ablation devices include electrodes that are fixedly offset from one another. Some spinal tumor ablation devices include a thermal energy delivery probe that has at least one temperature sensor coupled thereto. The position of the at least one temperature sensor relative to other components of the spinal tumor ablation device may be controlled by adjusting the position of the thermal energy delivery probe in some spinal tumor ablation devices. Some spinal tumor ablation devices are configured to facilitate the delivery of a cement through a utility channel of the device.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method of treating a vertebral body of a patient, the method comprising:
obtaining a spinal tumor ablation device, the spinal tumor ablation device comprising:
a first electrode; and
a second electrode;
wherein the first electrode and at least a portion of the second electrode are fixedly offset relative to one another;
advancing the distal tip of the spinal tumor ablation device into the vertebral body; and activating the spinal tumor ablation device such that an electrical current flows between the first electrode and the second electrode via tissue within the vertebral body of the patient.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting a thermal energy delivery probe into a channel of the spinal tumor ablation device prior to activating the spinal tumor ablation device.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising rotating the thermal energy delivery probe relative to a side port of the spinal tumor ablation device, thereby positioning one or more temperature sensors that are attached to a stylet of the thermal energy delivery probe.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
obtaining temperature measurements from the one or more temperature sensors; and one or more of:
altering the location of the distal tip of the spinal tumor ablation device based on input from the one or more temperature sensors;
changing the flow rate of the electrical current based on input from the one or more temperature sensors; and
changing the voltage across the electrodes based on input from the one or more temperature sensors.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising articulating a distal portion of the spinal tumor ablation device such that the distal portion transitions from a linear configuration to a non-linear configuration.

6 . A method of treating a spinal tumor, the method comprising:
obtaining an ablation device, the ablation device comprising:
a first electrode; and
a second electrode;
activating the ablation device such that an electrical current flows between the first electrode and the second electrode via spinal tissue of a patient; and delivering bone cement through a utility channel of the ablation device, thereby filling an opening within a vertebra of the patient.

7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising articulating a distal portion of the ablation device, thereby mechanically displacing tissue within the vertebra of the patient.

8 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising inserting a distal end of the medical device into the vertebra of the patient, wherein the medical device has sufficient strength to prevent buckling of the medical device as the distal end of the medical device is inserted within the vertebra of the patient.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein neither the first electrode nor the second electrode is coupled to a spring.

10 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising inserting a thermal energy delivery probe into the utility channel of the ablation device prior to activating the ablation device.

11 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising rotating a thermal energy delivery probe relative to a side port of the ablation device, thereby adjusting the position of one or more temperature sensors that are attached to a stylet of the thermal energy delivery probe.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
obtaining temperature measurements from the one or more temperature sensors; and one or more of:
altering the location of the distal tip of the spinal tumor ablation device based on input from the one or more temperature sensors;
changing the flow rate of the electrical current based on input from the one or more temperature sensors; and
changing the voltage across the electrodes based on input from the one or more temperature sensors.

13 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising displacing an elongate cutting instrument through the utility channel and into tissue of the patient, thereby obtaining a biopsy sample.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the bone cement comprises methyl methacrylate.

15 . The medical device of claim 6 , wherein the electrical current is a radiofrequency current.

Assignees

• Dfine Inc

Inventors

• Purdy Craig
• Balbierz Dan

Classifications

• A61B10/025

  for taking bone, bone marrow or cartilage samples · CPC title

• A61B2018/00797

  measured by multiple temperature sensors · CPC title

• A61B2018/00577

  Ablation · CPC title

• A61B2018/00565

  Bone · CPC title

• A61B18/1477 Primary

  Needle-like probes · CPC title