Devices, systems, and methods facilitating nerve ablation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022218411-A1
Application number	US-202117546194-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 9, 2021
Priority date	Jan 8, 2021
Publication date	Jul 14, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

An ablation device includes a handle, an elongated body extending distally from the handle, and an end effector assembly selectively deployable relative to the elongated body. The end effector assembly includes a shaft having a curved configuration defining an inside portion and an outside portion. A plurality of electrode tines extends from the inside portion. At least one electrode tine and the shaft are configured to conduct RF energy therebetween and through tissue to treat tissue. Another end effector assembly includes a tongue having a concave side corresponding to an inside portion and a convex side corresponding to an outside portion. A plurality of electrodes is disposed on the concave side of the tongue and an insulating layer is disposed on the convex side of the tongue. At least one electrode and the tongue are configured to conduct RF energy therebetween and through tissue to treat tissue.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An ablation device, comprising:
a handle; an elongated body extending distally from the handle; and an end effector assembly selectively deployable relative to the elongated body, the end effector assembly including:
a shaft having a curved configuration along at least a portion of a length thereof defining an inside portion and an outside portion, the shaft adapted to connect to a source of Radio Frequency (RF) energy; and
a plurality of electrode tines spaced-apart along the shaft and extending from the inside portion thereof, each electrode tine of the plurality of electrode tines adapted to connect to the source RF energy,
wherein at least one electrode tine of the plurality of electrode tines and the shaft are configured to conduct RF energy therebetween and through tissue to treat tissue.

2 . The ablation device according to claim 1 , wherein each electrode tine of the plurality of electrode tines includes a tissue-penetrating tip.

3 . The ablation device according to claim 1 , wherein at least two electrode tines of the plurality of electrode tines are configured to conduct RF energy therebetween.

4 . The ablation device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrode tines is selectively extendable relative to the shaft.

5 . The ablation device according to claim 1 , wherein each electrode tine of the plurality of electrode tines defines a curved configuration and is curved in a similar direction as the shaft.

6 . The ablation device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one cooling lumen extending through the shaft, the at least one cooling lumen configured to receive cooling fluid to cool at least a portion of the shaft.

7 . The ablation device according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft is resiliently biased towards the curved configuration and is resiliently flexible from a substantially linear configuration, corresponding to a retracted position of the end effector assembly relative to the elongated body, to the curved configuration, corresponding to a deployed position of the end effector assembly relative to the elongated body.

8 . An ablation device, comprising:
a handle; an elongated body extending distally from the handle; and an end effector assembly selectively deployable relative to the elongated body, the end effector assembly including:
a tongue having a curved configuration along at least a portion of a length thereof defining an inside portion and an outside portion, the tongue defining a curved transverse cross-sectional configuration defining a concave side and a convex side, the concave side corresponding to the inside portion and the convex side corresponding to the outside portion, the tongue adapted to connect to a source of Radio Frequency (RF) energy;
a plurality of electrodes spaced-apart along the tongue and disposed on the concave side of the tongue, each electrode of the plurality of electrodes adapted to connect to the source RF energy; and
an insulating layer disposed on the convex side of the tongue,
wherein at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes and the tongue are configured to conduct RF energy therebetween and through tissue to treat tissue.

9 . The ablation device according to claim 8 , wherein at least two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes are configured to conduct RF energy therebetween.

10 . The ablation device according to claim 8 , wherein the tongue is resiliently biased towards the curved configuration and is resiliently flexible from a substantially linear configuration, corresponding to a retracted position of the end effector assembly relative to the elongated body, to the curved configuration, corresponding to a deployed position of the end effector assembly relative to the elongated body.

11 . The ablation device according to claim 8 , further comprising a user interface disposed on the handle, the user interface including a first control for selectively deploying the end effector assembly relative to the elongated body and a second control for selectively activating the supply of energy to the at least one electrode and the tongue.

12 . The ablation device according to claim 8 , wherein the elongated body is resiliently flexible.

13 . The ablation device according to claim 8 , wherein the elongated body defines a tissue-penetrating tip.

14 . A method of ablating tissue, comprising:
inserting an elongated body into a vertebral body of a patient anteriorly of a basivertebral nerve; deploying an end effector assembly from the elongated body such that a base electrode of the end effector assembly is positioned anteriorly of a basivertebral nerve with a plurality of electrodes of the end effector assembly facing posteriority towards the basivertebral nerve; and conducting RF energy between at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes and the base electrode causing RF energy to be conducted through cancellous bone containing the basivertebral nerve to ablate the basivertebral nerve.

15 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein deploying the end effector assembly orients the plurality of electrodes substantially radially inwardly towards the basivertebral nerve.

16 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein deploying the end effector assembly includes penetrating the basivertebral nerve with at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes.

17 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein deploying the end effector assembly orients an insulating layer disposed on the base electrode on an anterior side of the base electrode to inhibit energy conduction anteriorly.

18 . The method according to claim 14 , further comprising circulating cooling fluid through a portion of the base electrode to promote RF energy conduction posteriorly.

19 . The method according to claim 14 , wherein conducting RF energy further includes conducting RF energy between at least two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes.

Assignees

• Medtronic Holding Co Sarl

Inventors

• Druma Calin
• Ranck Brian L

Classifications

• A61B2018/00577

  Ablation · CPC title

• A61B2018/143

  multiple needles · CPC title

• A61B18/148 Primary

  having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy · CPC title

• A61B2018/1475

  Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing · CPC title

• A61B2018/0044

  Spinal cord · CPC title