Electrical ablation devices and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9254169-B2
Application number	US-201113036895-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2011
Priority date	Feb 28, 2011
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

An ablation apparatus may generally comprise an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end and a non-conductive tip at the distal end, a conductive sheath at least partially surrounding a portion of the elongated body intermediate the proximal end and the tip, and an electrical conductor electrically connected to the conductive sheath. The ablation apparatus may comprise a first electrode having a first diameter and a plurality of second electrodes each having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. Methods of using the ablation apparatus are also described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical ablation apparatus comprising:
an elongated body, comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a non-conductive tip at the distal end; and
a tapered segment intermediate the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the tapered segment comprises a chamfer cut;

a conductive sheath at least partially surrounding the tapered segment; and
an electrical conductor electrically connected to the conductive sheath.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive tip comprises a ceramic material, a polymer, a glass material, a carbon material, and any combinations thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the polymer comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conductive sheath comprises a metal.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of medical grade stainless steel and gold.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive tip is tapered.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive tip comprises a bevel cut.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the conductive sheath at least partially surrounds a portion of the chamfer cut.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the non-conductive tip comprises a cutting edge.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is electrically monopolar.

11. An electrical ablation apparatus, comprising:
an elongate portion, comprising:
a tapered segment comprising a cutout; and
a non-conductive cutting edge;

a conductive sheath positioned at least partially around the tapered segment proximal to the non-conductive cutting edge; and
an electrical conductor electrically connected to the conductive sheath.

12. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the non-conductive cutting edge is comprised of a material selected from a group consisting of a ceramic material, a polymer, a glass material, a carbon material, and any combinations thereof.

13. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the conductive sheath is comprised of a metal material.

14. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the electrical conductor is positioned in the cutout.

15. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the cutout comprises a chamfered edge.

16. An electrical ablation apparatus, comprising:
a body, including:
a non-conductive proximal portion;
a non-conductive distal portion comprising a distal tip; and
a tapered portion intermediate the non-conductive proximal portion and the non-conductive distal portion, wherein the tapered portion comprises an elongate opening;

a conductive intermediate portion circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the elongate opening; and
an electrical conductor electrically connected to the conductive intermediate portion.

17. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the distal tip is comprised of a material selected from a group consisting of a ceramic material, a polymer, a glass material, a carbon material, and any combinations thereof.

18. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the conductive intermediate portion is comprised of metal.

19. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the distal tip comprises a cutting edge.

20. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the distal tip comprises a beveled edge, and wherein the elongate opening comprises a chamfered edge.

21. The electrical ablation apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the chamfered edge comprises an external chamfer.

Assignees

• Long Gary L
• Plescia David N
• Bakos Gregory J
• Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc

Inventors

• Long Gary L
• Plescia David N
• Bakos Gregory J

Classifications

• A61B2018/00488

  Esophagus · CPC title

• A61B2018/00446

  Brain · CPC title

• A61B2017/0088

  ceramic · CPC title

• A61B2090/065

  for measuring contact or contact pressure · CPC title

• A61B2018/00535

  Biliary tract · CPC title