Electrode device for blocking or controlling the body's nerves.

Description

1 / 18 Electrode device for blocking or controlling the body's nerves. TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] This disclosure relates to an electrode device for blocking or controlling nerves in the body. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[002] Denervation is a surgical procedure intended to control an abnormally overactive autonomic nervous system by damaging specific nerves. For example, renal denervation can treat hypertension and heart disease by damaging the renal sympathetic nerves directed to the kidney, and pulmonary denervation can treat lung disease by damaging the parasympathetic nerves directed to the lung.

[003] When the surgical procedure is performed as described above, it is important to accurately transmit the electrical impulses required for the surgical procedure to the nerves that are the target of the procedure. Specifically, to effectively denervate or modulate nerves in a tube within a body, it is important to accurately transfer the RF energy required for the surgical procedure, depending on the state of the tube with distributed nerves (e.g., tube temperature, etc.).

[004] Figure 1 illustrates a process for processing a temperature value signal from a tube in the body measured by an electrode apparatus according to the state of the art.

[005] With regard to figure 1, the tube-body temperature data measured by a thermocouple 11 in an electrode apparatus 10 are processed in an RF power generator 20 via a cable 30.

[006] For example, an analog signal measured by electrode apparatus 10 is transmitted to RF power generator 20 via cable 30, and RF power generator 20 converts the received analog signal into a digital signal. In addition, RF power generator 20 emits RF energy to the apparatus. Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 14 / 43 2 / 18 of electrode 10 based on the converted digital signal.

[007] In this case, while the analog signal measured by the electrode apparatus 10 is transmitted to the RF power generator 20 via cable 30, it may be exposed to noise 40 in cable 30 and the accuracy of the measured analog signal, i.e., the measured temperature, may be reduced. In particular, the electrode apparatus 10 measures the temperature of the tube in the body, which is a target of the procedure, via the thermocouple 11, and is quite affected even by a small amount of noise 40, since the voltage difference generated in the thermocouple 11 is as low as a few μV per 1°C. Description of the Invention Problems to be solved by the invention

[008] The present disclosure is designed to provide an electrode apparatus that measures the temperature of a procedural target and accurately transmits the measured temperature to an RF power generator, and thus the RF power generator accurately emits the RF energy required for denervation.

[009] Furthermore, the present disclosure is designed to provide an electrode apparatus capable of accurately transmitting information about the temperature of a procedure target measured by a thermocouple to an RF power generator.

[010] Furthermore, the present disclosure is designed to provide an electrode apparatus that is enhanced to reduce an error in the measurement signals between the electrode apparatus and an RF power generator connected to each other via a cable.

[011] The problems to be solved by this disclosure are not limited to the problems described above. There may be other problems to be solved by this disclosure. Ways to solve the problems

[012] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 15 / 43 3 / 18 An electrode apparatus for blocking or controlling nerves in a body includes: a main body including a rod; an electrode unit formed to be extracted from one end of the rod and configured to denervate or modulate at least a portion of the nerves in a tube in the body; an electrode guide including a plurality of hinged junction units and a wire connecting the plurality of hinged junction units to each other and configured to guide the electrode unit; a sensor unit formed on a predetermined portion of the electrode unit and configured to measure a temperature of the tube in the body; and a signal processor configured to convert an analog signal value measured by the sensor unit into a digital signal value and transmit the converted digital signal value to an RF power generator.

[013] The electrode unit may include: a base layer; a plurality of electrode layers arranged on the base layer; and a top layer arranged to overlap a portion of the electrode layers with the plurality of electrode layers interposed between them.

[014] The sensor unit may be a thermocouple composed of a first metal and a second metal, and the thermocouple may include a cold junction disposed in the base layer.

[015] The aspects described above are provided for illustrative purposes only and should not be interpreted as limiting the present disclosure. In addition to the embodiments described above, there may be additional embodiments described in the accompanying drawings and in the detailed description. Effects of the Invention

[016] An electrode apparatus, according to the present disclosure, can accurately transmit information about the temperature of a procedural target, measured by a thermocouple, to an RF power generator. Thus, it is possible to reduce the error in the measurement signals between the electrode apparatus and the Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 16 / 43 4 / 18 RF power generators connected to each other via a cable, and it is also possible to perform a surgical procedure with precision. Brief Description of the Drawings

[017] Figure 1 illustrates a process for processing a temperature value signal from a tube in the body, measured by an electrode apparatus according to the state of the art.

[018] Figure 2 is a side view of an electrode apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[019] Figure 3 illustrates a state in which an electrode guide illustrated in Figure 2 guides and positions an electrode unit to encircle a blood vessel.

[020] Figure 4 is a plan view of a part of the electrode unit illustrated in Figure 2.

[021] Figure 5 illustrates a signal processor housed within a main body illustrated in Figure 2.

[022] Figures 6A and 6B illustrate a sensor unit of an electrode unit in an area A illustrated in figure 5.

[023] Figure 7 illustrates components arranged within an axis in an area A illustrated in Figure 3.

[024] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a part of an articulated joining unit illustrated in Figure 3.

[025] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a drive unit located within the main body illustrated in Figure 2.

[026] Figures 10A to 10C illustrate an electrode guide operating process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Best Mode of Implementing the Invention

[027] The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that they can be easily implemented by someone skilled in the art to whom the present invention pertains. However, it should be noted that Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, p. 17 / 43 5 / 18 This disclosure is not limited to the illustrative forms shown and may be implemented in a variety of other ways. In the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted to explain this disclosure, and similar reference numbers indicate similar parts throughout the document.

[028] Throughout the document, the term “connected to” or “coupled to,” used to designate a connection or coupling of one element to another, includes both the case where an element is “directly connected or coupled to another element” and the case where an element is “electronically connected or coupled to another element by means of another element.” Furthermore, it should be understood that the term “comprises or includes” and / or “comprising or including” used in the document means that one or more other components, steps, operations, and / or existence or addition of elements are not excluded, in addition to the components, steps, operations, and / or elements described, unless the context indicates otherwise, and is not intended to exclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or be added.Throughout the document, the term "where" is used to designate the position of one element relative to another element, including both the case where one element is adjacent to the other element and the case where any other element exists between those two elements.

[029] Figure 2 is a side view of an electrode apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment in which an electrode guide 130 illustrated in Figure 2 guides and locates an electrode unit 120 to encircle a blood vessel. Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of the electrode unit illustrated in Figure 2, and Figure 5 illustrates a signal processor disposed within a main body illustrated in Figure 2. Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 18 / 43 6 / 18

[030] With respect to figure 2, the electrode apparatus 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a main body 110, an electrode unit 120 and an electrode guide 130. The main body 110 may include a shaft 111 extending in one direction, a gripping portion 112 connected to the shaft 111 so as to be gripped by an operator, a guide handling unit 113 formed on the gripping portion 112 so as to handle an operation of the electrode guide 130 and an electrode handling unit 114 formed on the gripping portion 112 so as to handle the energy transfer to the electrode unit 120. The components for actuating and controlling the electrode unit 120 and the electrode guide 130 may be located within the main body 110.

[031] The electrode unit 120 is designed to be extracted from one end of the rod 111 and configured to denervate or modulate at least a portion of the nerves distributed in a tissue, including a tube in the body, depending on the operator's manipulation. The electrode unit 120 is housed within the rod 111 and, when the electrode apparatus 100 of the present description operates, the electrode unit 120 can be extracted by means of the electrode guide 130, which will be described later.

[032] With regard to figure 3, electrode guide 130 functions to place electrode unit 120 in contact with the tube in the body. Electrode guide 130 supports electrode unit 120 and guides electrode unit 120 so that it comes into contact with the tube in the body.

[033] The electrode guide 130 of the present description includes a plurality of hinged junction units 131. The plurality of hinged junction units 131 forms a curved winding path to enclose the circumference of a tube V in the body with the electrode unit 120 interposed between them. The state illustrated in Figure 3 and Figure 10C may be a state in which the plurality of hinged junction units 131 is Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 19 / 43 7 / 18 fully extended and positioned along the curved winding path.

[034] With regard to figures 3 and 4, the electrode unit 120 may include a base layer 121, an electrode layer 122 and a top layer 124. In the electrode apparatus 100 of the present description, an electrode encloses an outer surface of the tube or V-shaped tube-shaped tissue in the body and energy can be transferred through the electrode. For this purpose, the base layer 121 may be formed as a flexible printed circuit board (PCB).

[035] The electrode layer 122 is formed on the base layer 121 and can be composed of two electrodes that extend parallel to each other on the base layer 121 in the embodiment illustrated in figure 3. According to the present embodiment, the base layer 121 and the electrode layer 122 can be configured to extend and enclose the tube on the body or similar in a circumferential direction.

[036] The 122 electrode layer can be made of a material, such as stainless steel or gold, that is harmless to the human body and conducts electricity well, in order to block, denervate, control, or modulate nerves. In addition, the 122 electrode layer can transfer various types of energy from a power source generator. For example, the energy can include radio frequency (RF) energy, electrical energy, laser energy, ultrasonic energy, high-intensity focused ultrasound energy, cryogenic energy, and other thermal energies.

[037] Furthermore, the 122 electrode layer can be implemented as a flexible PCB to transfer RF energy, a transducer to transfer ultrasonic energy, or a metal electrode to transfer high voltage energy and therefore can transfer energy to damage nerves.

[038] In addition, the electrode unit 120 may include the base layer 121, the electrode layer 122 arranged in the layer Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 20 / 43 8 / 18 of base layer 121 and top layer 124 arranged to overlap a portion of electrode layer 122 with electrode layer 122 interposed between base layer 121 and top layer 124. A through hole 120a may be formed in top layer 124.

[039] In addition, electrode unit 120 may include a sensor unit 123. The sensor unit 123 is formed in a predetermined portion of electrode unit 120 and configured to measure the temperature of the tube in the body. When neurotomy is performed with electrode apparatus 100, according to the present disclosure, the sensor unit 123 may monitor the temperature of a treatment site.

[040] The sensor unit 123 may be a thermocouple that measures temperature by contact with the tube on the body or similar. For example, the sensor unit 123 may be a thermocouple formed in the base layer 121 and may include a first metal 123a and a second metal 123b. For example, the first metal 123a may be copper and the second metal 123b may be a constant.

[041] With regard to figure 5, the sensor unit 123 is a thermocouple composed of first metal 123a and second metal 123b, and includes a cold junction (CJ) 125 and a hot junction (HJ) 127. In general, the thermocouple generates an electromotive force, i.e., thermoelectromotive force, by connecting two types of metals 123a and 123b with different joint temperatures and allows a current to flow.

[042] Here, the thermocouple includes points where the first metal 123a transitions and is connected to the second metal 123b, and these points are called the cold hinged junction 125 and the hot junction 127. The sensor unit 123, i.e., the thermocouple, according to the embodiment illustrated in figure 5, can be arranged in the base layer 121 and can constitute a cold junction.

[043] Figure 6A and Figure 6B illustrate a sensor unit of an electrode unit in an area A illustrated in Figure 5. Referring to Figure 6A, a signal processor 150 can Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 21 / 43 9 / 18 insert a temperature sensor 126 into CJ 125. That is, referring to figure 6B, the signal processor 150 can locate the temperature sensor 126 in a portion where the first metal 123a begins and the second metal 123b ends to reduce an error in the temperature measurement through the thermocouple.

[044] Therefore, the sensor unit can be arranged in the electrode unit to increase the accuracy in measuring the temperature at the cold junction and improve the accuracy of the temperature measured by the thermocouple.

[045] Meanwhile, referring again to figure 5, the electrode apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure can directly process a signal of a tube-in-body temperature measured by the sensor unit 123 within the main body 110. The electrode apparatus 100 includes the signal processor 150 within the main body 110 and can therefore directly process information about the measured tube-in-body temperature.

[046] According to the state of the art, the tube temperature signal measured by the electrode apparatus 100 is transmitted to an RF power generator 200 via a cable 300 and converted into temperature data in the RF power generator 200, which may cause a decrease in the accuracy of the tube temperature information. For example, while an analog signal measured by the sensor unit 123 of the electrode apparatus 100 is transmitted to the RF power generator 200 via cable 300, it may be exposed to noise 400 in cable 300. Thus, the accuracy of the measured temperature value, i.e., the tube temperature value in the body, may be reduced.

[047] Therefore, the electrode apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure includes the signal processor 150 within the main body 110, and the signal processor 150 directly processes a temperature signal from a tube measured by the sensor unit 123 and then transmits the signal to the generator. Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 22 / 43 10 / 18 RF power 200. Thus, it is possible to remove noise 400 in the cable 300 and improve the accuracy of a surgical procedure.

[048] In the embodiment illustrated in figure 5, the electrode apparatus 100 includes the signal processor 150 within the main body 110. For example, the electrode apparatus 100 includes a gripping portion to be grasped by an operator, namely the signal processor 150 disposed within the main body 110, and thus can convert an analog signal measured by the sensor unit 123 of the electrode unit 120 into temperature data.

[049] The signal processor 150 can convert an analog signal value measured by the sensor unit 123 into a digital signal value. The signal processor 150 can transmit the converted digital signal value to the RF power generator 200. Thus, the electrode apparatus 100, according to the present disclosure, can transmit the digital signal value converted by the signal processor 150 to the RF power generator 200 and thus suppress signal distortion or loss.

[050] Figure 7 illustrates components arranged within an axis in an area A illustrated in Figure 3, and Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a part of a hinged joining unit illustrated in Figure 3. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a drive unit arranged within the main body illustrated in Figure 2, and Figures 10A to 10C illustrate an electrode guide operating process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[051] With respect to figures 7 and 8, a wire 133 can be formed to sequentially penetrate the plurality of hinged joint units 131. Each hinged joint unit 131 may include a wire hole 131c in a longitudinal direction to allow penetration of the wire 133. The end of the wire 133 that sequentially penetrates the wire holes 131c can be coupled and fixed to a butt joint 132, and the wire 133 can slide relative to each hinged joint unit 131 in Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 23 / 43 11 / 18 wire hole 131c in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, wire 133 can guide the plurality of articulated joint units 131 and the butt joint 132 to be arranged along the winding path and provide a tensile force of the plurality of articulated joint units 131 and the butt joint 132 in a direction that is around the V-tube.

[052] Wire 133 can operate to project from one end of shaft 111 along with the plurality of articulated joint units 131. Here, wire 133 can be projected to project in a smaller quantity than the articulated joint units 131. Thus, wire 133 can provide a pulling force to the plurality of articulated joint units 131 along a curved path.

[053] With regard to figure 8, each articulated joint unit 131 may include hinge units 131a and winding support units 131b. The hinge units 131a are configured for rotary connection to adjacent joints and may be formed on one or both sides of the articulated joint unit 131 in the longitudinal direction in which the articulated joint units 131 are connected parallel to each other. As illustrated in figure 8, the hinge unit 131a may have an axis of rotation in a direction that crosses the longitudinal direction so as to be connected to the hinge unit 131a of the adjacent articulated joint unit 131. A hinge pin (not shown) may be inserted and secured in each articulated joint unit 131a in the direction of the axis of rotation.

[054] Winding support units 131b are configured to support a plurality of articulated joint units 131 in the winding path and can be formed on one or both sides of the articulated joint unit 131 in the longitudinal direction to support the adjacent articulated joint unit 131. As illustrated in Figure 8, the winding support unit 131b can be located adjacent to Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 24 / 43 12 / 18 hinge unit 131a in an inward direction toward the electrode guide 130 (in a winding direction of the hinged union unit 131). For example, the winding support unit 131b can be formed as a surface with a predetermined angle and area and supported by the adjacent winding support unit 131b in surface contact with each other, and thus a wound shape of the electrode guide 130 can be maintained. The winding support unit 131b and the wire hole 131c can be formed at spaced locations from a center of rotation of the hinge unit 131a in an inward direction toward the V-tube in the body.

[055] When wire 133 is pulled back relative to electrode guide 130 (when a length of wire 133 pulled out of shaft 111 is less than that of the hinged joint units 131), a tensile force can be applied to wire 133 in a winding direction of the electrode guide 130. Conversely, the winding support units 131b can provide a supporting force of the hinged joint units 131 to each other in a winding suppression direction of the electrode guide 130. Since wire 133 and the winding support units 131b form a balanced force in opposite directions, the electrode guide 130 can be fixed in the winding path.

[056] Meanwhile, as illustrated in figure 8, the electrode guide 130 may include a first group of articulated junctions 131x and a second group of articulated junctions 131y. That is, the plurality of articulated junction units 131 may be divided into the first group of articulated junctions 131x and the second group of articulated junctions 131y with different lengths.

[057] Due to a difference in length, the first group of articulated joints 131x can form a first radius of curvature and the second group of articulated joints 131y can Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 25 / 43 13 / 18 forming a second radius of curvature larger than the first radius of curvature. As can be seen in Figure 10C, the hinged joint units (the first group of hinged joints 131x) with a relatively small length can form a smaller radius of curvature, and the hinged joint units (the second group of hinged joints 131y) with a relatively large length can form a larger radius of curvature.

[058] When the hinged joint units 131 located close to the butt joint 132 form a path with a smaller radius of curvature, a path along which the butt joint 132 enters a space between the tube in the body and the shaft 111 can be formed, as shown in figure 10C. Furthermore, the electrode guide 130, including the hinged joint units 131, can have a general spiral shape.

[059] With regard to figure 9, a drive unit 140 may include a frame 141, a motor unit 142, a rod block 143, a wire block 144 and a variable connection unit 145. The drive unit 140 drives the articulated connection unit 131 and the wire 133 of the electrode guide 130 to project from one end of the shaft and drives the articulated connection unit 131 together with the wire 133 to have different displacements.

[060] That is, the drive unit 140 can control the articulated joint units 131 and the wire 133 to increase the displacement difference between them, so that the electrode guide 130 is in a coiled state to wrap around the circumference of the tube V in the body. In addition, the drive unit 140 can control the articulated joint units 131 and the wire 133 to decrease the displacement difference between them, so that the electrode guide 130 is in a straight state.

[061] For example, wire 133 can be projected from one end of shaft 111 in a smaller amount (length). Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 26 / 43 14 / 18 than the articulated joining units 131 by means of the drive unit 140. The articulated joining units 131 can be pulled in one direction (in the direction to be wound around the tube in the body) by means of the wire 133, provided there is a difference in the amount of projection, and can be projected while forming a curved winding path. More specifically, whenever the articulated joining units 131 project and rotate at a winding angle (e.g., 30°) formed by the winding support units 131b, the wire 133 can project by a relatively small amount.

[062] As illustrated in figure 9, the frame 141 can be fixed inside the main body and can include a guide groove or guide shaft that extends forward and backward. The motor unit 142 can be connected to the frame 141 and can include a rotation shaft 142a, rotatably supported by the frame 141. For example, the motor unit 142 can receive electrical power to rotate the rotation shaft 142a.

[063] One end of the rod block 143 can be connected to the articulated joint unit 131. The rod block 143 can be moved in forward and backward directions by means of the motor unit 142. Specifically, the rod block 143 can be moved in forward and backward directions in engagement with the rotation shaft 142a, which extends in forward and backward directions and has a thread. The rod block 143 may include a rod 143a, which is located within the shaft 111 and extends in one direction (forward and backward directions) and supports the articulated joint units 131, and a corrugated component slidingly coupled to the guide groove or guide shaft of the frame 141.

[064] In addition to the rotation axis 142a and the motor unit 142 described above, the drive unit 140, according to the present disclosure, can be configured to move the rod block 143 in the forward and backward directions by means of Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 27 / 43 15 / 18 various linear actuation mechanisms. For example, the drive unit 140 may include a cylinder-type linear actuator, including a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric linear actuator, or a piezoelectric or ultrasonic linear actuator.

[065] The wire block 144 can be formed to support the wire 133 and moved in forward and backward directions together with the rod block 143. The wire block 144 can include a corrugated component slidingly inserted into the guide groove or guide shaft and a sliding hole 144a slidingly accommodating the rotation axis 142a, and can move in forward and backward directions parallel to the rod block 143.

[066] The variable connection unit 145 can connect the rod block 143 and the wire block 144 to each other and vary the distance between the rod block 143 and the wire block 144. For this purpose, the variable connection unit 145 can include a rod link 145a, a wire link 145b, a hinge pin 145c and a pin groove 145d.

[067] Furthermore, rod connection 145a and wire connection 145b can be rotatably connected to rod block 143 and wire block 144, respectively. Furthermore, rod connection 145a and wire connection 145b can be rotatably connected to each other by hinge pin 145c.

[068] The pin groove 145d is formed to slide to accommodate the hinge pin 145c. Specifically, the pin groove 145d is formed to extend at a predetermined angle of inclination with respect to the forward and backward directions. The pin groove 145d can be formed in the frame 141.

[069] According to the present disclosure, the plurality of articulated union units 131 can be removed from the shaft 111 by means of the drive unit 140 and wound in one direction to wrap around the tube V. Consequently, a space where the guide Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 28 / 43 The 16 / 18 electrode 130 operation can be minimized, and a nerve denervation or modulation operation can be performed safely and accurately in a confined space.

[070] Furthermore, since the wire 133 is driven together with the articulated joining units 131 to have different displacements by means of the drive unit 140, the electrode guide 130 of the electrode apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure can guarantee accuracy and repeatability in the operating path.

[071] With regard to figures 10A to 10C, the electrode guide 130 may further include the butt joint 132 and the wire 133. The butt joint 132 may support the electrode unit 120 and may be coupled to the end of the plurality of articulated joint units 131 connected sequentially to each other. The end joint 132 may be removed from one end of the shaft 111 before the plurality of articulated joint units 131.

[072] As illustrated in figure 10C, the butt joint 132 may be located close to tube V in the body and may have a conical shape that gradually decreases in width or thickness towards the end in order to suppress interference with the electrode unit 120 or maximize the surface area surrounding the tube in the body. The end of the electrode unit 120 may be fixed and secured to the butt joint 132.

[073] As illustrated in figures 10A to 10C, when the plurality of articulated union units 131 is sequentially pulled out, the plurality of articulated union units 131 can be sequentially pulled out and moved to one side and thus can be in the wound state to fully enclose the tube V. However, the electrode guide 130 is spaced from an outer circumferential surface of the tube V in the wound state and the electrode unit 120 located inside the wound electrode guide 130 can be in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the tube V. Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, page 29 / 43 17 / 18

[074] With regard to figure 10A and figure 10B, the electrode guide 130 is accommodated together with the electrode unit 120 within the shaft 111 and can project from one end in a forward direction F while forming a curved winding path for surgical procedure.

[075] With regard to figure 10C, the electrode guide 130 can be deformed in the wound state to wrap around the circumference of tube V in the body due to the greater difference in displacement between the hinged junction units 131 and the wire 133. Specifically, when the plurality of hinged junction units 131 is sequentially removed from the shaft 111, the plurality of hinged junction units 131 can move along the curved winding path due to a difference in the displacement of the wire 133 and therefore can wrap around tube V. Furthermore, the electrode guide 130 is spaced from an outer circumferential surface of tube V and the electrode unit 120 located inside the wound electrode guide 130 can be in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of tube V.

[076] Consequently, the space where the 130 electrode guide operates can be minimized, and a nerve denervation or modulation operation can be performed safely and accurately in a narrow space.

[077] The above description of the present disclosure is provided for illustrative purposes, and it would be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that various alterations and modifications can be made without altering the technical design and essential characteristics of the present disclosure. Thus, it is clear that the examples described above are illustrative in all respects and do not limit the present disclosure. For example, each component described as being of a single type can be implemented in a distributed manner; similarly, components described as being distributed can be implemented in a combined manner. Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, pp. 30 / 43 18 / 18

[078] The scope of this disclosure is defined by the following claims, rather than a detailed description of the embodiment, and it should be understood that all modifications and embodiments derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents are included within the scope of this disclosure. Petition 870250089901, dated 02 / 10 / 2025, pp. 31 / 43

Claims

1 / 3 CLAIMS 1. Electrode apparatus for blocking or controlling nerves in a body, characterized in that it comprises: a main body including a rod; an electrode unit formed to be extracted from one end of the rod and configured to denervate or modulate at least a portion of the nerves in a tube in the body; an electrode guide including a plurality of articulation units and a wire connecting the plurality of articulated junction units to each other and configured to guide the electrode unit; a sensor unit formed in a predetermined portion of the electrode unit and configured to measure the temperature of the tube in the body; and a signal processor configured to convert an analog signal value measured by the sensor unit into a digital signal value and transmit the converted digital signal value to an RF power generator.

2. Electrode apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrode unit includes: a base layer; a plurality of electrode layers arranged over the base layer; and a top layer arranged to overlap a portion of the electrode layers, with the electrode layers interposed between the base layer and the top layer.

3. Electrode apparatus, according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensor unit is a thermocouple composed of a first metal and a second metal, and the thermocouple includes a cold junction disposed in the base layer.

4. Electrode apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises: a drive unit which is disposed within the main body and configured to control the articulated joint units and the wire to increase the displacement difference between them so that the electrode guide is in a coiled state to wrap around the circumference of the tube in the body and to control the articulated joint units and the wire to decrease the displacement difference between them so that the electrode guide is in a straight state.

5. Electrode apparatus, according to claim 4, characterized in that the drive unit includes: a rod block whose end is connected to the articulated joining unit and which is moved in the forward and backward directions; a wire block that is configured to support the wire and moved in the forward and backward directions; and a variable connection unit that is configured to connect the rod block and the wire block to each other and vary the distance between the rod block and the wire block.

6. Electrode apparatus, according to claim 4, characterized in that the drive unit includes: a motor unit; a rod block comprising a rod whose end is connected to the articulated joining unit and is moved in the forward and backward directions by means of the motor unit; and a wire block which is configured to support the wire and moved in the forward and backward directions parallel to the rod block, and the distance between the wire block and the rod block increases when the rod block moves in the forward direction and the distance between the wire block and the rod block decreases when the rod block moves in the backward direction.

7. Electrode apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized in that the wire is projected from one end of the shaft with a displacement smaller than the articulated joint units and provides a traction force of the articulated joint units in a direction to be wrapped around the tube.

8. Electrode apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized in that each hinged junction unit includes: a hinge unit that is formed on one or both sides of the hinged junction unit in a longitudinal direction to be connected to an adjacent hinged junction unit; and a wire hole that is formed to allow the insertion of the wire at a location away from the center of rotation of the hinge unit.

9. Electrode apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of articulated joining units is made of an elastically deformable material and formed as a body, and a winding support groove, at least part of which is deformed to be closed by a wire force, is formed between adjacent articulated joining units of the electrode guide. Petition 870250089901, dated 10 / 02 / 2025, pp. 34 / 43

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