Multi-modality ablation device

Abstract

An instrument for ablation of tissue. The instrument including: a body having at least one surface for contacting a tissue surface, the at least one surface being substantially planar; an ultrasonic transducer disposed in the body for generating ultrasonic energy and directing at least a portion of the ultrasonic energy to the tissue surface, the ultrasonic transducer being operatively connected to an ultrasonic generator; at least one radio-frequency electrode disposed on the at least one surface for directing radio frequency energy to the tissue surface, the at least one radio-frequency electrode being operatively connected to a power source; and one or more switches for selectively coupling at least one of the ultrasonic transducer to the ultrasonic generator and the at least one radio-frequency electrode to the power source.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to medical instrumentation, and more particularly, to a multi-modality ablation device. [0003] 2. Prior Art [0004] Ultrasonic and radio frequency instruments are well known in the medical arts. Such instrumentation may be used to make lesions in tissue, but are also used to cut and coagulate tissue and blood, respectively. Typically, ultrasonic instrumentation has an ultrasonic transducer at a working end of the instrument, while radio frequency instruments have one or more electrodes at a working end of the instrument. Each of the working ends is typically separated from a handle or other manipulation means by an elongated shaft. [0005] Instruments utilizing radio frequency energy perform well for single-sided ablation of thin tissue. However, this modality can only ablate thicker tissue at the expense of lesion width. Creating wider lesions with radio frequency energy may re...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] Accordingly, the devices and methods of the present invention utilize one or both ultrasound and radio frequency energy modalities to achieve an efficacious lesion with minimum activation time. Thus, ablation cycle time and adverse effects such as excessive peripheral thermal damage to tissue are minimized when the modalities are used together, when necessary.

Problems solved by technology

However, this modality can only ablate thicker tissue at the expense of lesion width.

Creating wider lesions with radio frequency energy may result in damage to critical peripheral tissue structures.

Beyond 6 mm in tissue depth, radio frequency energy may not achieve lesion transmurality.

However, for thin tissue, ultrasound may be ineffective as the ultrasound energy is focused in blood, not in the tissue.

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