Surgical probe for supporting inflatable therapeutic devices in contact with tissue in or around body orifices and within tumors

1. A surgical probe, comprising:

a relatively short, relatively stiff shaft defining a distal portion and a proximal portion;

an electrical conductor defining a conductor diameter extending through the shaft;

an inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element associated with the distal portion of the shaft that allows substantially no liquid perfusion therethrough, at least a portion of the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element being microporous; and

an electrode, which defines an electrode diameter that is substantially larger than the conductor diameter, located within the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element and operably connected to the electrical conductor.

2. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the relatively short shaft is malleable.

3. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the proximal portion of the relatively short shaft is stiffer than the distal portion of the relatively short shaft.

4. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element includes a distally facing energy transmission region.

5. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the energy transmission region is annularly shaped.

6. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the energy transmission region surrounds a non-conductive region.

7. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element includes a proximally facing non-conductive region.

8. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element includes an energy transmission region and a non-conductive region and at least one of the energy transmission region and the non-conductive region define a color that visually distinguishes it from the other of the energy transmission region and the non-conductive region.

9. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element is mounted on the distal portion of the shaft.

10. A surgical probe, comprising:

a relatively short, relatively stiff shaft defining a distal portion, a distal end and a proximal portion;

an inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element associated with the distal portion of the shaft that allows substantially no liquid perfusion therethrough; and

a needle slidably mounted within the shaft and movable relative to the shaft such that a distal portion of the needle extends outwardly from the distal end of the shaft, the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element being mounted on the distal portion of the needle.

11. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the needle comprises a plurality of needles and the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element comprises a plurality of inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation elements respectively mounted on the plurality of needles.

12. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the distal portion of the needle defines a preset curvature.

13. A surgical probe system, comprising:

a surgical probe including a relatively short, relatively stiff shaft defining a distal portion and a proximal portion, an electrical conductor defining a conductor diameter extending through the shaft, an inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element associated with the distal portion of the shaft that allows substantially no liquid perfusion therethrough, at least a portion of the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element being microporous, and an electrode, which defines an electrode diameter that is substantially larger than the conductor diameter, located within the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element and operably connected to the electrical conductor; and

a fluid source operably connected to the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element and adapted to maintain pressure within the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element at a predetermined level.

14. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the relatively short shaft is malleable.

15. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element includes a distally facing energy transmission region.

16. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the distally facing energy transmission region is annularly shaped.

17. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein distally shaped energy transmission region surrounds a non-conductive region.

18. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising a pressure sensor adapted to determine the pressure within the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element.

19. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the pressure sensor is associated with the fluid source.

20. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the fluid source comprises a pump.

21. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the fluid source continuously infuses fluid to and receives ventilated fluid from the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element.

22. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the fluid source is operably connected to the inflatable lesion formation element by an infusion lumen and a ventilation lumen.

23. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element is mounted on the distal portion of the shaft.

24. A surgical probe system, comprising:

a surgical probe including a relatively short, relatively stiff shaft defining a distal portion, a distal end and a proximal portion and an inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element associated with the distal portion of the shaft that allows substantially no liquid perfusion therethrough;

a fluid source operably connected to the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element and adapted to maintain pressure within the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element at a predetermined level; and

a needle slidably mounted within the shaft and movable relative to the shaft such that a distal portion of the needle extends outwardly from the distal end of the shaft, the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element being mounted on the distal portion of the needle.

25. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the needle comprises a plurality of needles and the inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element comprises a plurality of inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation elements respectively mounted on the plurality of needles.

26. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the distal portion of the needle defines a preset curvature.

27. A surgical probe, comprising:

a hollow needle; and

a therapeutic assembly, located within the hollow needle and movable relative thereto, including a relatively short shaft defining a distal portion and a proximal portion, an inflatable, energy transmitting therapeutic element associated with the distal portion of the shaft and a hollow stylet movable relative to the relatively short shaft, the relatively short shaft being located within the stylet.

28. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 27 , wherein the hollow needle defines a preset curvature.

29. A surgical probe as claimed in claim 27 , wherein the inflatable, energy transmitting therapeutic element comprises an inflatable, energy transmitting lesion formation element.

30. A surgical probe system, comprising:

a surgical probe including

a relatively short shaft defining a distal portion and a proximal portion,

an inflatable therapeutic element associated with the distal portion of the shaft, defining an internal fluid storage volume and having at least a portion thereof formed from a porous material that permits ionic transfer when the pores are filled with electrically conductive fluid,

an electrode located within the internal fluid storage volume,

an infusion lumen that extends proximally from the inflatable therapeutic element, and

a ventilation lumen that extends proximally from the inflatable therapeutic element; and

an electrically conductive cooling fluid source operably connected to the surgical probe and adapted to maintain pressure within the inflatable therapeutic element at a predetermined level and to continuously infuse electrically conductive cooling fluid to the internal fluid storage volume by way of the infusion lumen and draw cooling fluid from the internal fluid storage volume by way of the ventilation lumen during a tissue heating procedure.

31. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the electrically conductive cooling fluid source cools the inflatable therapeutic element such that heat is only generated within tissue by virtue of the passage of current therethrough.

32. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the inflatable therapeutic element comprises an inflatable lesion formation element.

33. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the inflatable therapeutic element is configured to allow substantially no liquid perfusion therethrough.

34. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the relatively short shaft is malleable.

35. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 30 , wherein at least a portion of the inflatable therapeutic element comprises micropores.

36. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 30 , further comprising a pressure sensor adapted to determine the pressure within the inflatable therapeutic element.

37. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 36 , wherein the pressure sensor is associated with the electrically conductive cooling fluid source.

38. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the electrically conductive cooling fluid source comprises a pump.

39. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the electrode defines an electrode diameter, the surgical probe system further comprising:

an electrical conductor, defining a conductor diameter that is substantial less than the electrode diameter, extending through the shaft and operably connected to the electrode.

40. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the electrically conductive cooling fluid source is adapted to continuously infuse and ventilate at least one of hypertonic saline cooling fluid and hypertonic potassium chloride cooling fluid.

41. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 30 , wherein the electrically conductive cooling fluid source is adapted to continuously infuse and ventilate electrically conductive cooling fluid with an electrical resistivity of about 5 ohm-cm.

42. A surgical probe system, comprising:

a relatively short, relatively stiff shaft defining a distal portion and a proximal portion;

an electrode carried on the distal portion of the shaft;

means, associated with the distal portion of the shaft, for inflating and transmitting current from the electrode to tissue at a level sufficient to cause the formation of lesions without substantial liquid perfusion; and

means for continuously infusing and ventilating electrically conductive cooling fluid to and from a volume within the means for inflating and transmitting current.

43. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 42 , wherein the relatively short shaft is malleable.

44. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 43 , wherein the proximal portion of the relatively short shaft is stiffer than the distal portion of the relatively short shaft.

45. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 42 , wherein the means for inflating and transmitting current from the electrode to tissue at a level sufficient to cause the formation of lesions without substantially liquid perfusion is mounted on the distal portion of the shaft.

46. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 42 , wherein the electrode defines an electrode diameter, the surgical probe system further comprising:

an electrical conductor, defining a conductor diameter that is substantial less than the electrode diameter, extending through the shaft and operably connected to the electrode.

47. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 42 , wherein the means for continuously infusing and ventilating comprises means for continuously infusing and ventilating at least one of hypertonic saline cooling fluid and hypertonic potassium chloride cooling fluid to and from a volume within the means for inflating and transmitting current.

48. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 42 , wherein the means for continuously infusing and ventilating comprises means for continuously infusing and ventilating electrically conductive cooling fluid with an electrical resistivity of about 5 ohm-cm to and from a volume within the means for inflating and transmitting current.

49. A surgical probe system, comprising:

a surgical probe including a relatively short shaft defining a distal portion and a proximal portion and an inflatable lesion formation element associated with the distal portion of the shaft and adapted to form lesions in tissue; and

an electrically conductive cooling fluid source operably connected to the inflatable lesion formation element and adapted to maintain pressure within the inflatable lesion formation element at a predetermined level and to continuously infuse and ventilate electrically conductive cooling fluid to and from a volume within the inflatable lesion formation element during a lesion formation procedure;

wherein at least some of the continuous ventilation of the cooling fluid occurs in a manner other than perfusion through the inflatable lesion formation element.

50. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 49 , wherein the electrically conductive cooling fluid source cools the inflatable lesion formation element such that heat is only generated within tissue by virtue of the passage of current therethrough.

51. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 49 , wherein the inflatable lesion formation element is configured to allow substantially no liquid perfusion therethrough.

52. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 49 , wherein the relatively short shaft is malleable.

53. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 49 , wherein at least a portion of the inflatable lesion formation element comprises micropores.

54. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 49 , further comprising a pressure sensor adapted to determine the pressure within the inflatable lesion formation element.

55. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 54 , wherein the pressure sensor is associated with the electrically conductive cooling fluid source.

56. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 49 , wherein the electrically conductive cooling fluid source comprises a pump.

57. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 49 , further comprising:

an electrode defining an electrode diameter carried by the shaft and located within the inflatable lesion formation element;

an electrical conductor, defining a conductor diameter that is substantial less than the electrode diameter, extending through the shaft and operably connected to the electrode.

58. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 49 , wherein the electrically conductive cooling fluid source is adapted to continuously infuse and ventilate at least one of hypertonic saline cooling fluid and hypertonic potassium chloride cooling fluid.

59. A surgical probe system as claimed in claim 49 , wherein the electrically conductive cooling fluid source is adapted to continuously infuse and ventilate electrically conductive cooling fluid with an electrical resistivity of about 5 ohm-cm.