Ablation probe with distal inverted electrode array
View Patent ↗An ablation device includes a cannula having a distal end and a lumen, an array of electrodes deployable from within the lumen, each of the electrodes having a first configuration when inside the lumen, and a second configuration when unconfined outside the lumen, the electrodes having respective distal ends that point at least partially towards a distal direction when deployed, and an operative electrode secured to the distal end of the cannula. In one embodiment, the operative electrode has a shape that is different from the array of electrodes. In another embodiment, the operative electrode is not retractable within the lumen.
1. An ablation device, comprising:
a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen;
an array of electrodes deployable from within the lumen, each of the electrodes having a first configuration when confined inside the lumen, and a second configuration when unconfined outside the lumen, the electrodes having respective distal ends that point towards a proximal direction relative to the distal end of the cannula when in the first configuration, and at least partially towards a distal direction relative to the proximal end of the cannula when in the second configuration; and
tissue contacting operative electrode secured to the distal end of the cannula, the operative electrode having a shape that is different from the array of electrodes.
2. The ablation device of claim 1 , wherein the cannula comprises a body and a plurality of openings on the body, the openings sized for allowing the respective electrodes in the array to be deployed therethrough.
3. The ablation device of claim 1 , wherein the operative electrode and the array of electrodes operate in a bipolar configuration.
4. The ablation device of claim 1 , wherein the operative electrode and the array of electrodes operate in a monopolar configuration.
5. The ablation device of claim 1 , wherein each of the electrodes in the array has a deployed profile that resembles at least a portion of a parabola.
6. The ablation device of claim 1 , wherein the operative electrode has a tubular shape.
7. The ablation device of claim 1 , wherein one of the electrodes in the array is configured to exit from within the lumen at a point along the cannula, and the operative electrode is located distal to the point.
8. The ablation device of claim 1 , wherein the operative electrode comprises a sharp distal tip.
9. The ablation device of claim 1 , wherein the deployed electrodes have respective distal portions that are arranged in a circumferential configuration to at least partially define a space between the distal portions, and the operative electrode is located at least partially within the space.
10. The ablation device of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes, as they are deployed, are configured to extend proximally from within the lumen and then evert distally.
11. The ablation device of claim 1 , wherein the electrode array is a distal-most electrode array deployable from within the lumen.
12. The ablation device of claim 1 , wherein the electrode array is the only electrode array deployable from the cannula.
13. An ablation device, comprising:
a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen;
an array of electrodes deployable from within the lumen, each of the electrodes having a first configuration when confined inside the lumen, and a second configuration when unconfined outside the lumen, the electrodes having respective distal ends that point towards a proximal direction relative to the distal end of the cannula when in the first configuration, and at least partially towards a distal direction relative to the proximal end of the cannula when in the second configuration; and
a tissue contacting operative electrode secured to the distal end of the cannula, the operative electrode not retractable within the lumen.
14. The ablation device of claim 13 , wherein the cannula comprises a body and a plurality of openings on the body, the openings sized for allowing the respective electrodes in the array to be deployed therethrough.
15. The ablation device of claim 13 , wherein the operative electrode and the array of electrodes operate in a bipolar configuration.
16. The ablation device of claim 13 , wherein the operative electrode and the array of electrodes operate in a monopolar configuration.
17. The ablation device of claim 13 , wherein each of the electrodes in the array has a deployed profile that resembles at least a portion of a parabola.
18. The ablation device of claim 13 , wherein the operative electrode has a tubular shape.
19. The ablation device of claim 13 , wherein one of the electrodes in the array is configured to exit from within the lumen at a point along the cannula, and the operative electrode is located distal to the point.
20. The ablation device of claim 13 , wherein the operative electrode comprises a sharp distal tip.
21. The ablation device of claim 13 , wherein the deployed electrodes have respective distal portions that are arranged in a circumferential configuration to at least partially define a space between the distal portions, and the operative electrode is located at least partially within the space.
22. The ablation device of claim 13 , wherein the electrodes, as they are deployed, are configured to extend proximally from within the lumen and then evert distally.
23. The ablation device of claim 13 , wherein the electrode array is a distal-most electrode array deployable from within the lumen.
24. The ablation device of claim 13 , wherein the electrode array is the only electrode array deployable from the cannula.
25. An ablation device, comprising:
a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen; and
only one array of electrodes deployable from within the lumen, each of the electrodes having a first configuration when confined inside the lumen, and a second configuration when unconfined outside the lumen, the electrodes having respective distal ends that point towards a proximal direction relative to the distal end of the cannula when in the first configuration, and at least partially towards a distal direction relative to the proximal end of the cannula when in the second configuration.
26. The ablation device of claim 25 , wherein each of the electrodes in the array has an elongated shape.
27. The ablation device of claim 25 , further comprising an operative electrode secured to the distal end of the cannula.
28. The ablation device of claim 25 , wherein the electrodes, as they are deployed, are configured to extend proximally from within the lumen and then evert distally.
29. The ablation device of claim 25 , wherein the electrode array is a distal-most electrode array deployable from within the lumen.
30. The ablation device of claim 25 , wherein the cannula comprises a body and a plurality of openings on the body, the openings sized for allowing the respective electrodes in the array to be deployed therethrough.
31. A method of ablating tissue, comprising:
deploying a distal-most array of electrodes from a cannula within a tissue region such that the array of electrodes span at least a portion of the tissue region, the electrodes having respective distal ends that point at least partially towards a proximal direction relative to a distal end of the cannula when not deployed, and points at least partially towards a distal direction relative to a proximal end of the cannula when deployed; and
delivering energy to the array of electrodes to ablate the tissue within the tissue region.
32. The method of claim 31 , wherein each of the electrodes in the array has a distal end that points at least partially towards a distal direction when the array is deployed.
33. The method of claim 31 , wherein the electrodes, when being deployed, extend proximally and then evert distally.
34. An ablation device, comprising:
a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen; and
a distal-most array of electrodes deployable from within the lumen, each of the electrodes having a first configuration when inside the lumen, and a second configuration when unconfined outside the lumen, the electrodes having respective distal ends that point towards a proximal direction relative to the distal end of the cannula when confined inside the lumen, and at least partially towards a distal direction relative to the proximal end of the cannula when unconfined outside the lumen.
35. The ablation device of claim 34 , wherein each of the electrodes in the array has an elongated shape.
36. The ablation device of claim 34 , further comprising an operative electrode secured to the distal end of the cannula.
37. The ablation device of claim 34 , wherein the electrodes, as they are deployed, are configured to extend proximally from within the lumen and then evert distally.
38. The ablation device of claim 34 , wherein the cannula comprises a body and a plurality of openings on the body, the openings sized for allowing the respective electrodes in the array to be deployed therethrough.