Tissue ablation probes and methods for treating osteoid osteomas
View Patent ↗A method of treating bone tissue (e.g., a tumor, such as an osteoid osteoma) is provided. The method comprises introducing an ablation probe into bone tissue, deploying at least one ablative element transversely from the probe into the bone tissue, and conveying ablation energy from the ablative element(s) to ablate the bone tissue. In one method, the ablative element(s) comprises a pair of ablative elements, in which case, the ablative elements are transversely deployed from the ablation probe in opposite directions. In another method, the ablative element(s) comprises a plurality of ablative elements, in which case, the ablative elements are transversely deployed outward from the ablation probe in a plane. The ablation energy conveyed from the ablative element(s) may have a non-spherical profile, e.g., an elongated profile, to match a non-spherical profile of the bone tissue to be treated.
1. A method of treating bone tissue, comprising:
introducing an ablation probe into bone tissue, wherein the ablation probe comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion;
distally advancing the ablation probe distal portion relative to the ablation probe proximal portion, thereby exposing an opening between the ablation probe distal portion and the ablation probe proximal portion;
deploying at least one ablative element transversely from the ablation probe opening into the bone tissue; and
conveying ablation energy from the at least one ablative element to ablate the bone tissue.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ablative element comprises a pair of ablative elements, and wherein the pair of ablative elements are transversely deployed from the ablation probe opening in opposite directions.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conveyed ablation energy has a non-spherical profile.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conveyed ablation energy has an elongated profile.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ablative element comprises a distal tip, and the at least one ablative element is deployed into the bone tissue by advancing the distal tip through the bone tissue.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bone tissue is a tumor.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the tumor is an osteoid osteoma.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the probe is percutaneously introduced into the bone tissue.
9. A method of treating bone tissue, comprising:
introducing a probe into bone tissue, wherein the probe comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion;
distally advancing the probe distal portion relative to the probe proximal portion, thereby exposing an opening between the probe distal portion and the probe proximal portion;
deploying at least one electrode transversely from the probe opening into the bone tissue; and
conveying radio frequency (RF) energy from the at least one electrode into the bone tissue.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises a pair of electrodes, and wherein the pair of electrodes are transversely deployed from the probe opening in opposite directions.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the conveyed RF energy results in the ablation of the bone tissue.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the conveyed RF energy has a non-spherical profile.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the conveyed RF energy has an elongated profile.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one electrode comprises a distal tip, and the at least one electrode is deployed into the bone tissue by advancing the distal tip through the bone tissue.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the bone tissue is a tumor.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tumor is an osteoid osteoma.
17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the probe is percutaneously introduced into the bone tissue.