TISSUE ABLATION PROBES AND METHODS FOR TREATING OSTEOID OSTEOMAS
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 - 25 . (canceled)
26 . A method of treating bone tissue, comprising:
introducing an ablation probe into bone tissue;
deploying a plurality of ablative elements in a plane transversely from the ablation probe into the bone tissue; and
conveying ablation energy from the at least one ablative element to ablate the bone tissue.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of ablative elements are symmetrically arranged about the plane.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein there are four ablative elements separated from one another by 90°.
29 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the conveyed ablation energy has a non-spherical profile.
30 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the conveyed ablation energy has an elongated profile.
31 . The method of claim 26 , 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.
32 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the bone tissue is a tumor.
33 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the tumor is an osteoid osteoma.
34 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the probe is percutaneously introduced into the bone tissue.
35 . A method of treating bone tissue, comprising:
introducing an ablation probe into bone tissue;
deploying at least one ablative element from the ablation probe into the bone tissue, wherein the deployment comprises bowing the at least one ablative element transversely outward from the ablation probe; and
conveying ablation energy from the at least one ablative element to ablate the bone tissue.
36 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the at least one ablative element comprises a tissue cutting edge that cuts through the bone tissue as the at least one ablative element is radially bowed outward from the ablation probe.
37 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the bone tissue is a tumor.
39 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the tumor is an osteoid osteoma.
40 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the probe is percutaneously introduced into the bone tissue.
41 . The method of claim 35 , wherein the at least one ablative element is deployed incrementally, and ablation energy is conveyed from the at least one ablative element between incremental deployments of the at least one ablative element.
42 . A method of treating bone tissue, comprising:
introducing a probe into bone tissue;
deploying a plurality of electrodes from the probe into the bone tissue, wherein the deployment comprises bowing the at least one ablative element transversely outward from the ablation probe; and
conveying radio frequency (RF) energy from the plurality of electrodes into the bone tissue.
43 . The method of claim 42 , therein the RF energy conveyed by the plurality of electrodes is conveyed in a monopolar configuration.
44 . The method of claim 42 , therein the RF energy conveyed by the plurality of electrodes is conveyed in a bipolar configuration.
45 . The method of claim 42 , further comprising adjusting the length of one or more of the plurality of electrodes.
46 . The method of claim 42 , wherein the conveyed RF energy has a non-spherical profile.
47 . The method of claim 42 , wherein the conveyed RF energy has an elongated profile.