Methods and apparatus for coagulating and/or constricting hollow anatomical structures
View Patent ↗An energy delivering probe is used for thermally coagulating and/or constricting hollow anatomical structures (HAS) including, but not limited to, blood vessels such as perforator veins. The probe includes a shaft and at least two electrodes where at least one of the electrodes has a generally spherical or toroidal geometry.
1. An electrode probe comprising:
a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
an electrode disposed near the distal end of the shaft and having a proximal region and a distal region, the electrode having a generally spherical or toroidal outer surface in the proximal region, and a linear taper in the distal region;
an electrical connector near the proximal end of the shaft for connecting the electrode to an electrosurgical power supply; and
a trocar having a sharpened distal end disposed in the central lumen such that the sharpened end extends distally beyond the shaft.
2. The electrode probe of claim 1 , wherein the electrode is a first electrode, and further comprising a second electrode disposed near the distal end of the shaft and spaced axially from the first electrode.
3. The electrode probe of claim 2 , wherein the second electrode is proximal of the first electrode.
4. The electrode probe of claim 2 , wherein the second electrode has a generally spherical or toroidal outer surface.
5. The electrode probe of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the electrodes comprises a proximal extension which conducts electrical energy to an exposed electrode surface.
6. The electrode probe of claim 2 , wherein the second electrode has a larger radial profile than the first electrode.
7. The electrode probe of claim 1 , wherein the trocar has an axial lumen.
8. The electrode probe of claim 1 , wherein the trocar is removably received in the central lumen.
9. The electrode probe of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the shaft and the trocar is rigid.
10. The electrode probe of claim 1 , wherein the shaft is flexible.
11. The electrode probe of claim 10 , further comprising a rigid cannula slidably disposed over a portion of the length of the flexible shaft.
12. The electrode probe of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor disposed near the distal end of the shaft.
13. An electrode probe comprising:
a shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
a distal electrode disposed near the distal end of the shaft and having a proximal region and a distal region, the distal electrode having a generally spherical or toroidal outer surface in the proximal region, and a linear taper in the distal region;
a proximal electrode spaced axially from the distal electrode; and
a trocar having a sharpened distal end disposed in the central lumen such that the sharpened end extends distally beyond the shaft.
14. The electrode probe of claim 13 , wherein the proximal electrode has a generally spherical or toroidal outer surface.
15. The electrode probe of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the electrodes comprises a proximal extension which conducts electrical energy to an exposed electrode surface.
16. The electrode probe of claim 13 , wherein the trocar has an axial lumen.
17. The electrode probe of claim 13 , wherein the trocar is removably received in the central lumen.
18. The electrode probe of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the shaft and the trocar is rigid.
19. The electrode probe of claim 13 , wherein the shaft is flexible.
20. The electrode probe of claim 19 , further comprising a rigid cannula slidably disposed over a portion of the length of the flexible shaft.
21. The electrode probe of claim 13 , further comprising a temperature sensor disposed near the distal end of the shaft.
22. The electrode probe of claim 13 , wherein the proximal electrode has a larger radial profile than the distal electrode.