Energy delivery systems and uses thereof
The present invention relates to comprehensive systems, devices and methods for delivering energy to tissue for a wide variety of applications, including medical procedures (e.g., tissue ablation, resection, cautery, vascular thrombosis, treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and dysrhythmias, electrosurgery, tissue harvest, etc.). In certain embodiments, systems, devices, and methods are provided for treating a tissue region (e.g., a tumor) through application of energy.
1. A method of ablating a tissue region using an ablation device, comprising:
a) providing an ablation device comprising
a proximal region, a central region and a distal region, the distal region comprising an antenna configured to delivery ablation energy,
at least one stick region positioned within said central region and/or the proximal region and configured to attain and maintain a temperature causing freezing of tissue to facilitate adhering of the tissue to the stick region in order to stabilize the ablation device in a desired position with respect to a tissue region during ablation, and
a seal positioned between the stick region and the distal region thereby preventing exposure of the stick region to the distal region,
b) positioning the ablation device in the vicinity of a tissue region,
c) adhering the ablation device to the tissue by reducing temperature of the stick region, and
d) delivering energy to the tissue region while the ablation device is adhered to the tissue.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue region comprises a tumor.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ablation device further comprises one or more coolant tubes or channels configured to deliver coolant to the stick region and/or the antenna.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises a coaxial transmission line.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises a tri-axial antenna transmission line.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal region and central region are separated by a plug region.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the plug region is configured to prevent cooling of the distal region resulting from cooling of the central region.