Device for treating the ligamentum flavum by radio frequency
A device for treating ligamentum flavum by radio frequency includes a hand grip and a cannula fixed at its proximal end to the hand grip extending longitudinally from the hand grip to an opposed distal end of the cannula configured to reach the ligamentum flavum. At least one electrode is electrically connectable to a radio frequency generator. The device also includes an actuating device of the electrode provided in the hand grip for moving the electrode. The actuating device includes a slider along a sliding guide having a first and a second sliding portion placed in succession. The first portion is shaped to allow an axial translation of the slider along the guide to generate a translation of the electrode in the cannula. The second portion is configured to allow rotational translation of the slider along the guide to generate a corresponding rotational translation of the electrode outside the cannula.
1. A device for treating a ligamentum flavum, of a patient, by radio frequency, the device comprising:
a hand grip having a body configured to be held by an operator,
a cannula fixed at a proximal end thereof to said hand grip and extending longitudinally from said hand grip to an opposed distal end of the cannula, said cannula being arranged for reaching said ligamentum flavum;
at least one electrode which is electrically connectable to a radio frequency generator and is slidably housed in said cannula;
said cannula being provided with a hole to allow said electrode to emerge from said cannula;
an actuating device of said electrode being provided in said hand grip for moving said electrode, said actuating device comprises:
a slider slidable along a sliding guide, said slider actuable along said sliding guide to slide said electrode into along a longitudinal axis in said cannula;
a cavity defined on the body at the sliding guide configured to direct the sliding of the slider, said cavity having a first sliding portion and a second sliding portion coaxial therewith defining two sliding portions for the slider, said first portion being shaped so as to allow an axial translation of said slider along said guide to generate a consequent translation of said electrode in said cannula, and said second portion being configured so as to allow a radial translation of said slider, independent of said handgrip, along said guide so as to generate a corresponding radial translation of said electrode outside and independent of said cannula.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said second portion has such an extension as to allow a rotation of said slider through an angle in a range from about 90° to about 180°, or between 90°-270°.
3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said hole is provided on an outer wall of said cannula at a distance from a distal end thereof and is shaped to allow passage therethrough of said electrode.
4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said electrode has a diameter in the range from 0.4 mm to 1.3 mm, and is made of stainless steel.
5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said electrode is provided at an end portion thereof with a treatment tip configured to interact with a tissue to be treated, having a spherical shape.
6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein said electrode comprises an electrified wire, positioned inside said electrode and made of a deformable material designed to impart a desired angulation to said end portion.
7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein said electrified wire is made of: a nickel/titanium-based metal alloy, a super-elastic nickel/titanium metal alloy having shape memory, or stainless steel.
8. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a sheath slidably housed in said cannula and being internally hollow, so that it can slidably house said electrode, the sheath being made of insulating material, selected from the group consisting of: polyamide, polypropylene, PVC, and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).
9. The device according to claim 8 , further comprising an additional actuating device for moving said sheath in said cannula independently of said electrode.
10. The device according to claim 1 , comprising a reinforcing sheath housed in said cannula coaxially thereto and arranged so as to reinforce a distal portion of said cannula.
11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein said reinforcing sheath comprises a tubular body in which said electrode is slidably housed, and a reinforcing appendix which is curved or inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of said cannula extending from the tubular body and configured to reinforce said electrode and to direct movement thereof.
12. An endoscopic treatment apparatus comprising a handle configured to be grasped by an operator; a catheter fixed at a first proximal end thereof to said handle and configured to be inserted into an endoscopic channel, said catheter being internally hollow and provided with a pair of longitudinal channels parallel to a longitudinal axis X′ thereof; control members operatively connected to said catheter and configured to move said catheter; a plurality of connecting elements configured to connect said treatment apparatus to at least one endoscopic treatment device; and at least one connecting channel to connect each connecting element to at least one of said longitudinal channels to enable said treatment to be carried out, wherein said at least one endoscopic treatment device comprises:
a hand grip having a body configured to be held by an operator,
a cannula fixed at a proximal end thereof to said hand grip and extending longitudinally from said hand grip to an opposed distal end of the cannula, said cannula being arranged for reaching said ligamentum flavum;
at least one electrode which is electrically connectable to a radio frequency generator and is slidably housed in said cannula;
said cannula being provided with a hole to allow said electrode to emerge from said cannula;
a actuating device of said electrode being provided in said hand grip for moving said electrode, said actuating device comprises a slider slidable along a sliding guide, for being actuated by an operator so as to be moved along said sliding guide to slide said electrode along a longitudinal axis in said cannula,
a cavity defined on the body at the sliding guide configured to direct the sliding of the slider, said cavity having a first sliding portion and a second sliding portion coaxial therewith defining two sliding portions for the slider, said first portion being shaped so as to allow an axial translation of said slider along said guide to generate a consequent translation of said electrode in said cannula, and said second portion being configured so as to allow a radial translation of said slider, independent of said hand grip along said guide so as to generate a corresponding radial translation of said electrode outside and independent of said cannula.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising a viewing element slidably housed in the other longitudinal channel.
14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said viewing element is a flexible optical fiber.