(12) United States Patent
Edwards et al.
(io) Patent No.: US 6,632,222 Bl (45) Date of Patent: *Oct. 14,2003
(54) TISSUE ABLATION APPARATUS
(75) Inventors: Stuart D. Edwards, Los Altos, CA
(US); James Baker, Palo Alto, CA
(US); Hugh Sharkey, Redwood Shores,
CA (US); Ronald G. Lax, Grass Valley,
CA (US)
(73) Assignee: Rita Medical Systems, Inc., Mountain
View, CA (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35
U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
claimer.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/512,985
(22) Filed: Feb. 24, 2000
Related U.S. Application Data
(63) Continuation of application No. 09/383,166, filed on Aug. 25, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,471,698, which is a continuation of application No. 08/802,195, filed on Feb. 14, 1997, now Pat. No. 6,071,280, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/515,379, filed on Aug. 15,1995, now Pat. No. 5,683,384, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/290,031, filed on Aug. 12,1994, now Pat. No. 5,536,267, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/148, 438, filed on Nov. 8, 1993, now Pat. No. 5,458,597, application No. 09/512,985, which is a continuation of application No. 09/364,203, filed on Jul. 30, 1999, now Pat. No. 5,466,177, which is a continuation of application No. 08/623,652, filed on Mar. 29,1996, now Pat. No. 5,935,123, which is a division of application No. 08/295,166, filed on Aug. 24, 1994, now Pat. No. 5,599,345, which is a continuation-in-part of application No. 08/148,439, filed on Nov. 8, 1993, now Pat. No. 5,458,597.
(51) Int. Cl.7 A61B 18/18
(52) U.S. Cl 606/41; 607/101; 607/102
(58) Field of Search 606/41, 42, 45-50;
607/101-105
A tissue ablation apparatus comprises a first elongated delivery device including a lumen and an obturator with a tissue piercing distal end. The obturator is positionable in the lumen of the first elongated delivery device. A second elongated delivery device is positionable in the lumen of the first elongated delivery device. An energy delivery device is positionable in the second elongated delivery device. The energy delivery device includes at least a first and a second RF electrode each with a tissue piercing distal portion. The first and second RF electrodes are positionable in the second elongated delivery device in a compacted state and deployable from the second elongated delivery device with curvature in a deployed state. The first and second RF electrodes exhibit a changing direction of travel when advanced from the second elongated delivery device to a selected tissue site. At least one infusion port is coupled to one of the first elongated delivery device, the second elongated delivery device, the energy delivery device, the first RF electrode or the second RF electrode. An electrode advancement member is coupled to the first and second RF electrodes. The advancement member is configured to advance the RF electrode out of the elongated delivery device.
53 Claims, 31 Drawing Sheets
