US6159207A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protected ablation method and apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1998-07-29
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Granted: 2000-12-12
•
Expires: 2018-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for protected ablation of anatomical tissue. A protective cap is disposed around tissue within an anatomical cavity by an endoscopic device or through open surgery techniques. The tissue can then be subject to ablation at high energy for a relatively long period of time, if necessary to ablate the tissue, without damaging surrounding organs or other tissue. The protective cap can be inserted endoscopically in a closed position in which it is compact radially and can be opened after being inserted into the body cavity to be placed around the tissue. The protective cap can be a thermal insulator, an electrical insulator, merely a physical pad to protect surrounding tissue, or of any desired characteristic for protection.
Inventors
- 👤 Inbae Yoon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:44
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B90/00; A61B90/04; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320068; A61B17/320092; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/02; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B17/42; A61B2017/4216; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/0225; A61B2090/0463; A61B2090/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A surgical tissue protection device comprising: an elongated body having a distal end adapted to insertion into an anatomical cavity and a proximal end adapted to manipulation from outside of the anatomical cavity; and a cupping element disposed on said distal end and being sized and adapted to substantially envelope anatomical tissue inside the anatomical cavity, the cupping element operative to move to and between a closed state and an opened state, wherein, in the closed state, the distal end of the elongated body is inserted into the anatomical cavity and, in the opened state, the cupping element in the anatomical cavity receives the anatomical tissue so that the cupping element can move towards the closed state to substantially envelope the anatomical tissue.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A surgical tissue protection device comprising: an elongated body having a distal end adapted to insertion into an anatomical cavity and a proximal end adapted to manipulation from outside of the anatomical cavity; and a cupping element disposed on said distal end and being sized and adapted to substantially envelope anatomical tissue inside the anatomical cavity, the cupping element operative to move to and between a closed state and an opened state, wherein, in the closed state, the distal end of the elongated body is inserted into the anatomical cavity and, in the opened state, the cupping element in the anatomical cavity receives the anatomical tissue so that the cupping element can move towards the closed state to substantially envelope the anatomical tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated body comprises a tubular inner member disposed at least partly inside a tubular outer member, said outer member being slidable with respect to said inner member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as recited in claim 2, wherein said protective cap is disposed on a distal end of said inner member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as recited in claim 3, wherein said protective cap comprises at least one protective member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said at least one protective members each comprise a cover disposed on at least one flexible arm extending from a distal end of said inner member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
A device as recited in claim 5, further comprising: means for causing relative sliding movement of said outer member with respect to said inner member, movement of said outer member distally over said inner member causing said flexible arms to move toward a central longitudinal axis of said device to permit said protective members to move between an open position, wherein said insulating members extend beyond radial dimensions of said outer member, and a closed position wherein said insulating members are contained essentially within the radial dimensions of said outer member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as recited in claim 6, wherein said protective members are spoon shaped when in the open position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said protective cap comprises at least one protective member, said at least one protective members each comprise a cover disposed on at least one flexible arm extending from a distal end of said elongated body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising: at least one operating channel defined in said inner member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a surgical instrument movably disposed in an operating channel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising energy transmission elements disposed on said protective cap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising energy sensors disposed on said protective cap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
194 words
A surgical tissue protection device comprising: an elongated body having a distal end adapted to insertion into an anatomical cavity and a proximal end adapted to manipulation from outside of the anatomical cavity, said elongated body comprising a tubular inner member disposed at least partly in a tubular outer member, said outer member being slidable with respect to said inner member; a plurality of protective members disposed on said distal end and being adapted to substantially cover anatomical tissue inside the anatomical cavity, each of said protective members comprising a protective cover disposed on at least one flexible arm extending from a distal end of said inner member; and means for causing relative sliding movement of said outer member with respect to said inner member, movement of said outer member distally over said inner member causing said at least one flexible arm to move toward a central longitudinal axis of said device to permit said protective members to move between an open position, wherein said protective members extend beyond radial dimensions of said outer member, and a closed position, wherein said insulating members are contained essentially within the radial dimensions of said outer member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
194 words
A surgical tissue protection device comprising: an elongated body having a distal end adapted to insertion into an anatomical cavity and a proximal end adapted to manipulation from outside of the anatomical cavity, said elongated body comprising a tubular inner member disposed at least partly in a tubular outer member, said outer member being slidable with respect to said inner member; a plurality of protective members disposed on said distal end and being adapted to substantially cover anatomical tissue inside the anatomical cavity, each of said protective members comprising a protective cover disposed on at least one flexible arm extending from a distal end of said inner member; and means for causing relative sliding movement of said outer member with respect to said inner member, movement of said outer member distally over said inner member causing said at least one flexible arm to move toward a central longitudinal axis of said device to permit said protective members to move between an open position, wherein said protective members extend beyond radial dimensions of said outer member, and a closed position, wherein said insulating members are contained essentially within the radial dimensions of said outer member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as recited in claim 13, wherein said protective members are spoon shaped when in the open position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as recited in claim 13, further comprising: at least one operating channel defined in said inner member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as recited in claim 13, further comprising: a surgical instrument movably disposed in an operating channel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as recited in claim 13, further comprising energy transmission elements disposed on said protective member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as recited in claim 13, further comprising energy sensors disposed on said protective member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
131 words
A surgical ablation device comprising: means for transmitting ablation energy to or from anatomical tissue; an elongated body having a distal end adapted to insertion into an anatomical cavity and a proximal end adapted to manipulation from outside the anatomical cavity; and a cupping element disposed on said distal end and being sized and adapted to substantially envelope a surface of the anatomical tissue, the cupping element operative to move to and between a closed state and an opened state, wherein, in the closed state, the distal end of the elongated body is inserted into the anatomical cavity and, in the opened state, the cupping element in the anatomical cavity receives the anatomical tissue so that the cupping element can move towards the closed state to substantially envelope the anatomical tissue.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
131 words
A surgical ablation device comprising: means for transmitting ablation energy to or from anatomical tissue; an elongated body having a distal end adapted to insertion into an anatomical cavity and a proximal end adapted to manipulation from outside the anatomical cavity; and a cupping element disposed on said distal end and being sized and adapted to substantially envelope a surface of the anatomical tissue, the cupping element operative to move to and between a closed state and an opened state, wherein, in the closed state, the distal end of the elongated body is inserted into the anatomical cavity and, in the opened state, the cupping element in the anatomical cavity receives the anatomical tissue so that the cupping element can move towards the closed state to substantially envelope the anatomical tissue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as recited in claim 19, wherein said elongated body comprises a tubular inner member disposed at least partly inside a tubular outer member, said outer member being slidable with respect to said inner member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as recited in claim 20, wherein said protective cap comprises at least one protective member, each of said protective members comprising a cover disposed on at least one flexible arm extending from a distal end of said inner member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
91 words
A device as recited in claim 21, further comprising: means for causing relative sliding movement of said outer member with respect to said inner member, movement of said outer member distally over said inner member causing said flexible arms to move toward a central longitudinal axis of said device to permit said protective members to move between an open position, wherein said protective members extend beyond radial dimensions of said outer member, and a closed position wherein said protective members are contained essentially within the radial dimensions of said outer member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as recited in claim 22, wherein said protective members are spoon shaped when in the open position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as recited in claim 19, further comprising: at least one operating channel defined in said inner member.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as recited in claim 19, further comprising: a surgical instrument movably disposed in an operating channel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as recited in claim 19, wherein said protective cap is a thermal insulator and the ablation energy is in the form of heat transmitted to the tissue.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as recited in claim 19, wherein said protective cap is a thermal insulator and the ablation energy is transmitted from the tissue to lower the temperature of the tissue.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as recited in claim 19, wherein said protective cap is an electromagnetic insulator and a thermal insulator and the ablation energy is electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as recited in claim 19, wherein said means for transmitting comprises transmission elements disposed on said protective cap.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
91 words
A protective device for internal anatomical tissue disposed within an anatomical cavity comprising: at least one cupping element adapted to be disposed around the internal anatomical tissue, the cupping element operative to move to and between a closed state and an opened state, wherein, in the closed state, the cupping element can be inserted into the anatomical cavity and, in the opened state, the cupping element in the anatomical cavity receives the anatomical tissue so that the cupping element can move towards the closed state to substantially envelope the anatomical tissue.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
91 words
A protective device for internal anatomical tissue disposed within an anatomical cavity comprising: at least one cupping element adapted to be disposed around the internal anatomical tissue, the cupping element operative to move to and between a closed state and an opened state, wherein, in the closed state, the cupping element can be inserted into the anatomical cavity and, in the opened state, the cupping element in the anatomical cavity receives the anatomical tissue so that the cupping element can move towards the closed state to substantially envelope the anatomical tissue.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-12 | 2004-06-12 | 2004-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-12 | 2008-06-12 | 2008-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-12 | 2012-06-12 | 2012-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |