US 12,268,441 B2
Electrosurgical apparatus and method of tissue ablation
Christopher Paul Hancock, Bath (GB); Patrick Burn, Chepstow (GB); Charlie Campion, Bristol (GB); and Louis Turner, Chepstow (GB)
Assigned to CREO MEDICAL LIMITED, Chepstow (GB)
Filed by CREO MEDICAL LIMITED, Monmouth (GB)
Filed on Dec. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/061,659.
Application 18/061,659 is a continuation of application No. 16/481,411, granted, now 11,547,478, previously published as PCT/EP2018/061316, filed on May 3, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 1707112 (GB), filed on May 4, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0099311 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 18/18 (2006.01); A61M 25/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/34 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/1815 (2013.01) [A61M 25/0084 (2013.01); A61B 2017/0034 (2013.01); A61B 17/3478 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00494 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00982 (2013.01); A61B 2018/1861 (2013.01); A61B 2218/002 (2013.01); A61B 2218/007 (2013.01); A61M 2025/0089 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrosurgical apparatus for treating a biological growth that contains a fluid-filled sac, the apparatus comprising:
an electrosurgical instrument for delivering microwave energy into biological tissue, the electrosurgical instrument comprising:
a coaxial cable for conveying microwave energy; and
a radiating tip portion disposed at a distal end of the coaxial cable to receive microwave energy from the coaxial cable; and
a fluid delivery mechanism for transporting fluid to and from a treatment zone located around the radiating tip portion,
wherein the fluid delivery mechanism comprises:
a flexible fluid conveying conduit that extends along the coaxial cable, and
a rigid insertion element in fluid communication with a distal end of the fluid conveying conduit and arranged to extend into the treatment zone,
wherein the fluid delivery mechanism is arranged:
to aspirate fluid from the treatment zone, and
to inject a substance into the treatment zone to replace the aspirated fluid, and
wherein the substance has dielectric properties selected to facilitate uniform delivery of treatment energy to biological tissue in the treatment zone, and
wherein the coaxial cable comprises an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a first dielectric material separating the inner conductor and outer conductor, and wherein the inner conductor is hollow to provide a passageway for the fluid delivery mechanism.