Apparatus and method for shielding tissue during tumor ablation
US6802839B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 3, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2090/0436
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides methods, systems, and kits for protecting body tissues which are adjacent to tissues undergoing thermal treatment. The methods, systems, and kits are useful for thermally ablating tumors which lie at or near the surface of an organ, such as the kidney, pancreas, stomach, spleen, and particularly the liver. In radiofrequency and electrosurgical treatment, electrodes may penetrate and heat may dissipate into surrounding tissues and into tissue adjacent to the target organ, thus causing unwanted tissue damage. These risks and others may be lessened or avoided with the use of an interface shield between the target region and adjacent body tissues to shield surrounding organs and tissue from treatment effects.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.