Ion Eluting TUNA Device

Abstract

Delivery elements, including needle electrodes and sheaths of tissue ablation devices, containing a conductivity-enhancing agent are discussed. The delivery elements contain a body member and optionally one or more coating layers. The conductivity-enhancing agent is disposed on or in the body member and/or at least one of the one or more coating layers. The conductivity-enhancing agent is capable of eluting from the delivery element when the delivery element is contacted with bodily tissue or fluid and increases conductivity of the tissue, making tissue ablation more efficient.

1 . A needle electrode, comprising: 
 an electrically conductive body member having an exterior surface; and    a conductivity-enhancing agent disposed on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the body member,    wherein the conductivity-enhancing agent is capable of being released into a body tissue when the needle electrode is in contact with the body tissue.    
   
   
       2 . The needle electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the body member comprises a metal or metal alloy.  
   
   
       3 . The needle electrode of  claim 2 , wherein the metal alloy is a nickel-titanium alloy.  
   
   
       4 . The needle electrode of  claim 3 , wherein the nickel-titanium alloy is Nitinol.  
   
   
       5 . The needle electrode of  claim 2 , wherein the external surface of the body member is treated by a process selected from the group consisting of ionization, heating, photochemical activation, oxidizing acids, sintering, etching with strong organic solvents, physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The needle electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the conductivity-enhancing agent is a salt.  
   
   
       7 . The needle electrode of  claim 6 , wherein the salt comprises sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium.  
   
   
       8 . The needle electrode of  claim 6 , wherein the salt comprises chloride, sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, or carbonate.  
   
   
       9 . The needle electrode of  claim 8 , wherein the salt comprises sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium.  
   
   
       10 . The needle electrode of  claim 6 , wherein the salt is selected from the group consisting of NaCl, CaCl 2 , MgCl 3 , KMgCl 3 , Na 2 SO 3 , CaSO 4 , MgSO 4 , Na 2 HPO 4 , Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 , Mg 3 (PO 4 ) 2 , NaHCO 3 , CaCO 3 , MgCO 3 , NaNO 3 , NaNO 2 , KCl, KNO 3 , KNO 2 , and CaMgCO 3 .  
   
   
       11 . The needle electrode of  claim 1 , further comprising a coating layer disposed on at least a portion of the body member.  
   
   
       12 . The needle electrode of  claim 11 , wherein the coating layer comprises a second conductivity-enhancing agent capable of being released into a body tissue when the needle electrode is in contact with the body tissue.  
   
   
       13 . The needle electrode of  claim 12 , wherein the second conductivity conductivity-enhancing agent and the conductivity-enhancing agent disposed on the body member are the same.  
   
   
       14 . The needle electrode of  claim 12 , wherein the second conductivity-enhancing agent comprises between about 0.1% and about 50% by weight of the coating layer.  
   
   
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