Methods and apparatuses for tissue treatment

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application are devices for localized delivery of energy and methods of using such devices, particularly for therapeutic treatment of biological tissues. The disclosed devices may contain one or more energy delivery members. The disclosed methods may involve positioning and deploying the energy delivery members in a target site, and delivering energy through the energy delivery members.

1 . A method of treatment, comprising:
 providing a radio-frequency energy delivery member configured for tissue insertion;   inserting the delivery member into a tissue;   forming a tract in the tissue by the delivery member; and   moving the delivery member along the formed tissue tract while ablating the formed tissue tract with radio-frequency energy that is delivered by the delivery member.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue comprises living malignant cells, and the ablated tissue tract is substantially free of living malignant cells. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery member further comprises one or more deployable delivery members therein. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery member comprises a fixed insulative member. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery member comprises a movable insulative member. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery member is an introducer. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the delivery member comprises a conductive distal portion through which the ablative radio-frequency energy is delivered to the tissue tract. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a radio-frequency energy delivery member configured for insertion into a tissue to form a tract therein;   a radio-frequency power source coupled to the delivery member; and   a logic resource coupled to the power source and to the delivery member, the logic resource comprising an algorithm or software configured for enabling the delivery of radio-frequency energy from the power source to the delivery member for ablation of the tissue tract.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the delivery member further comprises one or more deployable delivery members therein. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the delivery member comprises a fixed insulative member. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the delivery member comprises a movable insulative member. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the delivery member is an introducer. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the delivery member comprises a conductive distal portion for the delivery of the ablative radio-frequency energy to the tissue tract. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus, comprising a delivery member configured for insertion into a tissue to form a tract therein, wherein the delivery member comprises:
 an electrically conductive area for the delivery of thermal ablative energy to the tissue tract,   an outer impedance sensor, and   an inner impedance sensing member positionable within the delivery member, wherein the outer sensor and the inner sensing member are configured for bipolar measurement of localized impedance of a tissue volume adjacent to the inner sensing member.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the delivery member is deployable. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the delivery member comprises an insulative member disposed adjacent to a distal portion that comprises the electrically conductive area. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus, comprising a delivery member configured for insertion into a tissue to form a tract therein, wherein the delivery member comprises:
 one or more electrically conductive areas for delivery of electroporation ablation therapy to the tissue, wherein at least one of the conductive areas is also for the delivery of thermal ablative energy to the tissue tract   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus comprises multiple delivery devices, each comprises at least one delivery member and at least one electrically conductive area disposed on the at least one delivery member. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus comprises multiple electrically conductive areas disposed on multiple delivery members that are parallel to each other and electrically isolated from each other. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the apparatus comprises multiple electrically conductive areas disposed on the delivery member and electrically isolated from each other.