Cavity Ablation Apparatus and Method

Abstract

Ablation devices and associated methods are provided for use in ablating the margin of a cavity such as a surgical or body cavity. The ablation apparatus includes an integral or connected elongate probe and an elongate sleeve. Suction can be applied with a vacuum source operably connected to the proximal end region of the sleeve, whereby tissue of the surgical cavity is drawn against the surface of the sleeve. The probe includes one or more electrodes disposed at the probe's distal end region, for ablating tissue when the electrode(s) are activated to create an ablated margin of tissue at least partially surrounding the surgical cavity.

1 . A method for electrically ablating tissue, comprising:
 positioning a probe near a tissue to be ablated;   applying suction at a surface region of the positioned probe to draw at least a portion of the tissue to be ablated into contact with the surface region of the probe; and   applying electrical energy through electrodes positioned near the surface region of the probe to electrically ablate the tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a distal portion of the probe includes an opening; and   the step of applying suction includes applying suction through the opening to draw the tissue inside the opening for ablation.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 discontinuing the suction;   repositioning the probe; and   applying electrical energy through the electrodes to electrically ablate a new ablation area defined by the repositioned probe.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting fluid into the body cavity prior to applying electrical energy to the tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning a probe includes positioning the probe near cancerous tissue to be ablated. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sensing the temperature of the tissue to be ablated through a temperature sensor positioned on the probe. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning includes positioning the probe inside a blood vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the step of positioning includes positioning the probe inside a blood vessel until the probe is positioned near an aneurysm in the blood vessel; and   the step of applying suction applies suction to draw the blood vessel having the aneurysm into contact with the probe surface region;   the method further comprising:
 sensing the temperature within the blood vessel; and 
 controlling power applied to the electrodes based on the sensed temperature. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising, prior to the step of applying electrical energy, using a sealing member positioned distally of the electrodes to seal the blood vessel. 
     
     
         10 . A method for electrically ablating tissue, comprising:
 inserting an elongate probe into an opening of a body cavity;   advancing the elongate probe into the body cavity until the probe is positioned near a tissue to be ablated;   applying suction at a surface region of the advanced probe within the body cavity to draw at least a portion of the tissue to be ablated into contact with the surface region of the probe; and   applying electrical energy through electrodes positioned near the surface region of the probe to electrically ablate the tissue.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the elongate probe includes a radially extending sealing member;   the step of applying suction includes applying suction while the sealing member is covering the body cavity opening; and   the step of applying electrical energy includes applying electrical energy while suction is being applied to the surface region of the probe.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the elongate probe includes an axially slidable radially extending sealing member;   the method further comprises sliding the sealing member to cover the body cavity opening; and   the step of applying suction includes applying suction while the sealing member is covering the body cavity opening.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 a distal portion of the probe includes an opening; and   the step of applying suction includes applying suction through the opening to draw the tissue inside the probe for ablation.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 a distal portion of the probe includes a nozzle; and   the step of applying suction includes applying suction through the nozzle to draw the tissue inside the nozzle for ablation.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising deploying electrodes into the tissue prior to applying electrical energy. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of deploying includes deploying the electrodes independently of each other. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 discontinuing the suction;   repositioning the elongate probe within the cavity; and   applying electrical energy through the electrodes to electrically ablate a new ablation area defined by the repositioned probe.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of applying electrical energy includes applying electrical current that alternates the poles. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising inserting fluid into the body cavity prior to applying electrical energy to the tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising ejecting ablative fluid into the body cavity prior to applying electrical energy to the tissue. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of inserting an elongate probe includes inserting an elongate probe into an esophagus for treating an esophageal cancer. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of inserting an elongate probe includes inserting an elongate probe into a tumor having a necrotic core. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of inserting an elongate probe includes inserting an elongate probe into a colon. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising sensing the temperature within the body cavity through a temperature sensor positioned on the probe. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the suction is applied through at least one opening in the probe wherein the opening is covered by a tissue filter to prevent clogging of the opening with the tissue.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of advancing includes advancing the elongate probe into a blood vessel until the probe is positioned near a tissue to be ablated within the blood vessel. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the step of advancing includes advancing the elongate probe into a blood vessel until the probe is positioned near an aneurysm in the blood vessel; and   the step of applying suction applies suction to draw the blood vessel having the aneurysm into contact with the probe surface region.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of applying electrical energy includes applying radio frequency or microwave energy to the tissue to collapse the aneurysm in the blood vessel. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 sensing the temperature within the blood vessel; and   controlling power applied to the electrodes based on the sensed temperature.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising, prior to the step of applying electrical energy, using a second sealing member positioned distally of the electrodes to seal the blood vessel. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the step of inserting includes inserting a probe having a stent to be deployed into the blood vessel. 
     
     
         32 . A method for electrically ablating tissue, comprising:
 inserting an elongate probe into an opening of a body cavity, the elongate probe including a radially extending sealing member;   advancing the elongate probe into the body cavity until the probe is positioned near a tissue to be ablated;   applying suction at a surface region of the advanced probe within the body cavity while the sealing member is covering the body cavity opening, thereby drawing at least a portion of the tissue to be ablated into contact with the surface region of the probe; and   applying electrical current through electrodes positioned near the surface region of the probe to electrically ablate the tissue.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein:
 a distal portion of the probe includes an opening; and   the step of applying suction includes applying suction through the opening to draw the tissue inside the probe for ablation.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 discontinuing the suction;   repositioning the elongate probe within the cavity; and   applying electrical energy through the electrodes to electrically ablate a new ablation area defined by the repositioned probe.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising ejecting ablative fluid into the body cavity prior to applying electrical energy to the tissue. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising sensing the temperature within the body cavity through a temperature sensor positioned on the probe. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of advancing includes advancing the elongate probe into a blood vessel until the probe is positioned near a tissue to be ablated within the blood vessel. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the step of advancing includes advancing the elongate probe into a blood vessel until the probe is positioned near an aneurysm in the blood vessel; and   the step of applying suction applies suction to draw the blood vessel having the aneurysm into contact with the probe surface region;   the method further comprising:
 sensing the temperature within the blood vessel; and 
 controlling power applied to the electrodes based on the sensed temperature. 
   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising, prior to the step of applying electrical energy, using a second sealing member positioned distally of the electrodes to seal the blood vessel.