Fibroid ablation positioning device and methods

Abstract

A method of treating a patient with a bioelectrical system is provided. The method may include inserting a probe into a first position in an anatomy of the patient, the system being provided with a plurality of electrodes; energizing a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes with a measurement level of power; determining a complex impedance in the patient's anatomy; determining whether the first position is a desired position of the probe for ablating a predetermined portion of tissue of the patient, based on the complex impedance determined; and energizing one of the plurality of electrodes with an ablation level of power, the ablation level of power being greater than the measurement level of power. An apparatus for performing BIA on a patient is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a patient comprising:
 providing a bioelectrical system comprising a probe and a plurality of electrodes;   inserting the probe into a position in an anatomy of the patient;   energizing a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes with a measurement level of power;   determining a complex impedance in the anatomy;   determining whether the position is a desired position of the probe for ablating a predetermined portion of tissue in the anatomy, based on the complex impedance determined; and   energizing one of the plurality of electrodes with an ablation level of power when the probe is in the desired position.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one of the plurality of electrodes is provided as an ablation electrode, the method further comprising delivering a source ablation signal from the ablation electrode when the ablation electrode is energized, wherein the first electrode and the ablation electrode are provided as being coupled with the probe, and
 delivering a source measurement signal from the first electrode when the first electrode is energized, the source measurement signal being configured to pass through tissue and become a return measurement signal, the method further comprising receiving the return measurement signal through a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising delivering a source ablation signal, the source ablation signal being configured to pass through tissue and become an ablation return signal, the method further comprising receiving the ablation return signal through the second electrode of the plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising delivering a source ablation signal, the source ablation signal being configured to pass through tissue and become an ablation return measurement, the method further comprising receiving the ablation return signal through a third electrode of the plurality of electrodes. 
     
     
         5 . A method of treating a patient comprising:
 providing a bioelectrical system comprising a probe and a plurality of electrodes;   inserting the probe into a position in an anatomy of the patient;   energizing a first electrode and a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes with a measurement level of power, the first electrode being energized in opposite polarity with respect to the second electrode;   determining an impedance in the anatomy;   determining whether the position is a desired position of the probe for ablating a predetermined portion of tissue in the anatomy, based on the impedance determined; and   energizing two of the plurality of electrodes with an ablation level of power when the probe is in the desired position.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising energizing one of the two electrodes in opposite polarity with respect to the other of the two electrodes, the method further comprising providing the ablation level of power as greater than the measurement level of power, wherein the step of determining an impedance in the patient's anatomy includes determining a complex impedance,
 providing the two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes as being coupled with the probe, and   providing the one of the two electrodes as the first electrode and the other of the two electrodes as the second electrode.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising energizing one of the two electrodes in opposite polarity with respect to the other of the two electrodes, the method further comprising providing the ablation level of power as greater than the measurement level of power, wherein the step of determining an impedance in the patient's anatomy includes determining a complex impedance,
 providing the two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes as being coupled with the probe, and   providing the two of the plurality of electrodes as being a third electrode and a fourth electrode of the plurality of electrodes.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising providing the first electrode as being coupled with the probe, and
 delivering a source measurement signal from the first electrode when the first electrode is energized, the source measurement signal becoming a return measurement signal, the method further comprising receiving the return measurement signal through the second electrode.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising receiving an ablation return signal through the fourth electrode. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating a patient comprising:
 providing a bioelectrical system comprising a probe and a plurality of electrodes;   inserting a probe into a position in an anatomy of the patient;   energizing a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes with a measurement level of power;   measuring a bulk tissue property in the patient's anatomy;   determining whether the position is a desired position of the probe for ablating a predetermined portion of tissue in the anatomy, based on the bulk tissue property measured;   energizing one of the plurality of electrodes with an ablation level of power when the probe is in the desired position; and   providing a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the second electrode being provided as non-energized and grounded.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing the system as a monopolar system wherein the second electrode is provided on a measurement return device that is spaced a distance away from the probe and the first electrode as being coupled with the probe, the source ablation signal passing through tissue to the second electrode, the source ablation signal becoming an ablation return signal when the source ablation signal passes through tissue to the second electrode, the method further comprising receiving the ablation return signal through the second electrode. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing the system as a monopolar system wherein the second electrode is provided on a measurement return device that is spaced a distance away from the probe and the first electrode as being coupled with the probe, the source ablation signal passing through tissue to a third electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the source ablation signal becoming an ablation return signal when the source ablation signal passes through tissue to the third electrode, the method further comprising receiving the ablation return signal through the third electrode. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating a patient with a bioelectrical system, the method comprising:
 locating a target object in an anatomy of the patient by performing bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) on the anatomy of the patient, including determining a complex impedance in the patient's anatomy;   positioning a probe in a desired position for ablating the target object, based on the location of the target object determined by the step of locating the target object;   energizing an electrode to an ablation level sufficient to ablate the target object; and   providing the electrode as being coupled with the probe.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the electrode is provided as a first electrode, the method further comprising delivering a source ablation signal from the first electrode when the first electrode is energized with the ablation level of power, the method further comprising delivering a source measurement signal from the first electrode when first electrode is energized with the measurement level of power, the source measurement signal becoming a measurement return signal, the method further comprising receiving the measurement return signal through a second electrode. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising receiving an ablation return signal through the second electrode. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising receiving an ablation return signal through a third electrode. 
     
     
         17 . A monopolar sensing and ablation system for treating a patient, the system comprising:
 a probe configured to be inserted into an anatomy of the patient for ablation of bodily tissue in the anatomy;   a sensing circuit configured for determining a complex impedance in the anatomy, comprising a first electrode being an active electrode that is configured to be coupled with and energized by an electrode energy source, and a second electrode being configured to provide data based on a measurement signal; and   an ablation circuit configured to deliver a source ablation signal from the probe, the source ablation signal configured to become an ablation return signal, the ablation circuit being configured to receive the ablation return signal on a return device that is disposed a distance away from the probe.   
     
     
         18 . The monopolar sensing and ablation system of  claim 17 , wherein the first electrode is configured to deliver the source ablation signal, and the second electrode is configured to receive the ablation return signal. 
     
     
         19 . The monopolar sensing and ablation system of  claim 17 , wherein the first electrode is configured to deliver the source ablation signal, the ablation circuit comprising a third electrode that is configured to receive the ablation return signal. 
     
     
         20 . A method of treating a patient comprising:
 providing a bioelectrical system comprising a probe and a plurality of electrodes;   inserting the probe into a position in an anatomy of the patient;   energizing a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes with a measurement level of power, the first electrode being provided as coupled with the probe;   determining a complex impedance in the anatomy;   determining whether the position is a desired position of the probe for ablating a predetermined portion of tissue in the anatomy, based on the complex impedance determined;   energizing an ablation electrode of the plurality of electrodes with an ablation level of power when the probe is in the desired position;   delivering a source ablation signal from the ablation electrode when the ablation electrode is energized, wherein the ablation electrode is provided as being coupled with the probe, the source ablation signal becoming an ablation return signal;   delivering a source measurement signal from the first electrode when the first electrode is energized, the source measurement signal becoming a measurement return signal;   receiving the measurement return signal through a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the second electrode being provided on a measurement return device that is spaced a distance away from the probe; and   receiving the ablation return signal through a third electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the third electrode being provided on an ablation return device that is spaced a distance away from the probe.