Medical instruments and techniques for thermally-mediated therapies

(54) MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS AND TECHNIQUES FOR

THERMALLY-MEDIATED THERAPIES

(75) Inventor: John H. Shadduck, Tiburon, CA (US)

(73) Assignee: Tsunami MedTech, Berkeley, CA (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 388 days.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

(21) Appl.No.: 10/681,625

(22) Filed: Oct. 7, 2003

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2004/0068306 Al Apr. 8, 2004

Related U.S. Application Data

(63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 10/017,582, filed on Dec. 7, 2001, now Pat. No. 6,669,694.

(60) Provisional application No. 60/416,622, filed on Oct. 7, 2002, provisional application No. 60/254,487, filed on Dec. 9, 2000.

A surgical instrument for thermally-mediated therapies in targeted tissue volumes and for causing thermal effects in polymer tissue-contacting members. In one embodiment, the instrument has a working end with an interior chamber that is supplied with a biocompatible liquid. An energy source causes a liquid-to-vapor phase change within the interior of the instrument. The vapor phase media then is ejected from the working surface of the instrument, and a controlled vaporto-liquid phase change in an interface with tissue applies thermal energy substantially equal to the heat of vaporization to ablate tissue. The vapor-to-liquid phase transitions, or internal energy releases, can be provided about thin-film flexible structures for engaging body lumens and cavities. An exemplary embodiment can be used for shrinking, sealing, welding or creating lesions in tissue—while causing limited collateral thermal damage and while totally eliminating electrical current flow in the engaged tissue.

13 Claims, 26 Drawing Sheets

Page 2

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

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Shadduck, Non-Final Rejection mailed Aug. 17, 2000.
U.S. Appl. No. 09/782,649, filed Feb. 12, 2001, in the name of
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U.S. Appl. No. 10/017,582, filed Dec. 7, 2001, in the name of Shad-
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U.S. Appl. No. 10/346,877, filed Jan. 18, 2003, in the name of
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U.S. Appl. No. 10/346,877, filed Jan. 18, 2003, in the name of
Shadduck, Examiner's Amendment mailed Mar. 24, 2005.
U.S. Appl. No. 10/346,877, filed Jan. 18, 2003, in the name of
Shadduck, Non-Final Rejection mailed Jan. 31, 2005.
U.S. Appl. No. 11/244,329, filed Jan. 18, 2003, in the name of
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U.S. Appl. No. 11/244,329, filed Jan. 18, 2003, in the name of
Shadduck, Examiner's Amendment mailed Apr. 5, 2005.
U.S. Appl. No. 11/244,329, filed Jan. 18, 2003, in the name of
Shadduck, Non-Final Rejection mailed Jan. 31, 2005.
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U.S. Appl. No. 10/830,372, filed Apr. 22, 2004, in the name of
Shadduck, Notice of Allowance mailed May 14, 2009.
U.S. Appl. No. 10/830,872, filed Apr. 22, 2004, in the name of
Shadduck, Final Rejection (PTOL—326) mailed Nov. 7, 2008.
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18, 2008.

U.S. Appl. No. 10/830,372, filed Apr. 22, 2004, in the name of
Shadduck, Non-Final Rejection mailed Feb. 14, 2008.

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U.S. Appl. No. 09/181,906, filed Oct. 28, 1998, in the name of

Shadduck, Notice of Allowance mailed Sep. 26, 2000.

U.S. Appl. No. 09/281,493, filed Mar. 30, 1999 in the name of

Shadduck, entitled "Ionofhermal system and technique for dermal

treatments".

U.S. Appl. No. 09/557,931, filed Apr. 22, 2000 in the name of Shadduck, entitled "Ionofhermal delivery system and technique for medical procedures".

U.S. Appl. No. 09/580,767, filed May 30, 2000 in the name of Shadduck, entitled "Microjoule electrical discharge catheter for thrombolysis in stroke patients".

U.S. Appl. No. 09/782,649, filed Feb. 12, 2001, in the name of
Shadduck, Notice of Allowance mailed Sep. 9, 2002.
U.S. Appl. No. 10/017,582, filed Dec. 7, 2001, in the name of Shad-
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U.S. Appl. No. 10/017,582, filed Dec. 7, 2001, in the name of Shad-
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Shadduck, Examiner's Amendment mailed Mar. 7, 2005.
U.S. Appl. No. 10/346,877, filed Jan. 18, 2003, in the name of
Shadduck, Non-Final Rejection mailed Sep. 30, 2004.
U.S. Appl. No. 10/346,877, filed Jan. 18, 2003, in the name of
Shadduck, Notice of Allowance mailed Mar. 7, 2005.
U.S. Appl. No. 11/244,329, filed Jan. 18, 2003, in the name of
Shadduck, Non-Final Rejection mailed Jun. 19, 2009.
U.S. Appl. No. 12/465,927, filed May 14, 2009, in the name of
Shadduck, entitled "Thermotherapy device".

* cited by examiner