Patent ID: 8512330
Filing Date: 2013-08-20
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of ablating a region to be ablated in a uterine fibroid, using a particular type of trocar, said trocar comprising a plurality of ablation stylets mounted for movement from within said trocar to positions extending from said trocar, said trocar having a particular arrangement of ablation elements and a trocar point, said trocar being adjustable to assume a plurality of configurations, each of said configurations having said stylets extended to a different extent from said trocar, comprising: (a) imaging said region to be ablated, said region corresponding to all or a portion of a uterine fibroid, said region to be ablated having a size; (b) noting the size of said region to be ablated; (c) comparing the size of said region to be ablated to a matrix of known ablation regions, each of said known ablation regions being associated with one of said configurations of said particular trocar, each of said known ablation regions being associated with a position of said trocar relative to said known ablation region; (d) associating said region to be ablated with a most nearly matching known ablation region by comparison of said region to be ablated to said known ablation regions; (e) inserting a trocar with effectively the same arrangement of ablation elements and trocar point of said particular trocar into said uterine fibroid at a position, with respect to said region to be ablated, which most closely matches the position of said particular trocar with respect to said known ablation region; and (f) deploying said stylets from said trocar to an extent corresponding to said configuration associated with said most closely matching known ablation region.