Patent ID: 6241702
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M,A61N

Abstract:
A medical device for the treatment by radio frequency ablation of a target volume in tissue of a prostate of a human having a urethral channel extending into a base of a bladder along a longitudinal axis comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities, the elongate probe member having an opening in the distal extremity and a passage therein extending from the proximal extremity to the opening in the distal extremity, the elongate probe member being sized so that it can be introduced into the urethra, guide means having proximal and distal extremities, means for removably mounting the proximal extremity of the guide means to the proximal extremity of the elongate probe member so that the guide means extends through the passage of the elongate probe member and the distal extremity of the guide means is in vicinity of the opening in the distal extremity of the elongate probe member, the guide means having a lumen extending therethrough from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, a radio frequency conductive electrode slidably disposed in the lumen, handle means coupled to the proximal extremity of the elongate probe member, the handle means including finger actuatable means secured to the radio frequency electrode for advancing and retracting the radio frequency electrode with respect to the guide means, the distal extremity of the guide means having a curved surface disposed outside the opening for directing the radio frequency electrode sidewise of the longitudinal axis into the tissue of the prostate.