Patent ID: 6607529
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A transurethral needle ablation device for use by a human hand to treat the prostate of a human male using radio frequency energy from a radio frequency power source, the human male having a bladder with a base, a prostate and a penis with a urethra therein formed by a urethral wall extending from the base of the bladder through the prostate and the penis along a longitudinal axis with the prostate having tissue surrounding the urethral wall near the base of the bladder, comprising an elongate probe member having proximal and distal extremities and having a passageway extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, a stylet slidably mounted in the passageway of the elongate probe member and having proximal and distal extremities, the stylet having a radio frequency conductive electrode and a layer of insulating material longitudinally disposed on the radio frequency conductive electrode for slidable movement thereon, handle means adapted to be grasped by the human hand coupled to the proximal extremity of the elongate probe member, connector means connected to the radio frequency conductive electrode and adapted to be coupled to the radio frequency power source for supplying radio frequency energy to the radio frequency conductive electrode, a finger actuatable element mounted on the handle means and adapted to be grasped by a finger of the hand grasping the handle means, the finger actuatable element being movable in one direction from a first position to a second position, means connecting the finger actuatable element to the stylet for initially maintaining the radio frequency conductive electrode and the insulating sleeve disposed thereon substantially stationary relative to one another while introducing the radio frequency conductive electrode and the insulating sleeve disposed thereon in unison into the tissue of the prostate when the finger actuatable element is moved in the one direction from the first position toward the second position and thereafter for causing at least a portion of the radio frequency conductive electrode to be exposed free of the layer of said insulating material in the tissue of the prostate as the finger actuatable element is moved further in the one direction toward the second position.