Patent ID: 6506189
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An electrical structure for use with a source of electrical energy to ablate tissue in a living subject, the electrical structure comprising:an elongated tissue-penetrating electrode including a thermal-conductive rigid tubular member with a closed distal end and defining an interior cavity extending from the closed distal end to a proximal end of the rigid tubular member, the rigid tubular member defining an external, electrically conductive surface, the elongated tissue-penetrating electrode further including an insulation layer disposed on the external, electrically conductive surface and defining an exposed portion of the external electrically conductive surface disposed at the distal end; an electrical connection to provide electrical energy from the source of electrical energy to the external, electrically conductive surface; a fluid conduit sized to extend into the interior cavity of the rigid tubular member and adapted to be connected to a source of coolant to supply coolant for cooling tissue contiguous to the exposed portion of the external, electrically conductive surface; an extension tip having a closed distal end and defining an interior cavity extending from the closed distal end to a proximal end of the extension tip, the proximal end being mounted to the distal end of the tubular member and wherein the fluid conduit is sized to extend into the cavity of the extension tip; a thermosensor disposed within the interior cavity of the extension tip adjacent the distal end of the extension tip for detecting a temperature; and an adjustable source of coolant for adaptively providing coolant to the fluid conduit according to the measured temperature.