Abstract:
A method and apparatus for creating a virtual electrode to ablate bodily tissue. The surgical apparatus includes an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube defines a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion forms an orifice for distributing a conductive solution from the inner tube and further forms an electrode. The outer tube coaxially receives the inner tube such that the outer tube is slidable relative to the inner tube. With this configuration, the outer tube selectively blocks flow of conductive solution from the orifice. During use, conductive solution distributed from the orifice is subjected to a current from the electrode, thereby creating a virtual electrode.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/091,948, filed on Jul. 7, 1998, now abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for creating a virtual electrode. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for the creation of a virtual electrode that is useful for the ablation of soft tissue and neoplasms. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The utilization of an electric current to produce an ameliorative effect on a bodily tissue has a long history, reportedly extending back to the ancient Greeks. The effects on bodily tissue from an applied electric current, and thus the dividing line between harmful and curative effects, will vary depending upon the voltage levels, current levels, the length of time the current is applied, and the tissue involved. One such effect resulting from the passage of an electric current through tissue is heat generation. 
     Body tissue, like all non-superconducting materials, conducts current with some degree of resistance. This resistance creates localized heating of the tissue through which the current is being conducted. The amount of heat generated will vary with the power P deposited in the tissue, which is a function of the product of the square of the current I and the resistance R of the tissue to the passage of the current through it (P=I 2 R.). 
     As current is applied to tissue, then, heat is generated due to the inherent resistance of the tissue. Deleterious effects in the cells making up the tissue begin to occur at about 42° Celsius. As the temperature of the tissue increases because of the heat generated by the tissue&#39;s resistance, the tissue will undergo profound changes and eventually, as the temperature becomes high enough, that is, generally greater than 45° C., the cells will die. The zone of cell death is known as a lesion and the procedure followed to create the lesion is commonly called an ablation. As the temperature increases beyond cell death temperature, complete disintegration of the cell walls and cells caused by boiling off of the tissue&#39;s water can occur. Cell death temperatures can vary somewhat with the type of tissue to which the power is being applied, but generally will begin to occur within the range of 45° to 60° C., though actual cell death of certain tissue cells may occur at a higher temperature. 
     In recent times, electric current has found advantageous use in surgery, with the development of a variety of surgical instruments for cutting tissue or for coagulating blood. Still more recently, the use of alternating electric current to ablate, that is, kill, various tissues has been explored. Typically, current having a frequency from about 3 kilohertz to about 300 gigahertz, which is generally known as radiofrequency or radiofrequency (RF) current, is used for this procedure. Destruction, that is, killing, of tissue using an RF current is commonly known as radiofrequency ablation. Often radiofrequency ablation is performed as a minimally invasive procedure and is thus known as radiofrequency catheter ablation because the procedure is performed through and with the use of a catheter. By way of example, radiofrequency catheter ablation has been used to ablate cardiac tissue responsible for irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias. 
     The prior art applications of current to tissue have typically involved applying the current using a “dry” electrode. That is, a metal electrode is applied to the tissue desired to be affected and a generated electric current is passed through the electrode to the tissue. A commonly known example of an instrument having such an operating characteristic is an electrosurgical instrument known as a “bovie” knife. This instrument includes a cutting/coagulating blade electrically attached to a current generator. The blade is applied to the tissue of a patient and the current passes through the blade into the tissue and through the patient&#39;s body to a metal base electrode or ground plate usually placed underneath and in electrical contact with the patient. The base electrode is in turn electrically connected to the current generator so as to provide a complete circuit. 
     As the current from the bovie knife passes from the blade into the tissue, the resistance provided by the tissue creates heat. In the cutting mode, a sufficient application of power through the bovie knife to the tissue causes the fluid within the cell to turn to steam, creating a sufficient overpressure so as to burst the cell walls. The cells then dry up, desiccate, and carbonize, resulting in localized shrinking and an opening in the tissue. Alternatively, the bovie knife can be applied to bleeding vessels to heat and coagulate the blood flowing therefrom and thus stop the bleeding. 
     As previously noted, another use for electrical instruments in the treatment of the body is in the ablation of tissue. To expand further on the brief description given earlier of the ablation of cardiac tissue, it has long been known that a certain kind of heart tissue known as sino-athial and atrio-ventricular nodes spontaneously generate an electrical signal that is propagated throughout the heart along conductive pathways to cause it to beat. Occasionally, certain heart tissue will “misfire”, causing the heart to beat irregularly. If the errant electrical pathways can be determined, the tissue pathways can be ablated and the irregular heartbeat remedied. In such a procedure, an electrode is placed via a catheter into contact with the tissue and then current is applied to the tissue via the electrode from a generator of RF current. The applied current will cause the tissue in contact with the electrode to heat. Power will continue to be applied until the tissue reaches a temperature where the heart tissue dies, thereby destroying the errant electrical pathway and the cause of the irregular heartbeat. 
     Another procedure using RF ablation is transurethral needle ablation, or TUNA, which is used to create a lesion in the prostate gland for the treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or the enlargement of the prostate gland. In a TUNA procedure, a needle having an exposed conductive tip is inserted into the prostate gland and current is applied to the prostate gland via the needle. As noted previously, the tissue of the prostate gland heats locally surrounding the needle tip as the current passes from the needle to the base electrode. A lesion is created as the tissue heats and the destroyed cells may be reabsorbed by the body, infiltrated with scar tissue, or just become non-functional. 
     While there are advantages and uses for such “dry” electrode instruments, there are also several notable disadvantages. One of these disadvantages is that during a procedure, coagulum—dried blood cells and tissue cells—will form on the electrode engaging the tissue. Coagulum acts as an insulator and effectively functions to prevent current transfer from the blade to the tissue. This coagulum “insulation” can be overcome with more voltage so as to keep the current flowing, but only at the risk of arcing and injuring the patient. Thus, during surgery when the tissue is cut with an electrosurgical scalpel, a build-up of coagulated blood and desiccated tissue will occur on the blade, requiring the blade to be cleaned before further use. Typically, cleaning an electrode/scalpel used in this manner will involve simply scraping the dried tissue from the electrode/scalpel by rubbing the scalpel across an abrasive pad to remove the coagulum. This is a tedious procedure for the surgeon and the operating staff since it requires the “real” work of the surgery to be discontinued while the cleaning operation occurs. This procedure can be avoided with the use of specially coated blades that resist the build up of coagulum. Such specialty blades are costly, however. 
     A second disadvantage of the dry electrode approach is that the electrical heating of the tissue creates smoke that is now known to include cancer-causing agents. Thus, preferred uses of such equipment will include appropriate ventilation systems, which can themselves become quite elaborate and quite expensive. 
     A further, and perhaps the most significant, disadvantage of dry electrode electrosurgical tools is revealed during cardiac ablation procedures. During such a procedure, an electrode that is otherwise insulated but having an exposed, current carrying tip is inserted into the heart chamber and brought into contact with the inner or endocardial side of the heart wall where the ablation is to occur. The current is initiated and passes from the current generator to the needle tip electrode and from there into the tissue so that a lesion is created. Typically, however, the lesion created by a single insertion is insufficient to cure the irregular heartbeat because the lesion created is of an insufficient size to destroy the errant electrical pathway. Thus, multiple needle insertions and multiple current applications are almost always required to ablate the errant cardiac pathway, prolonging the surgery and thus increasing the potential risk to the patient. 
     This foregoing problem is also present in TUNA procedures, which similarly require multiple insertions of the needle electrode into the prostate gland. Failing to do so will result in the failure to create a lesion of sufficient size otherwise required for beneficial results. As with radiofrequency catheter ablation of cardiac tissue, then, the ability to create a lesion of the necessary size to alleviate BPH symptoms is limited and thus requires multiple insertions of the electrode into the prostate. 
     A typical lesion created with a dry electrode using RF current and a single insertion will normally not exceed one centimeter in diameter. This small size—often too small to be of much or any therapeutic benefit—stems from the fact that the tissue surrounding the needle electrode tends to desiccate as the temperature of the tissue increases, leading to the creation of a high resistance to the further passage of current from the needle electrode into the tissue, all as previously noted with regard to the formation of coagulum on an electrosurgical scalpel. This high resistance—more properly termed impedance since typically an alternating current is being used—between the needle electrode and the base electrode is commonly measured by the RF current generator. When the measured impedance reaches a pre-determined level, the generator will discontinue current generation. Discontinuance of the ablation procedure under these circumstances is necessary to avoid injury to the patient. 
     Thus, a typical procedure with a dry electrode may involve placing the needle electrode at a first desired location; energizing the electrode to ablate the tissue; continue applying current until the generator measures a high impedance and shuts down; moving the needle to a new location closely adjacent to the first location; and applying current again to the tissue through the needle electrode. This cycle of electrode placement, electrode energization, generator shut down, electrode re-emplacement, and electrode re-energization, will be continued until a lesion of the desired size has been created. As noted, this increases the length of the procedure for the patient. Additionally, multiple insertions increases the risk of at least one of the placements being in the wrong location and, consequently, the risk that healthy tissue may be undesirably affected while diseased tissue may be left untreated. The traditional RF ablation procedure of using a dry ablation therefore includes several patient risk factors that both patient and physician would prefer to reduce or eliminate. 
     The therapeutic advantages of RF current could be increased if a larger lesion could be created safely with a single positioning of the current-supplying electrode. A single positioning would allow the procedure to be carried out more expeditiously and more efficiently, reducing the time involved in the procedure. Larger lesions can be created in at least two ways. First, simply continuing to apply current to the patient with sufficiently increasing voltage to overcome the impedance rises will create a larger lesion, though almost always with undesirable results to the patient. Second, a larger lesion can be created if the current density, that is, the applied electrical energy, could be spread more efficiently throughout a larger volume of tissue. Spreading the current density over a larger tissue volume would correspondingly cause a larger volume of tissue to heat in the first instance. That is, by spreading the applied power throughout a larger tissue volume, the tissue would heat more uniformly over a larger volume, which would help to reduce the likelihood of generator shutdown due to high impedance conditions. The applied power, then, will cause the larger volume of tissue to be ablated safely, efficiently, and quickly. 
     Research conducted under the auspices of the assignee of the present invention has focused on spreading the current density throughout a larger tissue volume through the creation, maintenance, and control of a—virtual electrode—within or adjacent to the tissue to be ablated. A virtual electrode can be created by the introduction of a conductive fluid, such as isotonic or hypertonic saline, into or onto the tissue to be ablated. The conductive fluid will facilitate the spread of the current density substantially equally throughout the extent of the flow of the conductive fluid, thus creating an electrode—a virtual electrode—substantially equal in extent to the size of the delivered conductive fluid. RF current can then be passed through the virtual electrode into the tissue. 
     A virtual electrode can be substantially larger in volume than the needle tip electrode typically used in RF interstitial ablation procedures and thus can create a larger lesion than can a dry, needle tip electrode. That is, the virtual electrode spreads or conducts the RF current density outward from the RF current source—such as a current carrying needle, forceps or other current delivery device—into or onto a larger volume of tissue than is possible with instruments that rely on the use of a dry electrode. Stated otherwise, the creation of the virtual electrode enables the current to flow with reduced resistance or impedance throughout a larger volume of tissue, thus spreading the resistive heating created by the current flow through a larger volume of tissue and thereby creating a larger lesion than could otherwise be created with a dry electrode. 
     While the efficacy of RF current ablation techniques using a virtual electrode has been demonstrated in several studies, the currently available instruments useful in such procedures lags behind the research into and development of hoped-for useful treatment modalities for the ablation of soft tissue and malignancies. 
     It would be desirable to have an apparatus capable of creating a virtual electrode for the controlled application of tissue ablating RF electric current to a tissue of interest so as to produce a lesion of desired size and configuration. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention provides a surgical apparatus for creating a virtual electrode for ablating bodily tissue. The surgical apparatus includes an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube defines a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion forms an orifice for distributing a conductive solution from the inner tube and further forms an electrode. The outer tube coaxially receives the inner tube. More particularly, the outer tube is slidable relative to the inner tube such that the outer tube selectively blocks the orifice. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a surgical system for creating a virtual electrode for ablating bodily tissue. The surgical system includes a fluid source, a current source and a surgical instrument. The fluid source maintains a supply of a conductive solution. The current source is configured to generate an electrical current. The surgical instrument includes an inner tube, an outer tube and an electrode. The inner tube is fluidly connected to the fluid source and defines a proximal portion and a distal portion, with the distal portion forming an orifice for releasing the conductive solution from the inner tube. The outer tube is coaxially disposed over the inner tube such that the outer tube is slidable relative to the inner tube to selectively expose the orifice. Finally, the electrode is associated with the distal portion and is electrically connected to the current source. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of forming a virtual electrode for ablating bodily tissue. The method includes providing a surgical instrument including an inner tube slidably received within an outer tube. The inner tube defines a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion forming an orifice for distributing a conductive solution from the inner tube and further forming an electrode. The distal portion is delivered to a target site. The outer tube is positioned relative to the inner tube such that the orifice is exposed. Conductive solution is distributed from the inner tube via the orifice. The outer tube is repositioned relative to the inner tube such that the orifice is blocked. Finally, a current is applied to the distributed conductive solution via the electrode to create a virtual electrode. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a virtual electrode ablation system in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a surgical apparatus, with portions cut away, in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged, side view of a distal portion of the surgical apparatus of FIG. 2; 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic views of a portion of the surgical apparatus of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4C is an exploded, perspective view of a portion of the surgical apparatus of FIG. 2; and 
     FIGS. 5-8 are side views of a surgical apparatus in accordance with the present invention, depicting various positions of an outer tube relative to an inner tube. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates in block form a system  10  for RF ablation useful with the present invention. The system  10  includes a source of radiofrequency alternating electric current  12 , a source of RF ablating fluid  14 , including but not limited to saline and other conductive solutions, and a surgical instrument  16  for delivering RF current and ablation fluid to a tissue site (not shown) for ablation purposes. In one preferred embodiment, the surgical instrument  16  is connected to the current source  12  and the fluid source  14 . It will be understood that the current source  12  and the fluid source  14  may be combined into a single operational structure controlled by an appropriate microprocessor for a controlled delivery of ablating fluid and a controlled application of RF current, both based upon measured parameters such as but not limited to, flow rate, tissue temperature at the ablation site and at areas surrounding the ablation site, impedance, the rate of change of the impedance, the detection of arcing between the surgical instrument and the tissue, the time period during which the ablation procedure has been Operating, and additional factors as desired. 
     While the surgical instrument  16  is shown as being connected to both the current source  12  and the fluid source  14 , the present system is not so limited but could include separate needles or other instruments useful in RF liquid ablation procedures, that is, for example, a single straight or coiled needle having an exposed end and a fluid flow path there through could be used to deliver both fluid and current to the target tissue for ablation purposes. Alternatively, a separate needle could be used to deliver the current and a separate needle or needles could be used to deliver fluid to the target tissue. In addition, the application of the present system is not limited to the use of straight needles or helical needles as surgical instruments but could find use with any type of instrument wherein a conductive solution is delivered to a tissue and an RF current is applied to the tissue through the conductive fluid. Such instruments thus would include straight needles, helical needles, forceps, roller balls, instruments for the treatment of vascular disorders, and any other instrument. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the system  10  further includes a second fluid source  18  for delivery of tissue protecting fluid via a delivery instrument  20 , to a tissue whose ablation is not desired. 
     The surgical instrument  16  may assume a wide variety of forms. One preferred embodiment of a surgical apparatus  30  useful in an RF ablation procedure is shown in FIG.  2 . The apparatus  30  includes an outer thin walled tube  32 , an inner thinner walled tube  34 , and may, if desired, include an inner stylet or probe  36 . Tubes  32  and  34  and stylet  36  are substantially coaxially mounted relative to each other and are movable in the proximal-distal direction relative to each other. 
     The outer tube  32  preferably includes a collar  38  with a control knob  40  attached at a proximal end thereof. The outer tube  32  further preferably includes at least one slot or aperture  42  located at a distal end thereof. If desired, multiple apertures  42  may be disposed in any desired manner about the circumference of the distal end of the outer tube  32 . The aperture  42  may take on multiple configurations. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the aperture  42  has an elongated oval or elliptical configuration. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the inner tube  34  is configured as a needle electrode. The inner tube  34 , which is slidably received within the outer tube  32 , preferably includes a shutter index element  44  attached adjacent a proximal end thereof. The shutter index element  44  will be discussed in further detail below. Attached to a proximal end of the inner tube  34  is a hemostasis valve  46  having a port  48  through which RF ablating fluid, such as but not limited to saline and other conductive solutions, may be supplied from the fluid source  14  (FIG. 1) as indicated by arrow  50 . A distal end of the inner tube  34  includes a plurality of orifices or apertures  52  of varying sizes and shapes as desired. As shown in FIG. 2, there are preferably four sets of the apertures  52  equally spaced about a circumference of the distal end of the inner tube  34 . In one preferred embodiment, each set includes five apertures increasing in size toward a center of the individual set. Thus, during use, as fluid flows through the apertures  52 , more of the fluid will flow through the center aperture than will flow through the other apertures. As a result, the bolus of the fluid forming at a particular target site may take on a roughly elliptical shape, making allowances for the tissue at the target site and the vasculature that may be implicated by any particular placement. 
     The inner tube  34  includes at its most distal end an exposed electrode  54  through which RF current can be applied to the tissue. Thus, the inner tube  34  may be metallic or otherwise conductive and insulated along its length except for the exposed electrode  54 . The electrode  54  is preferably electrically connected to the current source  12  (FIG.  1 ). 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of the distal end of the inner tube or needle electrode  34 . It will be understood that the needle electrode  34  will be insulated except at the distal end to prevent electrical current from flowing into the tissue (not shown) at any location except from the distal end thereof. 
     Returning to FIG. 2, the probe  36  may take the form of an inner stylet, preferably having a thermocouple (not shown) disposed at the distal end thereof. Because the probe  36  is movable relative to the electrode  54 , the thermocouple may be placed at a desired location away from the electrode to monitor tissue temperature. 
     FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate in greater detail the connections between the control knob  40  and the outer tube  32  on the one hand, and the shutter index element  44  and the inner tube  34  on the other. The control knob  40  is preferably connected to the collar  38  of the outer tube  32  by a support  56 . The outer tube  32  and the control knob  40  are rotatable and axially movable relative to the inner tube  34  and the shutter index element  44 . Thus, the control knob  40  can be selectively moved into and out of engagement with a portion of the shutter index element  44 . For example, the control knob  40  may be rotated from a first engagement position (FIG.  4 A), and then moved axially to a second engagement position (FIG.  4 B). The outer tube  32  is maneuvered in conjunction with the control knob  40 , and thus moves relative to the inner tube  34  with movement of the control knob  40 . For example, as best shown in FIG. 4C, the shutter index element  44  is preferably configured to form axial slots  58   a - 58   d  sized to receive the support  56 . Each of the axial slots  58   a - 58   d  is connected to at least one circumferential slot, similarly sized to receive and selectively maintain the support  56 . For example, the axial slot  58   a  is shown as being connected to three circumferential slots  60 , whereas the axial slot  58   b  is connected to one circumferential slot  62 . Any other number of circumferential slots is equally acceptable and dictates a desired position(s) of the outer tube  32  relative to the inner tube  34 , as described in greater detail below. 
     Translation of the control knob  40 /outer tube  32  relative to the shutter index element  44 /inner tube  34  and the effect on fluid flow is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5-8. In each of FIGS. 5-8, the control knob  40  (FIG. 4A) has not been shown for purposes of clarity. Instead, only the support  56 , which extends from the control knob  40  to the collar  38  (FIG.  4 A), has been depicted. Further, the shutter index element  44  is shown as including the axial slot  58   a  connected to four circumferential slots  64   a - 64   d.  As previously described, the support  56  can be maneuvered along the axial slot  58   a  into selective engagement with each of the circumferential slots  64   a - 64   d,  thereby locating the support  56  within any one of the circumferential slots  64   a - 64   d  and resulting in a defined relationship of the outer tube  32  relative to the inner tube  34 . To assist a user in positioning the support  56 , the shutter index element  44  may further include indicia  66   a - 66   d  associated with the circumferential slots  64   a - 64   d,  respectively. The indicia  66   a - 66   d  may assume a wide variety of forms for providing a user with an indication of outer tube  32 /inner tube  34  positioning. For example, the indicia  66   a  may be a filled circle (“”) representing that all of the orifices  52  of the inner tube  34  are open; the indicia  66   b  may be a half filled circle (“”) representing the orifices  52  being partially open; the indicia  66   c  may be an open circle (“∘”) representing all of the orifices  52  being closed; and the indicia  66   d  may be a dash (“—”) representing the slot  42  of the outer tube  32  being open or aligned with the orifices  52 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the situation where the control knob  40  (FIG. 4A) has been moved to a position where the orifices  52  are fully opened and allow RF fluid to flow freely therefrom. That is to say, the support  56  is positioned within the circumferential slot  64   a.  At this location, a distal end of the outer tube  32  is proximal the orifices  52  and the electrode  54 . Fluid from the fluid source  14  (FIG. 1) is thereby allowed to flow from the orifices  52 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the partial blocking of the orifices  52 . In this instance, relative to FIG. 5, the control knob  40  (FIG. 4A) has been rotated relative to the shutter index element  42  and moved distally along the axial slot  58   a  so as to move the outer tube  32  distally relative to the inner tube  34 . The control knob  40  has then been rotated radially to lodge the support  56  in the circumferential slot  64   b.  Movement of the outer tube  32  in this manner (e.g., distally) causes the outer tube  32  to partially block at least some of the orifices  52  and thus restrict or stop RF fluid flow therefrom, as identified by the indicia  66   b.    
     FIG. 7 illustrates the complete blocking of RF fluid flow from all of the apertures  52 . More particularly, the support  56  has been moved into the circumferential slot  66   c,  resulting in a distal end of the outer tube  32  being distal the orifices  52 . In FIG. 8, the slot  42  at the distal end of outer tube  32  has been moved such that fluid flows only from the orifices  52  and then through the slot  42 , thus providing in essence a single aperture along a longitudinal length of the outer tube  32  rather than discrete multiple apertures. The indicia  66   d  provides visual notice of this relationship to the user. 
     The present invention allows an operator to block the distribution of the RF fluid from the apparatus  30  in a selective manner. This allows the operator to control the volume of the fluid flow and the shape of the bolus or virtual electrode produced in the tissue with some degree of latitude as allowed by the tissue structure in which the apparatus is placed. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.