Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a 35 U.S.C. §371 National Stage filing of International Application No. PCT/KR2012/002223 filed on Mar. 27, 2012, which claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0031075 filed on Mar. 27, 2012. The entire contents of each of the foregoing applications are explicitly incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electrode for radiofrequency surgery, a radiofrequency surgery device, and a method of controlling the same, and more particularly, to an electrode for radiofrequency surgery that is used to remove an abnormal tissue inside the body by using heat generated when a radiofrequency current is conducted, a radiofrequency surgery device, and a method of controlling the same. 
     Related Art 
     Recently, a surgery method in which an abnormal tissue inside a body is cut by using heat generated when a radiofrequency current is conducted inside the body. In the surgery method using the radiofrequency current, as compared with a surgery method in which a part of the body is cut and various surgery tools are directly inserted into the body, there are advantages in that pain is small and a treatment time and a recovery time are shortened. 
     The electrode for radiofrequency surgery is already disclosed in “Korean patent No. 10-0758025; electrode for radiofrequency surgery”. The Patent includes a bent hollow electrode and a sharp electrode needle. Accordingly, in the Patent No. 10-0758025, a conducting part is accurately positioned, and heating of the conducting part may be precisely controlled. 
     However, In the Patent No. 10-0758025, since the heating of the conducting part is concentrated at a predetermined portion, there is a problem in that the radiofrequency current is not efficiently used in a wide area to be treated. 
     Further, in the Patent No. 10-0758025, while the bent hollow electrode is inserted or moved in the lumen of the body having a relatively narrow internal space such as esophagus, duodenum, small intestine, and large intestine, there is a problem in that the electrode needle interferes in a normal tissue to damage the normal tissue. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the present invention provides an electrode for radiofrequency surgery that can be easily inserted and moved into a lumen of a body and expand a conduction area of a radiofrequency current after reaching an area to be treated, a radiofrequency surgery device, and a method for controlling the same. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an electrode for radiofrequency surgery including: a balloon; and a conductor which is arranged at the outside of the balloon and has an exterior shape which varies according to the volume of the balloon. 
     The electrode may further include first and second support rings which are spaced apart from each other with the balloon therebetween, in which the balloon may be supported by at least one of the first and second support rings. 
     The conductor may be a plurality of wires of which one end is coupled with the first support ring and the other end is coupled with the second support ring. 
     The conductor may be a plurality of coil springs of which one end is coupled with the first support ring and the other end is coupled with the second support ring. 
     The conductor may be a plurality of coil springs which is provided in a ring shape covering a circumference of the balloon and arranged between the first support ring and the second support ring, and the electrode may further include: a support wire connecting the first support ring and the second support ring; a first coil wire connecting some of the plurality of coil springs and the first support ring; and a second coil wire connecting the remaining coils springs which are not connected to the first support ring among the plurality of coil springs and the second support ring. 
     Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a radiofrequency surgery device including: a balloon; a pump connected to the balloon to supply gas to the balloon; a conductor arranged on the outside of the balloon and having an exterior shape which varies according to the volume of the balloon; and a radiofrequency generator electrically connected to the conductor to generate a radiofrequency current. 
     The conductor may further include an opposing electrode which is inserted into the body together with the balloon to apply at least one current of a positive current and a negative current, and contact an outer skin corresponding to a position of the conductor to apply a current having an opposite polarity to the conductor. 
     The conductor may be divided into a plurality of conductors, a positive current may be applied to some of the plurality of conductors, and a negative current may be applied to the rest of the plurality of conductors. 
     The radiofrequency surgery device may further include first and second support rings which are spaced apart from each other with the balloon therebetween, in which the balloon may be supported by at least one of the first and second support rings. 
     The conductor may be a wire of which one end is coupled with the first support ring and the other end is coupled with the second support ring. 
     The conductor may be a coil spring of which one end is coupled with the first support ring and the other end is coupled with the second support ring. 
     The conductor may be a plurality of coil springs which is provided in a ring shape covering a circumference of the balloon and arranged between the first support ring and the second support ring, and the radiofrequency surgery device may further include: a support wire connecting the first support ring and the second support ring; a first coil wire connecting some of the plurality of coil springs and the first support ring; and a second coil wire connecting the remaining coils springs which are not connected to the first support ring among the plurality of coil springs and the second support ring. 
     Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of controlling a radiofrequency surgery device including: an electrode inserting step in which an electrode for radiofrequency surgery is inserted into a body; an electrode expanding step in which gas is injected into the balloon provided in the electrode for radiofrequency surgery to expand the balloon, and an exterior shape of the electrode for radiofrequency surgery is expanded according to the expansion of the balloon; and a radiofrequency supplying step in which a radiofrequency current is supplied to the electrode for radiofrequency surgery. 
     One of a positive current and a negative current may be applied to the electrode for radiofrequency surgery, and in the frequency supplying step, the opposing electrode may contact an outer skin corresponding to a position of the electrode for radiofrequency surgery, and a current which is opposite to the electrode for radiofrequency surgery may be applied to the opposing electrode. 
     The electrode for radiofrequency surgery may be divided into a positive pole and a negative pole, and in the frequency supplying step, a positive current and a negative current may be supplied to the electrode for radiofrequency surgery. 
     According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the radiofrequency current is efficiently used, the radiofrequency electrode is easily inserted and moved inside the body, and as a result, reliability of the surgery can be improved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an electrode for radiofrequency surgery according to a first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a radiofrequency surgery device according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a method for controlling the radiofrequency surgery device according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a state in which a balloon is expanded in the radiofrequency surgery device according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an electrode for radiofrequency surgery according to a second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a radiofrequency surgery device according to a second exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an electrode for radiofrequency surgery according to a third exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an electrode for radiofrequency surgery according to a fourth exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of an electrode for radiofrequency surgery, a radiofrequency surgery device, and a method for controlling the same will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be deformed in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. On the contrary, exemplary embodiments introduced herein are provided to make disclosed contents thorough and complete and sufficiently transfer the spirit of the present invention to those skilled in the art. 
     First Exemplary Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an electrode for radiofrequency surgery according to a first exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electrode  10  for radiofrequency surgery according to a first exemplary embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as an ‘electrode for radiofrequency surgery’) includes a supporter  11 , a balloon  12 , and a conductor. 
     The supporter  11  may be divided into a first support ring  11   a  and a second support ring  11   b . The first support ring  11   a  and the second support ring  11   b  are spaced apart from each other with the balloon  12  therebetween. A gas inlet  12   a  into which gas may be injected is formed in the balloon  12 . A gas supply pipe  12   b  may be coupled with the gas inlet  12   a . The gas supply pipe  12   b  is coupled with the first support ring  11   a . The gas inlet  12   a  is coupled with the gas supply pipe  12   b , and as a result, the balloon  12  may be supported to the first support ring  11   a . Accordingly, the balloon  12  may be moved together with the first support ring  11   a.    
     The conductor may be provided in a form of a plurality of wires  13 . In the plurality of wires  13 , one end is coupled with the first support ring  11   a  and the other end is coupled with the second support ring  11   b . The plurality of wires  13  is arranged to cover the outside of the balloon  12 . Accordingly, the shape of the plurality of wires  13  may be deformed according to the volume of the balloon  12 . That is, the plurality of wires  13  maintains a linear shape connecting the first support ring  11   a  and the second support ring  11   b , and may be deformed convexly outwardly as the volume of the balloon  12  is expanded. 
     The plurality of wires  13  may have at least one polarity of a positive pole or a negative pole. In this case, the first support ring  11   a  and the second support ring  11   b  may be made of electro-conductive materials. 
     In the electrode  10  for radiofrequency surgery, the plurality of wires  13  is inserted into the body, an opposing electrode having an opposite polarity to the plurality of wires  13  contacts the outside of the body, and as a result, the plurality of wires  13  and the opposing electrode are conducted to each other to generate heat inside the body. In this case, the generated heat may remove an abnormal tissue inside the body. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a radiofrequency surgery device according to a first exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a radiofrequency surgery device  100  according to a first exemplary embodiment (hereinafter, referred to as a ‘radiofrequency surgery device’) includes an electrode  10  for radiofrequency surgery, a radiofrequency generator  110 , and a pump  120 . The radiofrequency surgery device  100  uses the electrode  10  for radiofrequency surgery described above, and the detailed description of the electrode  10  for radiofrequency surgery may be understood with reference to the description of the electrode  10  for radiofrequency surgery described above. 
     The radiofrequency generator  110  generates a radiofrequency current. The radiofrequency surgery device  100  may include a first cable  111  connected to the electrode  10  for radiofrequency surgery and the radiofrequency generator  110 , and a second cable  112  connected to the opposing electrode  15  and the radiofrequency generator  110 . A power supply line for applying a positive or negative radiofrequency current to the electrode  10  for radiofrequency surgery is embedded in the first cable  111 , and a power supply line for applying a radiofrequency current having an opposite polarity of the electrode  10  for radiofrequency surgery is embedded in the second cable  112 . The power supply line embedded in the first cable  111  is electrically connected to the first support ring  11   a  to apply the radiofrequency current to the plurality of wires  13 . 
     Meanwhile, the gas supply pipe  12   b  coupled with the balloon  12  may be embedded inside the first cable  111  together. The gas supply pipe  12   b  is connected to the pump  120 . The pump  120  may be installed inside the radiofrequency generator  110 . 
     Although not illustrated, an endoscope acquiring an image inside the body and an illumination ensuring illumination inside the body may be installed at a front end of the first cable  111 . Further, a separate flow channel from the gas supply pipe  12   b  may be installed inside the first cable  111 . The flow channel provides a path in which gas or a liquid may be sprayed or suctioned into the body. Further, a power supply line (not illustrated) and a signal line (not illustrated), which are connected to an endoscope (not illustrated) and an illumination (not illustrated), may be installed inside the first cable  111 . Since the endoscope (not illustrated), the illumination (not illustrated), and the flow channel (not illustrated) are techniques which are widely known in the art, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the above description, the endoscope (not illustrated) and the illumination (not illustrated) are installed at the front end of the first cable  111 , the flow channel (not illustrated) is embedded in the first cable  111  to be operated together with the radiofrequency surgery device  100 , but the endoscope (not illustrated), the illumination (not illustrated), and the flow channel (not illustrated) are provided as separate devices from the radiofrequency surgery device  100  to be operated together with the radiofrequency surgery device  100 . 
     Meanwhile, a handpiece  130  may be installed on a line of the first cable  111 . An operation button  131  is installed at the handpiece  130 . The operation button  131  may smoothly control a location of the electrode  10  for radiofrequency surgery inserted into the body. 
     Hereinafter, a method of controlling a radiofrequency surgery device according to a first exemplary embodiment will be described. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a method for controlling the radiofrequency surgery device according to the first exemplary embodiment, and  FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a state in which a balloon is expanded in the radiofrequency surgery device according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a user inserts the first cable  111  into a body of a patient. In this case, a catheter (not illustrated) for smoothly inserting the first cable  111  may be used. As such, when the first cable  111  is inserted into the body, the user refers to an image inside the body of the patient which is acquired by the endoscope (not illustrated) and searches the inside of the body. (Step; S 10 ) 
     Next, when an abnormal tissue is detected, the user positions the electrode  10  for radiofrequency surgery around the abnormal tissue. In addition, the user contacts the opposing electrode  15  with an outer skin of the patient corresponding to the abnormal tissue. 
     Next, the user operates the pump  120  so that gas is supplied to the balloon  12 . When the volume of the balloon  12  is expanded, the plurality of wires  13  is deformed to an outwardly convex shape. (Step; S 20 ) 
     Next, the user operates the radiofrequency generator  110  so that the radiofrequency current is supplied. While the radiofrequency current is supplied, one of the positive current and the negative current applied to the plurality of wires  13  and the other current applied to the opposing electrode  15  are conducted to each other to generate heat inside the body. As such, as the radiofrequency current is conducted and the heat is generated in the body, the abnormal tissue in the body may be cut. (Step; S 30 ) 
     Hereinafter, an electrode for radiofrequency surgery according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, like constituent elements described in the first exemplary embodiment described above designate like reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Accordingly, hereinafter, it can be understood that the constituent elements of which the detailed description is omitted refer to the description of the first exemplary embodiment described above. 
     Second Exemplary Embodiment 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an electrode for radiofrequency surgery according to a second exemplary embodiment, and  FIG. 6  is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a radiofrequency surgery device according to the second exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , some of a plurality of wires  23  may be constituted by positive wires  23   a , and the rest of the plurality of wires  23  may be constituted by negative wires  23   b . In this case, a first support ring  21   a  and a second support ring  21   b  are made of non-conductive materials so as to block the positive wires  23   a  and the negative wires  23   b  from being electrically connected to each other. 
     In addition, a radiofrequency generator  210  is connected to an electrode  20  for radiofrequency surgery by a single cable  211 . A positive power supply line connected to the positive wires  23   a  and a negative power supply line connected to the negative wires  23   b  may be embedded inside the signal cable  211 . In this case, the positive power supply line and the negative power supply line are protected by covering to be electrically shielded from each other. The positive power supply line is connected to the positive wires  23   a  through the first support ring  21   a , and the negative power supply line is connected to the negative wires  23   b  through the first support ring  21   a.    
     As such, in the electrode  20  electrode for radiofrequency surgery and the radiofrequency surgery device  200  according to the second exemplary embodiment, two electrodes are inserted into the body together, and the shapes thereof are deformed according to the volume of the balloon  12  to generate heat inside the body. 
     Since the method of controlling the radiofrequency surgery device  200  according to the exemplary embodiment is similar to the method of controlling the radiofrequency surgery device  100  according to the first exemplary embodiment when the process of contacting the opposing electrode  15  with the outer skin of the patient is omitted in the method of controlling the radiofrequency surgery device  100  according to the first exemplary embodiment described above, the method of controlling the radiofrequency surgery device  200  according to the exemplary embodiment may be understood with reference to the method of controlling the radiofrequency surgery device  100  according to the first exemplary embodiment described above. 
     Third Exemplary Embodiment 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an electrode for radiofrequency surgery according to a third exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , in an electrode  30  for radiofrequency surgery according to a third exemplary embodiment, a plurality of coil springs  33  may be used as a conductor. 
     One end of the plurality of coil springs  33  is coupled with a first support ring  31   a , and the other end thereof may be coupled with a second support ring  31   b . The plurality of coil springs  33  is arranged to cover the outside of the balloon  12 . Accordingly, the shape of the plurality of coil springs  33  may be deformed according to the volume of the balloon  12 . That is, the plurality of coil springs  33  maintains a linear shape connecting the first support ring  31   a  and the second support ring  31   b , and may be deformed in an outwardly convex shape while the volume of the balloon  12  is expanded. 
     In this case, the plurality of coil springs  33  may be implemented to have the same polarity, and the plurality of coil springs  33  may be modified so that some of the plurality of coil springs  33  are constituted by positive coil springs  33   a  and the rest of the plurality of coil springs  33  are constituted by negative coil springs  33   b.    
     As such, the electrode  30  for radiofrequency surgery according to the third exemplary embodiment may be used in the radiofrequency surgery device  100  according to the first exemplary embodiment or the radiofrequency surgery device  200  according to the second exemplary embodiment described above. Further, a method of controlling a radiofrequency surgery device in which the electrode  30  for radiofrequency surgery according to the third exemplary embodiment is used may be understood with reference to the method of controlling the radiofrequency surgery device  100  according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
     Fourth Exemplary Embodiment 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an electrode for radiofrequency surgery according to a fourth exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in an electrode  40  for radiofrequency surgery according to a fourth exemplary embodiment, a first coil spring  43   a  and a second coil spring  43   b  having ring shapes covering a circumference of the balloon  12  may be used as a conductor. In this case, a first support ring  41   a  and a second support ring  41   b  are connected by a support wire  41   c . Further, a first coil wire  43   c  supporting the first coil spring  43   a  is coupled with the first support ring  41   a , and a second coil wire  43   d  supporting the second coil spring  43   b  is coupled with the second support ring  41   b.    
     As an example, when the first coil spring  43   a  and the second coil spring  43   b  have the same polarity, the first support ring  41   a , the second support ring  41   b , the support wire  41   c , the first coil wire  43   c , and the second coil wire  43   d  may be constituted by conductors. 
     As another example, when the first coil spring  43   a  and the second coil spring  43   b  have different polarities, the support wire  41   c  may be made of a non-conductive material. In this case, the first support ring  41   a  may be connected to a positive power supply line connected to the radiofrequency generator, and the second support ring  41   b  may be connected to a negative power supply line connected to the radiofrequency generator. 
     In the electrode  40  for radiofrequency surgery according to the fourth exemplary embodiment, the shapes of the first and second coil springs  43   a  and  43   b  may be deformed according to the volume of the balloon  12 . That is, the first and second coil springs  43   a  and  43   b  usually maintain the ring shapes covering the circumference of the balloon  12 , and may be formed in a shape in which an outer diameter of the ring is expanded as the volume of the balloon  12  is expanded. 
     As such, the electrode  40  for radiofrequency surgery according to the fourth exemplary embodiment may be used in the radiofrequency surgery device  100  according to the first exemplary embodiment or the radiofrequency surgery device  200  according to the second exemplary embodiment described above. Further, a method of controlling a radiofrequency surgery device in which the electrode  40  for radiofrequency surgery according to the fourth exemplary embodiment is used may be understood with reference to the method of controlling the radiofrequency surgery device  100  according to the first exemplary embodiment. 
     As described above, when the radiofrequency surgery device according to the present invention configured so that the conductor is convexly deformed according to the expansion of the balloon and the radiofrequency current is conducted is particularly used in a lumen of the body, the radiofrequency current may be conducted in the entire cross-sectional area of a corresponding organ, and as a result, the radiofrequency current may be efficiently used. 
     It should not be appreciated that the exemplary embodiments of the present invention described above and illustrated in the drawings limit the technical spirit of the present invention. The protection scope of the present invention is limited by only matters described in the claims and the technical spirit of the present invention can be modified and changed in various forms by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the modification and the change will belong to the protection scope of the present invention as long as the modification and change are apparent to those skilled in the art.

Technology Category: 1