Description of Invention:
The invention is a method and apparatus for using radio frequency (RF) energy to cauterize the needle track after percutaneous image-guided needle biopsy. The invention is designed to limit the risks of bleeding and needle track seeding that are inherent risks of any needle biopsy. The device uses a coaxial biopsy arrangement with the outer needle coated with a non-conducting polymer that insulates the needle shaft and the tissue immediately in contact with the shaft. As the needle is pulled back from the organ or tumor target, RF energy is applied to an exposed end portion of the probe, causing cauterization and coagulation of the tissue immediately adjacent to the needle track. Modular insertions could plug the needle into any cauterization or radiofrequency generator. A variation on the device could be used to limit bleeding after catheter placement into organs, such as for nephrostomy, biliary drainage, or transhepatic islet cell transplantation.
Inventors:
Bradford J. Wood and Christan Pavlovich (CC)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-207-2001/1 --
U.S. Patent Application No. 10/274,074 filed 17 Oct 2002
For Additional Information Please Contact: Michael Shmilovich J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5019
Email: shmilovm@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
