Liquid delivery apparatus for tissue ablation

Abstract

An apparatus for use in a tissue ablation procedure includes a base, a fluid delivery tube coupled to the base, a first lever rotatably coupled to the base, the first lever having a first end biased to press against a portion of the fluid delivery tube to thereby close a lumen within the fluid delivery tube, and a second end, and a securing mechanism for securing the base relative to an ablation device. An ablation system includes an ablation device having an electrode, a fluid delivery tube coupled to the ablation device, and a control for simultaneously activating the electrode and opening the fluid delivery tube. A method of performing tissue ablation includes operating a control to activate an electrode, thereby delivering ablation energy to target tissue, wherein the step of operating the control also causes fluid to be delivered to the target tissue.

1 . An apparatus for use in a tissue ablation procedure, comprising: 
 a base;    a fluid delivery tube coupled to the base;    a first lever rotatably coupled to the base, the first lever having a first end biased to press against a portion of the fluid delivery tube to thereby close a lumen within the fluid delivery tube, and a second end; and    a securing mechanism for securing the base relative to an ablation device.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first lever is biased such that the first end presses against the portion of the fluid delivery tube when the second end is not being pressed.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein when the second end is positioned towards the base, the first end becomes disengaged from the portion of the fluid delivery tube to thereby allow fluid to flow therethrough.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second end has a portion for engaging a switch on the ablation device.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising the ablation device.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second lever rotatably coupled to the base.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the first and the second levers are positioned in a side-by-side configuration.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the second lever has a first end for pressing against another portion of the fluid delivery tube, and a second end.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the second end of the first lever has a first portion for engaging a first switch on an ablation device, and the second end of the second lever has a second portion for engaging a second switch on the ablation device.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising the ablation device.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a second fluid delivery tube, wherein the second lever has a first end for pressing against a portion of the second fluid delivery tube.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid delivery tubes are in fluid communication with each other.  
   
   
       13 . An ablation system, comprising: 
 an ablation device having an electrode;    a fluid delivery tube coupled to the ablation device; and    a control for simultaneously activating the electrode and opening the fluid delivery tube.    
   
   
       14 . The ablation system of  claim 13 , wherein the control includes a first lever.  
   
   
       15 . The ablation system of  claim 14 , wherein the first lever has a first end for pressing against the tube, and a second end having a portion for engaging a switch on the ablation device.  
   
   
       16 . The ablation system of  claim 14 , wherein the control includes a second lever, at least a portion of the first lever configured for engaging a first switch on the ablation device, at least a portion of the second lever configured for engaging a second switch on the ablation device.  
   
   
       17 . The ablation system of  claim 14 , wherein the first lever is biased to pressed against a portion of the fluid delivery tube.  
   
   
       18 . A method of performing tissue ablation, comprising: 
 operating a control to activate an electrode, thereby delivering ablation energy to target tissue;    wherein the step of operating the control also causes fluid to be delivered to the target tissue.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the control is operated by pressing a lever to create an unobstructed flow of the fluid within a fluid delivery tube, and the lever is pressed until it engages a switch on an ablation device.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the ablation energy is delivered via an electrode, and the fluid is delivered from external to the electrode.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the ablation energy is delivered via an electrode, and the fluid is delivered from internal to the electrode.