Abstract: A system for packaging a kit for a radiofrequency ablation procedure protects a radiofrequency ablation kit without compromising its sterile barrier system through the hazards of handling, distribution, and storage. The system includes: an introducer tray configured to hold at least one introducer; a probe tray configured to hold at least one radiofrequency ablation probe; an outer carrier tray, a pouch configured to hold a tubing kit; and a dispenser carton. The introducer tray and the probe tray are held within the outer carrier tray, and the outer carrier tray and the pouch are configured to be held within the dispenser carton. A method of packaging a radiofrequency ablation kit is further described.

Abstract: Cooling systems for medical probe assemblies are provided. For example, a cooling system comprises a pump assembly including a control unit having a controller, a motor, and a pump head driven by the motor; a fluid reservoir; a lumen for delivering a cooling fluid to the medical probe assembly distal end; tubing extending through the pump head for conveying the cooling fluid from the fluid reservoir to the lumen; and a flow sensor for sensing the cooling fluid flow rate. The pump head is disposed between the fluid reservoir and the medical probe assembly to pump the cooling fluid from the fluid reservoir to the lumen. The flow sensor is disposed between the pump head and the medical probe assembly to sense the cooling fluid flow rate. Methods for controlling fluid flow rate through a cooling circuit and systems for using a plurality of medical probe assemblies also are provided.

Abstract: Cooling systems for medical probe assemblies are provided. For example, a cooling system comprises a pump assembly including a control unit having a controller, a motor, and a pump head driven by the motor; a fluid reservoir; a lumen for delivering a cooling fluid to the medical probe assembly distal end; tubing extending through the pump head for conveying the cooling fluid from the fluid reservoir to the lumen; and a flow sensor for sensing the cooling fluid flow rate. The pump head is disposed between the fluid reservoir and the medical probe assembly to pump the cooling fluid from the fluid reservoir to the lumen. The flow sensor is disposed between the pump head and the medical probe assembly to sense the cooling fluid flow rate. Methods for controlling fluid flow rate through a cooling circuit and systems for using a plurality of medical probe assemblies also are provided.

Abstract: A medical probe assembly for delivering energy to a patient's body includes at least one probe having an elongate member with a distal region and a proximal region. The distal region includes an electrically non-conductive outer circumferential portion. The probe assembly also includes an electrically-conductive energy delivery device extending distally from the electrically non-conductive outer circumferential portion. The energy delivery device includes a conductive outer circumferential surface and one or more internal lumens configured for circulating a cooling fluid to a distal end of the energy delivery device. The probe assembly also includes a protrusion extending from the distal end of the energy delivery device. The protrusion is electrically coupled to the energy delivery device and includes a temperature sensing element extending from a distal end of the energy delivery device.

Abstract: A method of treating tissue of a patient's body includes providing a power source coupled to at least one probe assembly. The probe assembly includes an elongate member with a distal region and a proximal region. The distal region has an electrically and thermally-conductive energy delivery device for delivering one of electrical and radiofrequency energy to the patient's body. The electrically and thermally-conductive energy delivery device has one or more internal lumens for circulating a cooling fluid therethrough and an electrically and thermally-conductive protrusion having a temperature sensing element. The temperature sensing element extends from a distal end of the energy delivery device. The method includes inserting the energy delivery device of the at least one probe assembly into the patient's body. Further, the method includes routing the energy delivery device of the at least one probe assembly to the tissue of the patient's body.

Abstract: A system and method of treating tissue of a patient's body includes providing a power source coupled to at least one probe assembly. The probe assembly has at least one an elongate member with a distal region and a proximal region. The distal region has an electrically and thermally-conductive energy delivery device that includes one or more internal lumens and an electrically and thermally-conductive protrusion having a temperature sensing element. The method also includes inserting the energy delivery device into the patient's body. Further, the method includes routing the energy delivery device to the tissue of the patient's body. Moreover, the method includes simultaneously circulating the cooling fluid through the internal lumens via at least one pump assembly and delivering energy from the power source to the tissue through the energy delivery device.

Abstract: A method for preparing a cooled radiofrequency probe for use to treat tissue of a patient's body includes providing a plurality of cooled radiofrequency probes. Each of the plurality of cooled radiofrequency probes includes an elongate member with a distal region and a proximal region. The distal regions each have an electrically and thermally-conductive energy delivery device for delivering one of electrical and radiofrequency energy to the patient's body. The electrically and thermally-conductive energy delivery devices each have one or more internal lumens for circulating a cooling fluid therethrough and an electrically and thermally-conductive protrusion having a temperature sensing element. The temperature sensing elements of each protrusion extends from a distal end of the energy delivery device. Further, each of the temperature sensing elements has a different length that extends from the distal end of the energy delivery device.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides sterilization containers with features for sealing a volume against an ingress of contaminants. The present disclosure also provides a sterility breach detection system for detecting whether the sterilization container seal has been breached, which potentially could compromise the sterility of any contents of the container. Further, the present disclosure provides a controller system for detecting, tracking, and alerting a user to the state of a sterilization container, such as whether the container seal has been breached. The sterility breach detection system and/or the controller system may utilize a smart gasket to detect breaches in a seal of a sterilization container, and a controller in operative communication with the smart gasket may activate an indicator to alert a user to a detected breach in the seal.

Abstract: A cooled radiofrequency ablation system and method are provided. In particular, a method to map active radiofrequency channels to respective pump assemblies for cooled radiofrequency ablation is provided. The system includes a pump system having a plurality of pump assemblies, a radiofrequency generator unit, and a plurality of cooled radiofrequency probes, wherein each cooled radiofrequency probe comprises a cable-tubing assembly having a radiofrequency cable connected to the radiofrequency generator unit and fluid tubing in communication with a pump assembly and connected to a cooling fluid source. Each pump assembly of the plurality of pump assemblies is activated individually in sequence. The system and method map each cooled radiofrequency probe to a respective pump assembly connected thereto by measuring a temperature drop delay time at the tip of each probe. The system and method can further detect the presence of multiple probes daisy-chained to a single pump assembly.

Abstract: A cooled radiofrequency ablation system including a probe assembly having a proximal region, a distal tip region, and a shaft is provided. First and second internal cooling fluid tubes extend from the proximal region and are positioned inside a cavity defined by the shaft. The distal tip region includes a conductive portion for delivering energy to a target location within tissue. The system also includes a radiofrequency generator for delivering energy to the target location and a cooling fluid reservoir and a bidirectional pump assembly for circulating a cooling fluid from the reservoir through the first internal cooling fluid tube then the second internal cooling fluid tube when the pump operates in a first direction or through the second internal cooling fluid tube then the first internal cooling fluid tube when the pump operates in a second direction to form lesions of different sizes at the target location.

Abstract: Pump heads for peristaltic pump assemblies are provided. For example, a pump head for a peristaltic pump comprises an occlusion bed, a rotor guide, a rotor assembly positioned between the occlusion bed and the rotor guide, and a pathway for tubing. The pathway comprises an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a connecting portion that connects the inlet and outlet portions. The inlet portion is defined between the occlusion bed and the rotor guide, the outlet portion is defined between the occlusion bed and the rotor guide, and the connecting portion is defined between the occlusion bed and the rotor assembly. Further, the occlusion bed is movable with respect to the rotor guide and the rotor assembly. In exemplary embodiments, the pump head urges fluid flow through the tubing to supply a cooling fluid to a medical probe assembly for delivering energy to a patient's body.

Abstract: Pump assemblies and systems are provided. For example, a pump assembly comprises a pump head, a bezel surrounding an outer perimeter of the pump head, a motor, and tubing. The bezel comprises a bezel upper side, a bezel lower side opposite the bezel upper side, a bezel inlet side extending from the bezel upper side to the bezel lower side, and a bezel outlet side opposite the bezel inlet side and extending from the bezel upper side to the bezel lower side. The bezel defines an inlet channel on the bezel inlet side and an outlet channel on the bezel outlet side, each of the inlet channel and the outlet channel guiding the tubing into the pump head. An exemplary pump system comprises a plurality of pump assemblies that each supply a fluid to a cooling circuit and a base for supporting the plurality of pump assemblies.

Abstract: A pump system for pumping a coolant fluid for cooled radiofrequency ablation treatment includes a housing having a front, a back, a right side, a left side, a top surface, and a bottom surface, and a plurality of peristaltic pump assemblies. The top surface of the housing includes a central channel between at least two of the peristaltic pump assemblies configured to drain fluid away from the front of the housing. A cooled radiofrequency ablation system additionally includes a pump system and a generator having mating surfaces such that the pump system can sit stably on top of the generator.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedure with a cooled RF probe includes measuring one or more local perfusion characteristics at an ablation site within a patient. The method also includes determining a heat transfer due to local perfusion at the ablation site based on the one or more local perfusion characteristics. Further, the method includes determining an operating threshold for the cooled RF probe based, at least in part, on the heat transfer. Moreover, the method includes controlling the cooled RF probe based on the operating threshold to create a lesion at the ablation site within the patient.

Abstract: Methods for detecting tubing in a pump assembly of a pump system are provided. For example, a method comprises connecting a power supply to each of a plurality of pump motors of the pump system. Each pump motor of the plurality of pump motors has a power supply cable configured to connect to the power supply and drives a pump head of a plurality of pump heads of the pump system. The method also comprises sensing a motor current from each of the power supply cables, determining whether tubing is loaded in each pump head, and, if tubing is not loaded in a pump head, then disconnecting from the power supply the power supply cable of the pump motor associated with the pump head in which tubing is not loaded. Systems for detecting the presence of tubing within a pump head of a plurality of pump heads also are provided.

Abstract: A cooled radiofrequency ablation probe includes an electrocap assembly including an elongated member having a body, a proximal end configured to interface with a probe handle, and a thermally and electrically conductive distal end configured to deliver electrical or radiofrequency energy to a patient's tissue. The elongated member houses at least one cooling fluid tubing within the length of the body and a thermocouple hypotube within the length of the elongated member. The body and the proximal end of the elongated member are straight, and the distal end of the elongated member is curved. A cooled radiofrequency ablation delivery kit including a radiofrequency probe, an introducer, and a stylet is also provided.

Abstract: A dual cooled radiofrequency ablation probe assembly optimized for treatment of a patient's knee joint includes at least two cooled radiofrequency ablation probes. Each cooled radiofrequency ablation probe includes an electrically and thermally-conductive energy delivery device for delivering electrical or radiofrequency treatment to the patient. The probe assembly further includes cooling fluid tubing for supplying the at least two cooled radiofrequency ablation probes with cooling fluid, and an electrical cable for supplying the at least two cooled radiofrequency ablation probes with electrical energy. The at least two probes are tethered together by the cooling fluid tubing and the electrical cable.