1. A device for use in delivering therapeutic treatment energy to a plurality of nerve locations via a corresponding plurality of probes, each probe including an uninsulated tip portion having a temperature sensor, the device comprising:
a plurality of electrode outputs;
a user interface for selecting a user-settable temperature associated with any of the electrode outputs;
a feedback circuit coupled to the plurality of electrode outputs and the user interface, the feedback circuit comprising:
at least one set temperature input to receive a user-settable temperature from the user interface; and
a plurality of temperature report inputs to receive temperature information from a corresponding plurality of temperature sensors,
wherein the feedback circuit regulates energy delivery to each of the plurality of electrode outputs, so as to simultaneously maintain the user-settable temperature associated with each of the electrode outputs.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the feedback circuit comprises a comparison circuit that compares the user-settable temperature to the temperature information from at least one of the temperature sensors.
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the feedback circuit comprises a plurality of comparison circuits that compare the user-settable temperature to the temperature information from a corresponding plurality of temperature sensors.
4. A device according to claim 1, further comprising an energy source operably coupled to the plurality of electrode outputs via the feedback circuit.
5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the energy source is a source of RF energy.
6. A device according to claim 4 further comprising an input for receiving RF energy from an external source.
7. A device according to claim 1, the device further comprising a two-dimensional graphics panel capable of displaying individual temperatures associated with each of the electrode outputs.
8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the graphics panel is capable of displaying individual temperatures associated with each of the electrode outputs versus time.
9. A device for use in delivering therapeutic treatment energy from an energy source to a plurality of nerve locations via a corresponding plurality of probes, each probe including an uninsulated tip portion having a temperature sensor, the device comprising:
a plurality of electrode outputs;
a user interface for selecting a user-settable temperature associated with any of the electrode outputs;
a corresponding plurality of feedback circuits coupled to the plurality of electrode outputs, the energy source, and the user interface, each feedback circuit comprising:
a set temperature input to receive the user-settable temperature from the user interface; and
a temperature report input to receive temperature information from an associated temperature sensor,
wherein the feedback circuits regulate energy delivery from the energy source to each of the plurality of electrode outputs, so as to simultaneously maintain the user-settable temperature associated with each of the electrode outputs.
10. A device according to claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of feedback circuits comprises a comparison circuit that compares the user-settable temperature to the temperature information from the associated temperature sensor.
11. A device according to claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of feedback circuits comprises a comparison circuit that continuously compares the user-settable temperature to the temperature information from the associated temperature sensor.
12. A device according to claim 9, further comprising an energy source operably coupled to the plurality of electrode outputs via the corresponding plurality of feedback circuits.
13. A device according to claim 9 wherein the energy source is a source of RF energy.
14. A device according to claim 12 further comprising an input for receiving RF energy from an external source.
15. A device according to claim 9, the device further comprising a two-dimensional graphics panel capable of displaying individual temperatures associated with each of the electrode outputs.
16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the graphics panel is capable of displaying individual temperatures associated with each of the electrode outputs versus time.
17. A method of performing nerve modification procedures on a plurality of nerves using radio frequency energy, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of probes, each probe comprising an insulated portion and an uninsulated electrode tip portion, and a temperature sensor in the electrode tip portion;
monitoring the temperature at each of the plurality of electrode tip portions, using the corresponding plurality of temperature sensors; and
individually regulating the energy output to each of the plurality of probes so as to simultaneously maintain a predetermined temperature at each of the plurality of electrode tip portions.
18. A method of performing nerve modification procedures on a plurality of nerves according to claim 17, the method further comprising wherein the predetermined temperature is an individual user-settable temperature for each of the electrode tip portions.
19. A method of performing nerve modification procedures on a plurality of nerves according to claim 17, wherein individually regulating the energy output to each of the plurality of probes is performed by a corresponding plurality of feedback circuits.
20. A method of performing nerve modification procedures on a plurality of nerves according to claim 19, further comprising:
providing a user-settable temperature for each of the plurality of probes to the corresponding plurality of feedback circuits; and
providing temperature information to the plurality of feedback circuits from the corresponding plurality of temperature sensors.
21. A device for use in delivering therapeutic treatment to a plurality of nerve locations via a corresponding plurality of probes, each probe including an uninsulated tip portion having a temperature sensor, the device comprising:
an RF input for receiving radio frequency energy;
a plurality of electrode outputs operably coupled to the RF input, wherein each of the electrode outputs is separately and individually connectable through an electrical conductor to at least one of the plurality of probes;
a user interface for selecting a user-settable temperature associated with any of the electrode outputs; and
feedback control circuitry to individually regulate energy delivery from the RF input to each of the plurality of electrode outputs, so as to simultaneously maintain the user-settable temperature associated with each of the electrode outputs.
22. A device for use in delivering a therapeutic treatment to a plurality of nerve locations according to claim 21, wherein each electrode output is adapted to couple to a corresponding one of the plurality of probes.
23. A device for use in delivering a therapeutic treatment to a plurality of nerve locations according to claim 22, wherein each electrode output is adapted to receive a temperature signal from the temperature sensor in a probe coupled to the electrode output.
24. A device for use in delivering a therapeutic treatment to a plurality of nerve locations according to claim 21, the device further comprising a two-dimensional graphics panel capable of displaying individual temperatures associated with each of the electrode outputs.
25. A device for use in delivering a therapeutic treatment to a plurality of nerve locations according to claim 24, wherein the graphics panel is capable of displaying individual temperatures associated with each of the electrode outputs versus time.
26. A system for use in delivering therapeutic treatment to a plurality of nerve locations, the system comprising:
a radio frequency energy source having an RF output;
a plurality of separate probes which are not connected to one another, each having an insulated portion and an uninsulated tip portion, the uninsulated tip portion having a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor arranged in the probe so as to provide information regarding temperature of the uninsulated tip portion;
a plurality of electrode outputs coupled to the RF output, wherein each of the electrode outputs is adapted to receive temperature information from and provide radio frequency energy to one of the probes; and
feedback control circuitry to individually regulate energy delivery from the radio frequency energy source to each of the plurality of probes, so as to simultaneously maintain the temperature reported by the temperature sensor of each of the probes.
27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a plurality of temperature displays corresponding to the temperature information received at each of the electrode outputs.
28. The system of claim 26, further comprising a user interface for selecting a user-settable temperature individually associated with any of the electrode outputs.
29. The system of claim 26, wherein the feedback control circuitry comprises a plurality of feedback control circuits each corresponding to one of the plurality of electrode outputs.
30. The system of claim 26, further comprising a reference electrode to provide a path for return current from the plurality of probes.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system for applying a sterile sheath to a medical probe, comprising:
a probe holder comprising an exterior surface having at least one mechanical coupling, and an interior surface capable of supporting said medical probe; and
a sheath shell configured and arranged to mechanically couple to said mechanical coupling on said probe holder, said sheath shell further being coupled to said sterile sheath.
2. The system of claim 1, said interior surface of said probe holder defining an interior volume of said probe holder and being configured and arranged to mechanically support at least a portion of said medical probe.
3. The system of claim 2, said interior volume and said interior surface of said probe holder having an open channel formed therein to allow lateral insertion of said medical probe into said interior volume of the probe holder.
4. The system of claim 1, said probe holder including a first mechanical fastener on said exterior surface, and said sheath shell having a corresponding second mechanical fastener, said first and second mechanical fasteners shaped and sized in a complementary configuration allowing mechanical coupling between said probe holder and said sheath shell.
5. The system of claim 1, said sheath shell formed of a semi-flexible sheet material.
6. The system of claim 5, said sheath shell comprising a multi-sided geometry.
7. The system of claim 6, said multi-sided geometry comprising a multi-folded sheet that can be stored substantially flat prior to deployment and that can be opened and folded along a plurality of pre-formed fold lines to create a plurality of side walls of said sheath shell when deployed.
8. The system of claim 6, said multi-sided geometry comprising a tri-folded geometry.
9. The system of claim 4, said sheath shell further comprising a sterility barrier proximal to said second mechanical fastener.
10. The system of claim 1, said sheath comprising a sterile elongated plastic membrane with a closed end for containing an imaging tip of said medical probe, and an open end couplable to said sheath shell through which said medical probe is introduced into said sheath.
11. A method for applying a sterile sheath to a medical probe, comprising:
securing said medical probe in a probe holder apparatus;
unfolding a folded sheath shell attached to an open end of said sterile sheath;
securing said sheath shell to said probe holder by wrapping said sheath shell about an exterior surface of said probe holder at one end of said sheath shell;
pulling said medical probe from the outside of said sterile sheath at a closed end of said sterile sheath, said closed end of said sheath containing a tip of said medical probe and being opposed to said open end of the sterile sheath;
extending said sheath to its full length with said medical probe therein;
disconnecting said sheath from said sheath shell once the sheath is extended; and
disposing of said sheath shell once said medical probe is enclosed in said sterile sheath.