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Abstract

A medical device suitable for delivering electromagnetic energy, such as radiofrequency (RF) or microwave energy, to breast tissue in need of thermal treatment includes a hollow catheter sized to fit within a mammary duct of a patient and defining at least one passageway having a distal end portion and an open proximal end. An elongate insulating sleeve is slidably disposed within the passageway. An electromagnetic energy transmission line is disposed within the sleeve. The energy transmission line terminates, at its distal end, in an elongate, flexible, ablation probe. The ablation probe is configured for generating an electromagnetic field sufficient to cause tissue ablation and the probe is adapted for penetration of breast tissue. In use the catheter is passed through the orifice of a mammary duct and positioned within the duct adjacent to a region of breast tissue in need of thermal treatment, such as cancerous or pre-cancerous breast tissue. The ablation probe is passed through the passageway of the catheter and into the breast tissue to be treated. Electromagnetic energy is supplied to the ablation probe, heating the breast tissue adjacent to the probe. The breast tissue is heated to a temperature sufficient to ablate or otherwise destroy cancerous or pre-cancerous tissue. In a preferred embodiment the ablation probe includes a removable auger adapted for collecting a biopsy specimen of the breast tissue prior to thermal treatment, subsequent to thermal treatment, or both.

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First Claim