STEERABLE MEDICAL PROBE WITH STYLETS

摘要

A medical probe device for reducing tissue mass in a selected portion of the body comprises a torquable catheter (4) having a control end (10) and a probe end (14). The probe end (14) includes a stylet guide means with a flexible tip and a tip directing means extending from the control end (10) to the flexible tip for changing the orientation of the central axis of the stylet guide means for directing a flexible stylet (18) outward through the stylet port and through intervening tissue to targeted tissues. A stylet (18) is positioned in the said stylet guide means. The stylet (18) can be an RF electrode, microwave antenna, biopsy means, fluid supply means or combination thereof. Preferably, the stylet (18) is a nonconductive sleeve having an electrode lumen (20) and a second lumen (62) therein, the electrode lumen terminating at a distal port in the distal end (4) of the nonconductive sleeve (60), a radio frequency electrode being positioned in said electrode lumen for longitudinal movement therein through the distal port.