APPARATUS FOR DETECTING AND TREATING TUMORS USING LOCALIZED IMPEDANCE MEASUREMENT

摘要

An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus (10) for detecting and treating tumors using localized impedance measurement. The apparatus compris es an elongated delivery device (12) that includes a lumen (13) and is maneuverable in tissue. An impedance sensor array (22a) is deployable from t he elongated delivery device (12) and configured to be coupled to at least one of an electromagnetic energy source (20) or a switching device (29). The impedance array (22a) includes a plurality of resilient members (18mpl), at least one resilient member (18) of the plurality of resilient members (18mpl ) being positionable in the elongated delivery device (12) in a compacted stat e and deployable with curvature into tissue from the elongated diliery device (12) in a deployed state. In the deployed state, the plurality of resilient members (18mpl) defines a sample volume (5sv). At least one resilient member (18) includes an impedance sensor (22) and at least a portion of the impedan ce array (22a) is configured to sample tissue impedance through a plurality of conductive pathways. An energy delivery device (18e) is coupled to one of th e sensor array (22a), the at least one resilient member (18) or the elongated delivery device (12).