Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Radio Frequency Ablation for Diverse Therapeutic Applications

Publication ID: 24-11857248_0007_PTD
Published: November 07, 2025
Category:New Applications & Use Cases

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Radio Frequency Ablation for Diverse Therapeutic Applications,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857248_0007_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857248_0007_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,248.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

The present inventive concept discloses novel applications of radio frequency ablation technology, originally developed for endometrial ablation, to treat various medical conditions across different industries, including chronic wounds, skin lesions, dental caries, osteoarthritis, and cancerous tumors.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent focused on electrosurgical methods and devices for global endometrial ablation in treating menorrhagia. However, the core technology has broader potential. The present inventive concept addresses the limitation of the original patent by applying the radio frequency ablation principle to entirely new fields, solving unmet needs in diverse therapeutic areas.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The inventive concept comprises systems and methods utilizing radio frequency ablation to treat various medical conditions. In one embodiment, a flexible, expandable dielectric structure containing an ionized gas is used for topical application to chronic wounds. In another embodiment, an elongated introducer member accesses a tooth cavity for treating dental caries. The system can also be configured for intra-articular injection to treat osteoarthritis or for deploying within cancerous tumors. The radio frequency current is capacitively coupled to the target tissue through the dielectric structure, ensuring efficient and controlled ablation.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce novel applications of radio frequency ablation technology, expanding its use beyond endometrial ablation to diverse therapeutic areas. The inventive step lies in recognizing the potential of this technology to address unmet needs in various fields and developing specific systems and methods to achieve this.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include varying the dielectric structure's shape, size, and material to accommodate different treatment sites or developing hybrid systems combining radio frequency ablation with other therapeutic modalities. Variations may also include adjusting the RF power source or incorporating sensors to optimize treatment outcomes.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential, targeting various industries such as wound care, dermatology, dentistry, orthopedics, and oncology. The market for these applications is substantial, with potential for significant revenue growth and improved patient outcomes.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61B18/1485
A A61 A61B5/1076
A A61 A61B18/042
A A61 A61B2018/0022
A A61 A61B2018/00214
A A61 A61B2018/00559
A A61 A61B2018/00577
A A61 A61B2018/00666
A A61 A61B2018/147
A A61 A61B2090/064
A A61 A61B2218/008

Field of Art

Electrosurgical medical devices and methods for tissue ablation, specifically focusing on radio frequency energy application for therapeutic interventions across multiple medical specialties

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or medical device designer with expertise in electrosurgical technologies, advanced materials science, and minimally invasive therapeutic techniques, possessing knowledge of radio frequency energy coupling and tissue interaction mechanisms

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize the fundamental radio frequency ablation technology disclosed in the source patent as a versatile platform that could be systematically adapted to multiple therapeutic contexts by modifying the dielectric structure's geometry, deployment mechanism, and target tissue interface. The core capacitive coupling mechanism and ionized gas-containing expandable dielectric structure represent a generalizable technological approach that can be readily translated across different medical applications with predictable results. The variations disclosed in the PTD represent logical extensions of the original endometrial ablation technology by applying known electrosurgical principles to alternative tissue treatment scenarios.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Expandable frame for uterine treatment with capacitive RF energy coupling through a dielectric member
PTD Variation
Adapting the expandable dielectric structure for chronic wound treatment with topical application
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would recognize that the fundamental RF energy coupling mechanism could be easily modified for surface tissue treatment by adjusting the dielectric structure's geometry and deployment method, representing a predictable variation of a known technique
Source Patent Element
Ionized gas-containing dielectric member for tissue ablation
PTD Variation
Utilizing the dielectric structure for intra-articular injection in osteoarthritis treatment
Obviousness Reasoning
The core technology of capacitive energy transfer through a gas-containing dielectric structure represents a known and transferable technique that could be adapted to different tissue treatment contexts with routine engineering modifications
Source Patent Element
Radio frequency current capacitively coupled through a thin-wall dielectric member
PTD Variation
Applying the RF ablation technique to dental caries treatment using an elongated introducer
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would recognize that the fundamental energy transfer mechanism could be adapted to different anatomical contexts by modifying the device's form factor while maintaining the core capacitive coupling principle
Source Patent Element
Expandable frame for controlled tissue treatment
PTD Variation
Deploying the dielectric structure within cancerous tumors for ablative treatment
Obviousness Reasoning
The source patent's technology inherently suggests adaptability to various tissue ablation scenarios, making tumor treatment an obvious extension of the original electrosurgical approach
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857248 and the published technical disclosure, a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the disclosed variations in therapeutic radio frequency ablation applications to be obvious modifications of the original endometrial ablation technology. The fundamental capacitive coupling mechanism, expandable dielectric structure, and radio frequency energy transfer principles represent a generalizable approach that could be systematically adapted to multiple medical treatment contexts through routine engineering design choices.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,248
TitleMethods and systems for endometrial ablation utilizing radio frequency
Assignee(s)MINERVA SURGICAL, INC.