US Patent 8945114 Fluid sensor for ablation therapy

The disclosure describes a method and a system that may be used to provide feedback regarding the flow of fluid during ablation therapy. The system includes a generator that generates energy to ablate at least a portion of a target tissue, a needle that delivers the energy to the target tissue, a return electrode that receives energy dispersed from the needle, a catheter that houses at least a portion of the needle, a pump that delivers a fluid to the target tissue via the catheter, a sensor that detects a fluid parameter indicative of at least one of flow or pressure of the fluid, and a processor that analyzes the fluid parameter detected by the sensor. The sensor may be located between the pump and the target tissue. The fluid parameter detected by the system may be pressure or flow. The system may be used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy.