Electrosurgical system
First Claim
1. A system for tissue ablation including a cannula and an electrode, the cannula including an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the cannula shaft including an electrically conductive active tip distal to an electrically insulated cannula shaft portion, the cannula shaft including a lumen extending through the entire length of the cannula shaft from a proximal opening at the proximal end of the shaft to a distal portion of the shaft, the cannula including a side opening to the lumen through the side of the cannula shaft wall, the cannula shaft being substantially stiff and including a bend configured so that the electrode shaft exits the side opening of the lumen when the electrode shaft is inserted into the cannula lumen through the proximal opening, the electrode including an electrode shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the electrode shaft including an electrically conductive portion, the electrode shaft being substantially straight and stiff, the electrode and cannula being configured to be assembled into a first assembly wherein the electrode shaft is inserted into the cannula lumen through the proximal opening, the electrically conductive portion of the electrode shaft extends out of the cannula lumen through the side opening, and the first assembly is configured to conduct radiofrequency current from a radiofrequency generator to bodily tissue through both the active tip of the cannula and the electrically conductive portion of the electrode shaft.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An RF electrode can have a straight shaft to generate an RF heat lesion that is asymmetric about the central axis of the cannula through which the RF electrode is introduced into bodily tissue.
6 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A system for tissue ablation including a cannula and an electrode, the cannula including an elongated shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the cannula shaft including an electrically conductive active tip distal to an electrically insulated cannula shaft portion, the cannula shaft including a lumen extending through the entire length of the cannula shaft from a proximal opening at the proximal end of the shaft to a distal portion of the shaft, the cannula including a side opening to the lumen through the side of the cannula shaft wall, the cannula shaft being substantially stiff and including a bend configured so that the electrode shaft exits the side opening of the lumen when the electrode shaft is inserted into the cannula lumen through the proximal opening, the electrode including an electrode shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the electrode shaft including an electrically conductive portion, the electrode shaft being substantially straight and stiff, the electrode and cannula being configured to be assembled into a first assembly wherein the electrode shaft is inserted into the cannula lumen through the proximal opening, the electrically conductive portion of the electrode shaft extends out of the cannula lumen through the side opening, and the first assembly is configured to conduct radiofrequency current from a radiofrequency generator to bodily tissue through both the active tip of the cannula and the electrically conductive portion of the electrode shaft.
Specification