Electrosurgical tissue removal with a selectively insulated electrode

• US 20030130653A1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Lennox, Charles D., Sixto, Robert Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/292,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130653A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/042 using additional gas becoming plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/149 bow shaped or with rotatable body at cantilever end, e.g. for resectoscopes, or coagulating rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0088 ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00107 Coatings on the energy applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00136 with polymer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1213 creating an arc
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1417 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration

Abstract

An electrosurgical device includes an elongated body including a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis, at least one arm coupled to the distal end of the elongated body and an electrode coupled to at least one arm. The electrode includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface is substantially convex and defines a radius of curvature relative to an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. An electrosurgical device comprising:

an elongated body including a proximal end and a distal end and defining a longitudinal axis;

at least one arm coupled to the distal end of the elongated body; and

an electrode coupled to at least one arm, the electrode including an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface being substantially convex and defining a radius of curvature relative to an axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper surface is smaller than the lower surface of the electrode.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the electrode is substantially concave.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the electrode is substantially flat.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the electrode includes an insulative coating.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the insulative coating comprises a ceramic coating.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the ceramic coating comprises alumina.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the ceramic coating comprises zirconia.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the ceramic coating comprises alumina and titania.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein the ceramic coating has a thickness in the range from about 0.0002 inches to about 0.03 inches.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the lower surface of the electrode comprises a ceramic base material and a metallic coating disposed over the ceramic base material.

12. A method of manufacturing an electrosurgical device, comprising:

a) providing an electrode coupled to an elongated body, the electrode comprising a conductive member, the electrode including an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface being substantially convex and defining a radius of curvature relative to an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated body; and

b) spraying a ceramic coating over the upper surface of the electrode.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein step b) comprises thermal spraying.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein step b) comprises thermal spraying with an alumina coating.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein step b) comprises thermal spraying with an alumina and titania coating.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein step b) comprises thermal spraying using a high velocity oxygen fuel spraying method.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein step b) comprises plasma spraying.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising roughening the upper surface of the electrode prior to thermal spraying.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein step b) comprises spraying to deposit the ceramic coating having a thickness in the range from 0.0002 inches to 0.03 inches.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the roughening step comprises sand blasting the upper surface.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a bond coating on the conductive member prior to spraying.